TALLINN — A recent poll shows if the election were held now, Estonia’s incumbent President Toomas Hendrik Ilves would be re-elected by a wide margin.

The survey, commissioned by the Postimees newspaper and conducted by polling company Turu-uuringute AS, was done in conjunction with another political poll showing that the Center Party’s support is declining. The survey questioned 1,000 people from age 15 to 74 all over Estonia during the last week of January and first week of February.

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves received 29 percent support of those surveyed as the best candidate for next presidential election in summer 2011. Center Party leader and [private_supervisor]Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar received 17 percent, while European Parliament member Andres Tarand, an independent, received 9 percent.

President Ilves is supported also by the current coalition. Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica and Reform Party leaders mentioned publicly in the beginning of January that they support Ilves at the next presidential elections, although back then the subject was brought up primarily to draw attention from the electricity bill dispute.

Turundus-uuringute CEO Tõnis Stamberg says the results show that Ilves handling his presidential responsibilities well, at least in the public eye.

“President Ilves has been at the right time at the right place, and has been speaking up on the right subjects,” Stamberg told Baltic Reports, “He also has a lot of experience in foreign politics.”

Tõnis Saarts, a Tallinn University political scientist, said the main reason for Ilves’ popularity is a lack of any strong rivals and his incumbency.

“All other polls, that have been carried out long before the presidential elections proved that above all, the current president is supported,” Saarts told Baltic Reports. “However, thing may change as soon as strong rival candidates comes forth.”

As in neighboring Latvia, ethnicity plays a large role in Estonian politics. Saarts said Savisaar’s support for comes primarily from ethnic Russians because he is the only politician who advocates for their interests.

“Ilves is the representative of anti-Russian nationalist wing to this segment of people,” said Saarts.

Saarts and Stamberg agree that both Tarand and Savisaar are protest candidates for those who are disappointed in the current political elite, with Tarand for ethnic Estonians and Savisaar for ethnic Russians.

[/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar received 17 percent, while European Parliament member Andres Tarand, an independent, received 9 percent.

President Ilves is supported also by the current coalition. Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica and Reform Party leaders mentioned publicly in the beginning of January that they support Ilves at the next presidential elections, although back then the subject was brought up primarily to draw attention from the electricity bill dispute.

Turundus-uuringute CEO Tõnis Stamberg says the results show that Ilves handling his presidential responsibilities well, at least in the public eye.

“President Ilves has been at the right time at the right place, and has been speaking up on the right subjects,” Stamberg told Baltic Reports, “He also has a lot of experience in foreign politics.”

Tõnis Saarts, a Tallinn University political scientist, said the main reason for Ilves’ popularity is a lack of any strong rivals and his incumbency.

“All other polls, that have been carried out long before the presidential elections proved that above all, the current president is supported,” Saarts told Baltic Reports. “However, thing may change as soon as strong rival candidates comes forth.”

As in neighboring Latvia, ethnicity plays a large role in Estonian politics. Saarts said Savisaar’s support for comes primarily from ethnic Russians because he is the only politician who advocates for their interests.

“Ilves is the representative of anti-Russian nationalist wing to this segment of people,” said Saarts.

Saarts and Stamberg agree that both Tarand and Savisaar are protest candidates for those who are disappointed in the current political elite, with Tarand for ethnic Estonians and Savisaar for ethnic Russians.[/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar received 17 percent, while European Parliament member Andres Tarand, an independent, received 9 percent.

President Ilves is supported also by the current coalition. Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica and Reform Party leaders mentioned publicly in the beginning of January that they support Ilves at the next presidential elections, although back then the subject was brought up primarily to draw attention from the electricity bill dispute.

Turundus-uuringute CEO Tõnis Stamberg says the results show that Ilves handling his presidential responsibilities well, at least in the public eye.

“President Ilves has been at the right time at the right place, and has been speaking up on the right subjects,” Stamberg told Baltic Reports, “He also has a lot of experience in foreign politics.”

Tõnis Saarts, a Tallinn University political scientist, said the main reason for Ilves’ popularity is a lack of any strong rivals and his incumbency.

“All other polls, that have been carried out long before the presidential elections proved that above all, the current president is supported,” Saarts told Baltic Reports. “However, thing may change as soon as strong rival candidates comes forth.”

As in neighboring Latvia, ethnicity plays a large role in Estonian politics. Saarts said Savisaar’s support for comes primarily from ethnic Russians because he is the only politician who advocates for their interests.

“Ilves is the representative of anti-Russian nationalist wing to this segment of people,” said Saarts.

Saarts and Stamberg agree that both Tarand and Savisaar are protest candidates for those who are disappointed in the current political elite, with Tarand for ethnic Estonians and Savisaar for ethnic Russians.[/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar received 17 percent, while European Parliament member Andres Tarand, an independent, received 9 percent.

President Ilves is supported also by the current coalition. Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica and Reform Party leaders mentioned publicly in the beginning of January that they support Ilves at the next presidential elections, although back then the subject was brought up primarily to draw attention from the electricity bill dispute.

Turundus-uuringute CEO Tõnis Stamberg says the results show that Ilves handling his presidential responsibilities well, at least in the public eye.

“President Ilves has been at the right time at the right place, and has been speaking up on the right subjects,” Stamberg told Baltic Reports, “He also has a lot of experience in foreign politics.”

Tõnis Saarts, a Tallinn University political scientist, said the main reason for Ilves’ popularity is a lack of any strong rivals and his incumbency.

“All other polls, that have been carried out long before the presidential elections proved that above all, the current president is supported,” Saarts told Baltic Reports. “However, thing may change as soon as strong rival candidates comes forth.”

As in neighboring Latvia, ethnicity plays a large role in Estonian politics. Saarts said Savisaar’s support for comes primarily from ethnic Russians because he is the only politician who advocates for their interests.

“Ilves is the representative of anti-Russian nationalist wing to this segment of people,” said Saarts.

Saarts and Stamberg agree that both Tarand and Savisaar are protest candidates for those who are disappointed in the current political elite, with Tarand for ethnic Estonians and Savisaar for ethnic Russians.[/private_subscription 1 year]

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