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A man with his son votes during Estonian Parliamentary elections in Parnu, Estonia 01 March 2015. Photo EPA/BGNES
Estonia is holding parliamentary elections on Sunday marked by concerns over Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Nearly a quarter of Estonia’s population of 1.3 million is ethnic Russian and the pro-Moscow Centre Party is expected to do well in the vote, but the partners in the current governing coalition - the centrist Reform party and Social Democrats - are likely to stick together after the elections to ensure majority in the new parliament.
The two-party coalition has 52 lawmakers in the outgoing 101-seat parliament.
Russian military exercises by Moscow on the border with Estonia just days before the vote further stoked fears in Europe that Moscow might try to destabilise countries that were in its sphere of influence during Soviet times. Unlike Ukraine, however, Estonia is member of the EU and NATO.
Prime Minister Taavi Roivas has said Estonia's NATO membership gives the Baltic country security against any threat from Russia – a view shared by Defence Minister, Sven Mikser of the Social Democrats.
A TNS Emori opinion poll showed on Saturday Reform leading with 26% support, followed by Centre Party with 22% and the Social Democrats with 19%.
Seven other parties are also running in the election, including the conservative IRL, which had 16% support in the opinion poll.
Voter turnout was 42% by midday on Sunday.
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