Estonia

Prime Minister Kristen Michal’s Reform Party has governed with Eesti 200 since the Social Democratic ministers were dismissed in March 2025. After Kalev Stoicescu left Eesti 200 and Meelis Kiili left the Reform Party in August 2026, the coalition held 50 of 101 seats in the Riigikogu. In October, Isamaa, the Centre Party and EKRE were drafting a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister. The next Riigikogu election is scheduled for 7 March 2027.

On 2 September 2026 the Riigikogu elected Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise President with 71 votes. She took the oath of office on 12 October, succeeding Alar Karis.

Reporters Without Borders ranks Estonia 3rd of 180 in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index with a score of 88.54, against 2nd and 89.46 in 2025. It describes media ownership, led by the Postimees and Ekspress groups, as so concentrated that it can be considered an oligopoly.

The Crisis Situation and National Defence Act, adopted on 2 June 2026 by 64 votes to 14 and in force since 1 October, allows the government or authorised agencies, including the Internal Security Service, the Police and Border Guard Board, the Defence Forces and the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, to restrict or prohibit media services and publications during a declared state of emergency or war where necessary to protect public order, national security or military defence. The Estonian Media Association warned that the broad wording could allow virtually any information to be suppressed. President Alar Karis promulgated the Act on 16 June while acknowledging concerns about its potential impact on press freedom.

Amendments transposing the European Union’s anti-SLAPP directive were adopted on 10 June 2026 by 70 votes to 1; they also cover domestic cases, with the Estonian Journalists’ Association as the national contact point. A bill implementing the European Media Freedom Act, which would extend source protection to journalists’ close relations and make state advertising more transparent, completed its first reading on 8 April 2026 but had not been adopted by October.

State Media Monitor maps one Estonian outlet: Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR), classified Independent State Funded (ISF) in every review cycle since 2022.

ERR is financed mainly through annual state budget allocations. Its 2025 operating allocation of EUR 40.45 million was approximately 4 per cent lower than in 2024. A European Commission letter reported in December 2025 raised concerns that this financing might not meet Article 5 of the European Media Freedom Act. On 1 October 2026 the government approved a bill proposing a four-year framework funding agreement, with the amendments intended to enter into force on 1 January 2027, and submitted it to the Riigikogu on 12 October. The draft 2027 budget provides total support of EUR 44.76 million, against EUR 43.46 million in 2026. ERR’s head, Erik Roose, said the bill would ensure long-term funding but not adequacy.

An amendment adopted on 17 June by 60 votes to 25 added three expert seats to ERR’s Council. President Karis promulgated it on 2 July while warning of a possible negative effect on press freedom. On 30 September the Riigikogu appointed three experts by 58 votes to 24, giving the Council seven experts and six faction representatives. Roose’s five-year term, which began on 1 June 2022, ends in May 2027.

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