Eesti Reformierakond (Reform Party)

EU RANK: 2 (Tier 1: Top Performance)

Eesti Reformierakond is a liberal, centre‑right party advocating low taxes, market‑oriented reforms, and strong EU and NATO integration. Led by Kristen Michal since 2024, it won about 31.2% of the vote and 37 seats in the 2023 parliamentary election, remaining Estonia’s dominant governing force. Its core electorate is urban, pro‑business and highly pro‑EU, concentrated in Tallinn and Tartu.​

Disinformation and alternative media

Reform relies primarily on mainstream media, digital campaigning and social media rather than its own alternative outlets. Research for 2015–2025 indicates Reform is more often a target of disinformation from hostile pro‑Kremlin and far‑right networks than an initiator, especially regarding its Russia policy and support for Ukraine. The party uses professional communications teams and fact‑based messaging, and it does not control significant alternative or fringe media brands. Disinformation/alternative media risk is low.​

Foreign influence and external alignments

Reform is firmly pro‑EU, pro‑NATO and strongly Atlanticist, advocating high defence spending, sanctions on Russia, and sustained support for Ukraine. There is no evidence of financial, organisational or strategic ties to hostile foreign states; instead, Reform is one of the main drivers of Estonia’s hard‑line stance against Kremlin influence. Its international alliances run through liberal party families in the EU and broader Western partnerships. Foreign influence DMI risk is low.

Media capture, advertising and public service media

Reform does not own major media assets and operates mainly through advertising purchases in commercial media, social platforms and standard campaign channels. While it has participated in routine appointments to Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) boards when in government, available evidence shows these follow formal procedures rather than attempts to exert direct editorial control. The party publicly supports ERR’s independence and pluralistic commercial media markets. Media capture, advertising and PSB‑control DMI risk is low.

Corruption, litigation and institutional integrity

Litigation and corruption records from 2015–2025 show Reform occasionally touched by broader coalition scandals, but without major, repeated corruption cases focused on the party’s central leadership. The party receives substantial public funding and private donations under Estonia’s party‑finance regime and complies with reporting and audit rules overseen by supervisory bodies. Reform generally positions itself as a rule‑of‑law, good‑governance actor, and recent major integrity crises have more heavily affected rival parties. DMI corruption and institutional integrity risk is low.

Press freedom, harassment and treatment of media

Reform presents itself as a defender of independent journalism and ERR’s editorial autonomy, backing legal protections for journalists and resisting proposals that would politicise media governance. While its leaders sometimes criticise coverage—especially on economic reforms or coalition disputes—there is no pattern of delegitimising journalists, encouraging online harassment, or using state power to punish critical outlets. The party operates within standard democratic norms in its relations with the press. Press freedom and harassment DMI risk is low.

Dimension	Risk level	Short justification
Disinformation & alternative media	Low	Mainstream and digital campaigning; more target than source of disinformation; no control of alternative or fringe media outlets.​
Foreign influence & external alignments	Low	Strongly pro‑EU and pro‑NATO, hawkish on Russia and supportive of Ukraine; no financial or organisational ties to hostile states.
Media capture & advertising / PSB control	Low	No major media assets; advertising via standard commercial channels; routine, rules‑based participation in ERR governance only.
Corruption & institutional integrity risk	Low	No persistent major leadership‑centred scandals; complies with party‑finance reporting and oversight rules.
Press freedom & harassment of media	Low	Publicly supports ERR independence and journalistic freedom; no systematic harassment or delegitimisation of media.