The research, conducted by pollsters Emor on a monthly basis, found the current presidential election process may have influenced the August ratings, which saw SDE close the gap on another opposition party, Center.

Isamaa firmly topped the party ratings table with 26 percent, the opposition party's best result since January even as it has been the most-supported party for many months now.

Center polled at 19 percent in August according to Emor. The party's rating has been falling over the past two months, and it is only just ahead of SDE. In June, support for Center was 22 percent, just two percentage points behind Isamaa.

SDE's rating rose from 14 percent in July to 18 percent in August, and its popularity improved primarily among younger demographics (up to age 35), Emor reported.

Center lost support specifically among Estonian-speaking respondents, from 13 percent in this demographic in June to 8 percent in August (in July the figure was 12 percent).

Emor research expert Aivar Voog found the decline in support for Center and rise for SDE to possibly result from the ongoing presidential election process; SDE were the first party to clearly throw their support behind Ülle Madise, not only the only candidate registered to run at the time of writing with 74 MPs signing off on her, but also the most popular candidate with the public.

Center is the only party to have come out in support of Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) Rector Tiit Land, the only recent challenger to Madise and significantly less popular with the public.

"In addition, the Center Party has been overshadowed by [Isamaa] in its communications in Tallinn. At the same time, in the case of the Social Democrats, it can be highlighted that their high support has been unstable. It lasts for two or three months and then falls back again. Unlike Isamaa, whose support is stable," Voog noted.

The coalition Reform Party and the opposition EKRE were fourth and fifth in the August survey, almost even-stevens with 13 and 12 percent support respectively. In July, both parties rated at 14 percent.

Support for the non-parliamentary Parempoolsed stood at 7 percent for the second consecutive month, lower than the 9 percent recorded in May and June but still higher than the 5 percent required to win seats at a direct election.

The other coalition party, Eesti 200, rated at 3 percent in August (up from 2 percent in July), still below the electoral threshold. The party recently saw a high-profile member, Kalev Stoicescu, leave. The pro-Kremlin Koos/Vmeste party polled at 2 percent; the Greens (Eesti Rohelised), 1 percent. Support for ERK, which broke away from EKRE a couple of years ago, and the EÜVP, fell below 1 percent in August.

Additionally, 27 percent were unable to name a preference, a higher figure than in July (25 percent) and June (23 percent). The above ratings do not incorporate undecided responses.

When respondents without a preference are factored in, Isamaa saw 18.4 percent support in August, Center 13.4 percent, SDE 13.1 percent, the Reform Party 9.1 percent, EKRE 8.3 percent, Parempoolsed 5.4 percent, Eesti 200 1.9 percent and the Greens 1.1 percent.

Among native Estonian-speaking respondents, Isamaa ranked first in August with 30 percent support, followed by the SDE with 21 percent, Reform with 14 percent and EKRE with 13 percent. Parempoolsed and Center each saw 8 percent support with this demographic. Eesti 200 polled at 3 percent and the Greens at 2 percent.

Among respondents of other ethnic backgrounds, primarily meaning Russian-speaking voters, the Center Party retained a clear lead in August, with 67 percent support (63 percent in July).

The Koos party polled at 9 percent with this population sector, higher than several mainstream parties: SDE at 6 percent, Isamaa and the Reform Party at 5 percent each, and EKRE at 4 percent.

Among voters in Tallinn, the Center Party remained most popular with 31 percent support. The capital is one of its traditional strongholds. SDE, whose support among Tallinn residents rose in August, saw that trend continue and is now in second place with 24 percent (17 percent in July). Reform was third in Tallinn with 12 percent.

Isamaa's support among Tallinn voters saw a sharp decline over the month, with 10 percent supporting the party in August (compared with 17 percent in July).

Center and Isamaa are in office together in Tallinn.

EKRE polled at 8 percent support in the capital, just ahead of Parempoolsed at 7 percent.

Center also remained the most popular choice among respondents in its other main stronghold, Ida-Viru County, where it polled at 58 percent in August. Isamaa ranked first in all other regions of Estonia in August.

By age, SDE was the most popular choice among 18- to 24-year-olds (44 percent) and 25- to 34-year-olds (34 percent).

Isamaa ranked first among 35- to 49-year-olds, 50- to 64-year-olds and 65- to 74-year-olds.

In the 75+ age group, Center and Reform shared first place with 24 percent each.

The presidential elections at the Riigikogu take place September 2-3. The next direct elections in Estonia are to the Riigikogu itself, in March 2027.

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