elitsiatsiooni

Elitsiatsioon is a term used in the context of Estonian politics to describe the process of selecting members for the Riigikogu, the unicameral parliament of Estonia. The Riigikogu consists of 101 members, who are elected through a mixed-member proportional representation system. This system combines elements of both majoritarian and proportional representation, ensuring that both the overall proportionality of the parliament and the representation of individual constituencies are maintained.

The election process involves two main stages. First, voters cast their votes for candidates in their specific constituency, which is a single-member district. The candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins a seat in the Riigikogu. This stage is designed to ensure that each constituency is represented by at least one member.

In the second stage, voters also cast their votes for political parties or lists of candidates. The number of seats allocated to each party is determined by the proportion of the national vote they receive. This ensures that the overall composition of the Riigikogu reflects the national preferences of the electorate.

The mixed-member proportional representation system used in Estonia's elitsiatsioon aims to balance the interests of individual constituencies with the broader national preferences, providing a more representative and inclusive parliamentary body. This system has been in place since the adoption of the new constitution in 2001 and has been credited with promoting political stability and diversity in the Estonian political landscape.