The chairman of Estonia's ruling Reform Party, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip stated at Friday's meeting of the party's policy-making council that he will keep his promise to lead the party until the end of the present Cabinet's term of office.
Ansip to take another stab at Estonian Reform Party leadership in summer
2nd February 2013, 17:03
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Ansip told fellow members of the party he will definitely run for chairman again at the summer congress like he promised in February last year, spokespeople for the Reform Party said.
"I've been asked by members of the opposition in particular whether I intend to run for chairman in June. I can tell members of the party directly - yes, I do. Anyone else who does too is welcome, they'll have to compete with me. The party has been under attack for six months and there would be no justification if I abandoned the party on the battlefield in such a situation," Ansip said.
Even when under heavy fire the Reform Party stuck to its political line, the chairman said. "When we initiated the need-based child benefit reform there were those who claimed it was nothing but a diversionary action. But we carried out the reform. I don't think it diverted anybody's attention, but it was a big thing for families who need help," he told the council.
In January the Reform Party received nearly 600 membership applications, Ansip added. "Why? Do we have a promotion campaign underway in the media? No, we don't. It's just that people have started thinking about who are the politicians who best express and protect their own and Estonia's interests."
A poll conducted by TNS Emor showed that the Reform Party, after topping popularity rankings for years, fell into third place after the opposition Center Party and Social Democrats in January. The Center Party was backed by 28 percent, the Social Democrats by 27 percent, Reform by 20 percent, and its coalition partner Pro Patria and Res Publica Union by 16 percent of respondents.
TNS Emor interviewed 899 voting-age citizens for the poll commissioned by public broadcaster ERR. It factors in only the answers of respondents who have a party preference. In January 38 percent of the polled said they did not prefer any political party to another.
Ansip has headed the Reform Party since November 2004.