Postimees Digest, Monday, April 22
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Social democrats remain on top of polls.
TNS Emor's recent party popularity poll suggests that the oppositional Social Democrat Party (SDE) managed to hold on to its lead in April (27 percent) while rivals the Center Party and the Reform Party are all but tied for second place at 24 and 25 percent respectively. Reformists' coalition partner Pro Patria Res Publica Union (IRL) lost two points in April to land on 13 percent. Opposition forces enjoy 51 percent of the vote versus the coalition's 38 percent. 40 percent of people questioned did not have a clear preference in April.
VIK would allow election coalitions at Riigikogu elections.
Nonprofit Free Patriotic Citizen (VIK) recommends Estonia restore the right of election coalitions to participate in parliamentary elections and reduce state budget financing of political parties. The organization passed a note to parliament parties at its meeting the day before yesterday saying Estonian political culture needs to be made understandable and more open to competition. VIK also proposed an agreement according to which only those who actually plan to sit on local councils would run at the upcoming elections.
Ministry: people prefer legal software.
Justice ministry deputy chancellor Kai Härmand said that most people in Estonia prefer legal software provided it is available and affordable. "That is first and foremost maintained by those whose technical skills would allow them to make use of illegal software," Härmand said. The ministry's statement comes as a response to a letter from the Business Software Alliance (BSA) in which its representative Kaido Uduste reveals the International Intellectual Property Alliance's (IIPA) recommendation to include Estonia in its infamous "Special 301" report that acts as one of the most influential documents used to assess the situation of protection of intellectual property in various countries. IIPA concludes that protection of intellectual property is not prioritized in Estonia and that interests of consumers are preferred.
France to take over Baltic air policing.
French Air Force will take over the Baltic air policing mission from May using Mirage 2000C jet fighters. Baltic airspace is currently under the protection of Denmark's F-16 jets. NATO aircraft policing the Baltic airspace are based in Šiauliai, Lithuania.