Postimees Digest, Friday, May 17
Please note that the article is more than five years old and belongs to our archive. We do not update the content of the archives, so it may be necessary to consult newer sources.
Opposition remains on top of polls.
The recent TNS Emor party popularity poll reflects the continued dominance of opposition forces as the Center Party and the Social Democrat Party (SDE) remain in the lead with 26 percent each. The ruling Reform Party enjoyed the support of 24 percent of people questioned in May while its minority coalition partner Pro Patria Res Publica Union (IRL) managed a rating of 15 percent. SDE and the reformists have lost a single percentage point compared to April while IRL and the Center Party have both gained two points. People who remain undecided accounted for 40 percent of the vote.
Military service gains popularity.
A recent public opinion survey suggests that people's support of compulsory military service has risen to 95 percent while support has grown the most among non-ethnic Estonians. The Defense Forces is now the second most trusted (82 percent) state institution after the Rescue Board while the voluntary Defense League is fourth (74 percent). The survey also suggests that 79 percent of the population supports armed resistance in case of military action against Estonia whereas the indicator is higher among non-ethnic Estonians (83 percent) than among Estonian-speakers (78 percent). Minister of Defense Urmas Reinsalu said that people should not overemphasize the results of the survey, however, and that it will be possible to talk about a lasting change if the results remain the same in a few years' time.
Estonia does not plan to yield in terms of LNG terminal location.
Economy ministry deputy chancellor Ando Leppiman said that Estonia does not plan to yield in its ongoing dispute with Finland concerning the location of the joint LNG terminal as the ministry is convinced the Paldiski project is much better than its alternative in Inkoo, Finland. Leppiman said that Estonia does not know what it would cost to construct the terminal in Finland, when would it be completed and how it would affect Estonia. Finland explains its desire to construct the terminal in Inkoo with its bigger gas consumption. The European Commission also believes Estonia would make a good location for the terminal only if gas consumption were to go up in the country; the latter is not likely however. The sides need to reach an agreement by the end of June in order to qualify for EU financing. PM Andrus Ansip said yesterday that the negotiation process needs to pick up speed.
Government gives green light for participation in Mali.
The government initiated a Riigikogu draft resolution yesterday to authorize the participation of up to eight Estonian Defense Forces members in the EU training mission in Mali and up to two as part of the UN peacekeeping mission there. Estonia plans to contribute staff officers and a training team to the EU mission. The resolution prescribes Estonian soldiers' participation until the end of the year.
Tallinn to get another 4 million for roadworks.
Head of Tallinn Municipal Engineering Services Department Ain Valdmann said that citizens have reason for optimism regarding the state of the capital's roads as the city will allocate a further 4 million euros for road maintenance this year. The department announced that it has already repaired winter damage on streets that have public transport. "We have repaired half of the damage by now and this 4 million will help us achieve a lot more by fall," Valdmann said.