This year, party get-togethers and the resulting political declarations have basked in abundant limelight, with even smaller non-parliamentary groups getting their share. The reason being simple: it is local elections time, in October. And therefore, people are more into politics. So: is there anything fresh, ideas and solutions offered for the advancement for the state? Anything worth debating?
Alas! The talk rather tends to be the general and abstract kind, tasting like yesterday’s soup warned up. You do get fed, but with zero excitement. Yesterday’s Social Democrats (SDE) general assembly – worth paying attention to, due to their top popularity in recent rankings – proved no different. A TNS Emor May poll granting them 26 per cent favour, quite stable after that (Centre Party ranking Soc Dems’ equal, the last time around, Reform Party supported by 24 and IRL 15 per cent).
The general assembly was treated a lengthy speech on domestic policy by the party’s head Sven Mikser, the platform was ratified for local elections. Mr Miser centred on illustrating the failures of the competitors, largely the Reform Party inner elections scandal and radical statements by some marginal political figures. Mr Mikser also set forth quantitative goals for the local elections – SDE’s own visions and solutions not overly much mentioned.
When it comes to the socialists fresh elections programme, it is also dominated by generalities like vows to support local schools, entrepreneurs, and family doctors, safeguard life in the countryside etc. There would hardly be a party or (in the context of local elections) an election coalition, totally against such stuff – perhaps just using a differing wording. The strategy of Soc Dems seeming to be use fair words to come crashing in through open doors, stepping over the (governmental) parties that have stumbled at the threshold.
Yet, definite talk is needed. On how to organise the state: what could be a contemporary small state philosophy, as expressed last week in radio by communications expert Raul Rebane; on education, as «supporting schools» sounds nice but more substance is needed on what the school should look like, this being a very local government thing; on human resources related to immigration and exodus. And so on and so forth. To these questions we – both voters and journalists – should be demanding answers, these coming months.