Former IRL chairman Mart Laar has sent fellow party-members a letter advising IRL, in the light of the Reform Party scandal, to consider creating a new governing coalition. Read the letter underneath, unedited by Postimees:
Mart Laar: IRL should consider quitting coalition government
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Dear fellow party-members,
I have been elected by Riigikogu as Chairman of Supervisory Board of Eesti Pank. Tomorrow, I am leaving my post in Riigikogu and assuming my new responsibilities. I have worked in the Toompea Castle for over 20 years. Here, I have seen times both better and worse, departures and comebacks. I would like to thank you all for the time spent together, pulling the common cart. A lot has changed, but our ideals and principles remain the same. Today’s Pro Patria and Res Publica Union is trying to keep and to promote these. Knowing this to be a big job, I wish you strength and courage.
However, to convince you that I am still with you in my heart, I would like to add some political observations. The political situation in Estonia is bland, to put is frankly. Nothing to be proud of. While it may be good that now, the soap operas being on summer holiday, Reform Party is entertaining all those interested with a soap opera of its own – with no end in sight. It may sound funny, but actually it is sad. A governmental party has not only succeeded in ridiculing itself, is has undermined the credibility of Estonian politics as a whole. A party’s inner elections cannot, indeed, be equalled with state level e-elections, but the trustworthiness of the latter is still damaged by such cheating and lying.
No wonder, then, that more and more loudly we are being asked: why on earth do you belong to a coalition like this. Truly: IRL now has the chance to sever the dead end, leave the coalition and open the way to for the creation of a new coalition – whether we will be included or not. It is another matter, if instability and fanning the flames of a political crisis is a responsible thing to do. Nobody knowing if the new coalition would be better. The ethics of some parties, banging their battle drums and desiring the power, and their understanding of defence policy issues, give me no reason to claim that. However, the question of why we are in such a coalition has become unavoidable. Thus, this might be discussed on council, board or some special conference level. IRL has not been a party where decisions are made in an inner circle without consulting the party. Bringing the Estonian-Russian border treaty before the council, we also have prior history of discussing the coalition issues on council level. When the board had signed a coalition agreement with People’s Union of Estonia and Reform Party, the council rejected it, finding People’s Union not to be a suitable partner for us. I believe both decisions have been for the good of Estonia and the party – so we must not shrink back from discussions of a more open nature.
At the same time, this naturally holds its hazards i.e. should we burst into discussions of us belonging to the coalition, we may find ourselves in a situation where we no longer belong anywhere, all of a sudden. In 2001, Reform Party did not even have to gather their council in order to break the current coalition and enter into a coalition with Centre Party in Tallinn. To their partners – meaning us, that time – they simply lied. I believe we should not act that way right now.
Knowing the Estonian media is in the habit of publishing private letters sent to party members, I would take the opportunity to add two points to exclude false interpretations. Firstly: this is not a call for IRL to immediately leave the coalition. Second: should the party deem it prudent to start discussions, this should not descend into horse trading, cooking up all kinds of new offers for our coalition partners painting the grass greener and skies bluer.
Our interests not being the advancement of a clique – be it rightwing or leftwing – but the interests of the state and the people of Estonia. Let us not forget that, for only then we can stand true to our motto – ADVANCING THE CAUSE OF ESTONIA!