For some reason, Tallinn’s Centre Party city government decided to do its ugliest and grossest yesterday – on World Mental Health Day. The monstrosity hoisted for a couple of minutes, by crane, to open Ülemiste crossing, plus the rest of the theatrics, cost Tallinn taxpayers many a teacher’s yearly wages worth of money.
The result, on top of shameless waste of taxpayer euros, was a couple of minutes of childish dialogue between an ugly foamed-plastic-statue and Centre Party chairman – a sight bordering on the grotesque. While trying to forget the waste and attempting to understand that the aim was to make a splash – one still wonders why on earth will Mr Savisaar let his subordinates set him in situations so ridiculous.
Yesterdays’ top-stupid list compiled by elections watch was reserved for Centre Party alone. The current Tallinn city council chair Toomas Vitsut has, in election campaign, resorted to intimidation and threats. «Intimidating officials, meaning abuse of office, is more than mere violation of good election practice,» said Kaarel Tarand, one of the watchmen, adding: «Herein, we have to do with breach of law defining neutrality of public service.»
Denigration of Estonia’s e-elections has also reached record heights, with Tallinn city government advertising its very own local government forum called «Satan Votes in Internet», trying to scare people off e-elections, claiming it is insecure. Such behaviour obviously caused by Centre Party thinking that e-elections have served to better activate those who are «against».
However, as proven by a long-term e-elections study by political scientists, this Centre Party fear has nothing to do with reality – e-elections favouring no party. Thus, with Tallinn tax money Centre Party denigrates and maligns a means of elections – not only unfoundedly, but also totally in vain. Still sowing mistrust into the society.
Even so, involvement of Bronze Night activists and persons convicted for looting at yesterday’s demonstration at Toompea – that’s quite another level.
Such use of tax money for party propaganda is so widespread and blatantly impudent that the abundance of invitations – on quality paper and colour print, stuck into Tallinners’ post boxes – hardy raises an eyebrow, anymore.