Creation of new government coalition to kick into official gear on Friday as prime ministerial party chooses its negotiators.
Reform Party and soc dems in springtime coalition to sniff deal
5th March 2014, 13:36
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As dictated by logic of human tedium and tiredness, prime ministerial change and creation of new team, Social Democratic Party feels like forerunner for power with Reform Party, rather than IRL. With soc dems, the reformers have also entered into unofficial pre-pre-agreements.
Pre-pre-agreements happen when no-one dares to admit to coalition talks already underway – before the official time (till March 10th to 12th, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves is having cosmetic chats with all parties, before the parties do their official talking – T. K.) and no-one having the guts to reveal intensity thereof.
Even so, grapevine telegraph tells us that current draft papers of the squirrels/soc dems presumed «springtime coalition» features raised child benefits, increased attention on Ida-Viru County, continued cuts to income tax, and Andrus Ansip’s nomination as EU commissioner.
«We have sniffed each other,» last night admitted Eiki Nestor, the soc dem pre-pre-talker. «The goal being to understand whether it makes sense to sit down together to hold government talks,» said he.
Does it, then? «Well that’s for leadership for both parties to decide.»
IRL spring charms
Reform Party leadership convenes on Friday; then, they put together the negotiation team together. Soc dems will tweak their plans after that.
According to Reform Party vice chairman Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, the party desired to swiftly move ahead with forming the new government. «At the talks, we will be focussing on lowering labour force taxes thereby raising the income of people, continuing the child benefit reform, decisions increasing national defence capabilities,» she said.
As both partners-in-consultations know, Reform Party’s current coalition member IRL may also bring out her charms and a «spring collection», as has already happened. Namely, IRL would agree to replace some of its ministers, but would basically favour the continuance of the same coalition.
Options Ltd
IRL will not give up its vice chairman, economy minister Juhan Parts. Reform Party knows that, and is intentionally playing for a fight.
Mr Parts, a leading figure within IRL in moments of crisis and otherwise, still thinks that coalition cooperation with Reform will continue and why worry. «It would be logical for the new government to be formed on the basis of the existing coalition,» said he.
At the same time, Mr Parts admitted to being a bit troubled by Reform Party’s talks with soc dems. No urgent need for that, he thinks. Especially with elections so soon to come.
Kristen Michal, in all likelihood in the inner or indirect circles of the squirrels/soc dems talks, noted that the most important message, yesterday, was that President Ilves desires not a minority government.
«We also assume the same: a government needs to be created, the programme of which has majority in Riigikogu. For that, options are limited,» said the former minister of justice. «Stating this explicitly as a personal opinion, but we will obviously not go for cooperation with Centre Party.»
According to Mr Michal, the new government might as well be born quite quickly – considering the world events.
Comments
Jüri Ratas
Vice-President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas (Centre Party) thinks that if the new government will be formed by Reform Party honorary chairman and former EU commissioner Siim Kallas, the new government will be broader-based than the current one. In his opinion, the new government will enter office quickly, rather than slowly.
«It’s no secret that there isn’t much clarity on the Estonian political landscape there’s, on the one hand; on the other hand, I feel the new government will rather be more broad-based than the current one,» said Mr Ratas and specified that in his opinion Mr Kallas wants greater change in the government than just the Prime Minister being different.
Asked if he thinks Centre Party might participate in the talks, the vice speaker said it depends to whom President proposes to form government and what the prime-minister-to-be will think.
«Obviously, every party wishes to perform its programme-related goals; it’s no secret this can to a large degree and strongly be accomplished while in a coalition,» said Mr Ratas. «Surely, in these matters, there is openness in Centre Party.»
Eiki Nestor
According to Riigikogu sod dems faction deputy head Eiki Nestor, all political doers should consider that, in the current situation, the new government ought to be created as fast as possible. «In some other international situation, maybe there would be more time to think and consider; today, the time is understandably shorter,» said he.
Mr Nestor noted the President has the right to make his own decisions and no-one can prescribe to him when, and if at all, he would hold consultations. «It does, however, mean that in the given situation the mutual contacts between the parties might as well happen faster,» said the politician, adding that then it would also be easier for the President to make decisions, as the consultations start.
According to Mr Nestor, there are currently four parties in the Riigikogu, one of which «is daily distancing itself from responsible state management». Therefore, states he, there are not many options for creating the new government. Asked if soc dems have made preparations to open possible consultations, Mr Nestor said yes. «Seeing we announced at the council that we are ready to negotiate, we naturally have made preparations,» said Mr Nestor.
Tiit Riisalo
IRL secretary-general Tiit Riisalo said that even though, to their knowledge, Reform Party has launched consultations with sod dems, he does not see any reason in the current situation to break up the current right-wing coalition.
Mr Riisalo repeated the IRL view that, in the light of the events in Ukraine, the prime minister might have waited with stepping down. «No need for such hurry with the Reform Party comeback,» said he.
By now, however, the prime minister has handed in his resignation; therefore, consultations between parties are to begin.
According to Mr Riisalo, IRL is not sitting idle. He assured there had been no quarrels in the coalition due to world views; still, in some issues, there were frictions. Even so, this is the usual in politics, said he.
«Anyway, there’s no reason to start breaking up the right-wing coalition a year before elections, especially in the current situation. Let’s see where the negotiations might lead,» said Mr Riisalo.