«May we announce over Facebook that, in tomorrow’s paper, there’ll be an interview with the fresh Prime Minister?» asked the prime ministerial bureau after Postimees had finished its initial interview with Taavi Rõivas freshly in office. Yeah, sure. Just an example of the totally new state leadership: constant salesmanship, being a people’s person (at least on the surface), each and every step reflected in social media, by word or picture.
Today, Mr Rõivas has his 100
day in the office, but for other cabinet members, he established himself as chief at the initial cabinet meetings. When finance minister Jürgen Ligi tended to het a bit mischievous, during the opening days, Mr Rõivas put it point blank: «Jürgen, we have serious issues to discuss here.» For the other half of the government – the soc dems – it immediately gave the feeling of security: the new prime minister has no desire to become a hanger-on and errand boy for the old guys in own party.
Active communicator
Not so severe and cloudless, during the remainder of the hundred days. Reform Party is sensing its supremacy and the second wind in their political sails; the soc dems are trying to keep up and expect equal treatment. «Actually, every day it’s tussling for positions,» we are told by one party.
«To be frank, we have given the soc dems more space than their size would allow,» says the other. Among other things, the power play is seen in certain governmental bill reaching the soc dems at 11th hour, so to say, and in the morning they will decide. But: Reform Party will still be able to say: «But we did let you know.»
Despite that, humanly speaking the coalition gets along well. Especially when considering that as the former Reform and IRL coalition was falling apart, top politicians had it so icy that they hardly said hello.
The greatest challenge of Mr Rõivas’ government is supposed to be whether he will be able to inspire all ministers – the old and the new – to do their job, and that without too much drumbeat and trumpeting. Clearly, Mr Rõivas is a professional new generation politician.
More outgoing than the old Andrus Ansip school of «we’ll think about it and let you know». Mr Rõivas is the type that sends social media messages and lets every step of his be known.
His initial steps are characterised by the word «activism»: he’s been an alert communicator on the foreign front, yet travelling Estonia diligently: Ida-Viru County, Tartu County, Pärnu and Harju Counties. He is a quick hand to shoot pictures and equally fast at setting these up in social media.
Longer-termers in the government will admit that there are more discussions now, at government sessions. Which is logical, come to think of it – a new prime minister, lots of new ministers. There are more questions, but also more suspicions. And even the latter is logical, especially in shaping-the-budget-times – when suspicions tend to abound towards the «finance minister party». Like are all decisions and the saying «money matters not» really always in the interests of the entire coalition.
The greatest scandal would be the decision by Mr Rõivas not to communicate with Tallinn TV.
The decision was not coordinated by Mr Rõivas, neither with others at government, neither in own party. But then, at Reform Party, here’s the old set habit not to give interviews or explanations to Tallinn TV. (Igor Gräzin being the sole exception.) Mr Rõivas’ decision was a straight one: he desires not to talk to a TV station that is anti-Estonia and fully into Kremlin propaganda.
Opposition and criticism also overflowed this week as Riigikogu opted to tie the postpone-parent-pension bill decision with confidence of government. By IRL chief Urmas Reinsalu, this was called an exceedingly cynical and daily-politics thing to do. The coalition, however, said that when going through IRL’s 1,000 amendment proposals, the parliament would have been in session for next 20 days, ten hours a day. That, said they, would have set a threatening precedent: come autumn, 10,000 amendments might be proposed, paralyzing the parliament for months.
Benevolence
In April, Turu-uuringud pollsters asked 1,003 people how they viewed Reform Party decision to set Mr Rõivas as PM, and how competent they deemed the man to be.
To this, 43 percent of respondents replied that Mr Rõivas was the right or rather the right choice, and by 44 percent he was regarded as competent for job. Among the Estonians, support towered at 55 percent; among others, it languished at mere 19.
The benevolence of the people may be explained by the low expectations. For Siim Kallas, it would have been harder to clear the expectation-hurdles. Rather, Mr Rõivas stepped forth to reviling remarks – a Rosimannus-Michal school broiler – and was then able to start proving himself, in his bright blue, speckled or red socks. In spite of his youth, as municipal politician he had developed his loyal supporters. On his very first day, old ladies from Haabersti part of town greeted him with a poem written just for him – a surprise visit.
Weightiest governmental feats of the 100 days
• In April, budget strategy was ratified for 2015–2018, setting defence costs at 2 percent level. Ämari Air Base became second host to Baltic air policing operations.
• Raising family benefit.
• Lifting tax-free minimum of income, from €144, by €10 each year till 2018; lowering unemployment insurance payment rate by 0.6 percent.
• Presenting Riigikogu with work capacity reform bill, offering help plus jobs-support to the disabled.
• In June, Riigikogu got the bill on extending school lunch to gymnasium level.
• Proposal on use of EU support gets green light by European Commission, getting €4.4bn for development of Estonia.
• In May, rural development plan 2014–2020 gets governmental approval. In it, support is prescribed to the tune of €1bn.
• In June, Riigikogu gets the bill on specified regulation for digital ID-cards for E-residents.
• To enhance flexibility of state governance, Government of the Republic Act was amended to allow PM to specify ministers’ domains.
• To set general directions for E-state development, e-Estonia council was set up under leadership of Prime Minister.
• In June, open governance action plan got government approval for 2014–2016, focussing on open and involving political processes, transparent budget-making and financial management, and citizens-based public services.
• Baltic States agreed on joint company for Rail Baltic.
Comment
Urmas Reinsalu, head of IRL
Change of government, for Reform Party, was carried by the need to alter image. Of the political vision of Taavi Rõivas as head of government, the public has heard far less. Rather, we are learning about private life issues and hobbies of him.
Surprisingly, the most politically intense minister rather is economy minister Urve Palo, whose initiatives on many occasions seem not to be supported by coalition partner.
Characteristically to the new government, it has had to scramble to find the money to cover promises made. Therefore, Riigikogu has been forced, at high speeds, to pass tax laws on business, removal of parents’ pension, and fuel rise law.
Interestingly: in the beginning, the new coalition promised greater involvement at decision-making. But, in this great hurry, they never even managed to ask for opinion of interest groups.
The government lacks no enthusiasm in creating extra spending. I hope the optimism will be reflected in economic growth figures, these upcoming quarters. Otherwise, we’ll be in deep trouble next year. While spending like soc dems and earn income like liberals, that’s material for a big bad bang.
The most urgent issue, in Estonia right now, is the economic situation. First of all, the government ought to think how to boost business, not to stifle it. For the society, the serious problem is that for a large part of people working full time, the income barely makes ends meet at all. It is here we need the real debate and solution. That was the essence of the discussions initiated by Indrek Neivelt. Sadly, the government failed to respond with content and depth. But it’s nice to have more women, in the government.
One question
Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas, have these been the best 100 days in your life?
The best days for me started with the birth of my daughter, in 2009. When doing your job with you and with all of your heart, then every day is your best. And: these 100 days have not been criticism-free, and I never asked for that. In reality, I don’t believe much in freedom from criticism. If the public and the opposition wish to criticize the government, they need to have the opportunity during its entire term. There’s almost a year till the next elections, and I like constructive criticism.
There’s lots of work to do. Looking at the schedule, which is very ambitions, and the zeal in our ministers to labour – there’s not much vacation time coming. Rather, we will be working all the summer long, to get everything done that we wrote in the coalition treaty.
I have an excellent team. In addition to programme-based decisions, we have been able to take steps to enhance security, we have the permanent presence of allies, we have definite plans both with gas and electrical connections to be added. These are long-term strategic impact decisions.