Born in deep inner distrust as situation in parliament allegedly offered no better variants, the coalition led by Taavi Rõivas has arrived at a point where they just don't feel like altering the government before Christmas. But the spring may bring salvation.
Yesterday, it was eight full months of governing for Reform, IRL and Soc Dems. A time continually characterised by distrust, ignoring of agreements, going solo.
«I have no need whatsoever to deal with seeking alternatives. We have a functioning government and I focus on the work of governing to work,» was what prime minister and Reform head Taavi Rõivas told Postimees yesterday, asked whether and to what degree their unity and harmony are hampered by Juhan Parts (IRL) being sent to Court of Auditors in Luxemburg.
The possible EU job for Mr Parts is rather a symptom not the cause for the current nagging at the coalition. A rather insignificant post, which has served to bring forth the lack of caring and stiffness in the partners, in personal pickings of fights.
As admitted by Mr Rõivas, in the so-called Parts problem a solution needs to be found that fits all. «This isn’t easy to achieve. I am not at all satisfied how we have come to a situation like this. Here, the various parties have dug deep into the trenches and indeed I do not feel comfortable having to deal with such topics,» the prime minister put it plain. «Thankfully, we may say the definite issue has not up to now hindered the working climate at the government and the discussions of other topics. This is important. Secondly, we are not in such a hurry with the topic that we should find a solution is a couple of days.»
He did not think this would be an issue to shake the government and he is not seeking an alternative solution. «If I would be actively seeking alternatives, I could not at the same time keep the government together. I am not thinking too much about that, for me this isn’t a topic – what is a topic for me is how to carry out the activity programme of the government,» said Mr Rõivas.
«We have lots of questions which will come up to be decided in near weeks and which are actually at least as weighty as who will represent Estonia in the Court of Auditors. All these things will need to be sensibly solved. I am not dealing with constantly calculating within 101,» continued the prime minister.
The current confrontation was triggered by IRL head Margus Tsahkna asking Mr Rõivas how Reform felt about Mr Parts set up for Court of Auditors. «Yes, I am not against but you will have to talk the soc dems into it yourself,» was the Reform state of mind. With the task, IRL and Soc Dems managed not.
Having met a few days ago, the coalition agreed that nothing was agreed but while there was still time to decide they should not indulge public fighting no longer. It failed to quiet down, though.
At talks between Mr Tsahkna and the soc dems chairman Jevgeni Ossinovski, the latter was asking for posts for various individuals and other goodies. With several issues IRL agreed, but Mr Ossinovski ended up backing out for what was refused.
Allegedly, the main fault that the top soc dem finds with Mr Parts is that the latter was not supporting Registered Partnership Act implementation clauses at Riigikogu.
For the coalition, the options are few: to try to continue while fighting or we will have a Reform/IRL minority government with hopes for cooperation by the so-called Camp Simson in the Centre faction lead by Kadri Simson. In the discussions, the currently don’t count on the Free as it looks no better than the current governing option to have to separately agree with all eight deputies regarding every vote.