People’s Assembly (Rahvakogu), assembling in Song Festival Square facilities on Saturday, might be called a test of universal stupidity. The test results proved negative: no stupidity discovered. Fears of short-sighted and demagogical decisions proved unfounded.
Urmo Kübar, head of Network of Estonian Nonprofit Organisations (NENO), one of People’s Assembly’s organisers, in his final speech quoted former UK prime minister Winston Churchill, according to whom the best argument against democracy was a five minute chat with an average voter. According to Mr Kübar, Mr Churchill has hopefully been proved wrong, this time around.
Indeed, both Mr Kübar and Mr Churchill are right. A five minute chat with an average voter «on the run» i.e. amid everyday busyness, without delving into pros and cons, might in many cases prove a disappointment. Rahvakogu has, however, revealed that when people are equipped with information to base their decisions upon, and with opportunities to gain more of it, while sensing the responsibility for their choices, the result is no worse than that of an «average expert» (the politician).
Thus: with an «average voter» we may, at worst, be talking about just a lack of interest – usually due to lack of information. In the Internet age, this should no longer be a serious hindrance, provided the existence of sincere desire to involve people with political decision-making. And the well-organised and balanced Rahvakogu now stands as a lesson on involvement.
Rahvakogu is not the end. It is part of a couple of years’ process in Estonian society, triggered by the arrogance of the government – mostly supported while crisis cuts were being implemented – towards criticism, followed by the ACTA protests, Silvergate, Charter 12 (Harta 12), and the Ice Cellar initiative (Jääkelder) process. The Rahvakogu proposals are now forwarded to the Riigikogu (parliament), the elected parliament members maintaining their sovereignty deciding on what will follow. However, the people, having formulated their proposals, will desire public discussions on how certain proposals will be approached.
Because, among other things, the Rahvakogu ought to result in political parties and politicians admitting to not having listened to the people, to having ignored the people’s discontent, to having with demagogy and brinkmanship avoided dialogue both among themselves and with public, to having left vital questions unanswered, to having been arrogant and careless.
Contrary to some fears, the Rahvakogu did not hijack politics: those gathered on Saturday didn’t define themselves as an alternative to parliament – rather as an environment of creative teamwork, only to be summoned as voluntary initiative and as the need arises. Political decisions are and remain with representatives in parliament, pursuant to mandate.
Centre Party youth did, however, try to hijack the Rahvakogu, distributing flyers calling for support of direct elections of President and advising to demand end to e-elections. They, also, are part of the people of Estonia. And that, also, is part of Estonian politics.