44 top politicians shooting for Tallinn City Council

Photo: Liis Treimann / Postimees

In Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, nine government ministers and 35 members of the Parliament are running at local elections – people who, pursuant to law, may not enter the council without leaving their current posts.

Of the 13 cabinet ministers, Reform Party «runners» include social minister Taavi Rõivas, environment minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, finance minister Jürgen Ligi, minister of justice Hanno Pevkur and foreign minister Urmas Paet. Of the ministers from Reform Party, prime Andrus Ansip and culture minister Rein Lang have opted not to run.

Of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL), council seats are sought by interior minister Ken-Marti Vaher, economy minister Juhan Parts, defence minister Urmas Reinsalu and regions minister Siim Kiisler. Minister of education Jaak Aaviksoo and of agriculture, Helir-Valdor Seeder, also of IRL, are not running in the capital.

Of the 101 Riigikogu members, a whopping 35 seem intent to make it to the city council. Of Reform Party, the list includes Igor Gräzin, Paul-Eerik Rummo, Arto Aas, Remo Holsmer, Valdo Randpere, Laine Randjärv, Maret Maripuu, Kristen Michal, Mati Raidma and Tiina Lokk-Tramberg.

IRL’s running parliamentarians are Sven Sester, Siim Kabrits, Reet Roos, Erki Nool, Juku-Kalle Raid, Mart Nutt and Liisa-Ly Pakosta.

Center Party electoral list, for Tallinn, includes the following from Riigikogu: Viktor Vassiljev, Mailis Reps, Kalev Kallo, Marika Tuus-Laul, Vladimir Velman, Lauri Laasi, Jüri Ratas, Olga Sõtnik, Yana Toom and Enn Eesmaa. Social Democrats (SDE) have set up the following parliament members: Marianne Mikko, Andres Anvelt, Karel Rüütli, Sven Mikser, Indrek Saar, Rainer Vakra, Mart Meri and Eiki Nestor.

In addition to the above, two members of the European Parliament are also aiming for city council seats: Vilja Savisaar-Toomast (Reform Party) and Ivari Padar (SDE).

At the start of this week, participation of ministers and Riigikogu members was denounced by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, according to whom this is sheer hypocrisy: it being known in advance that most of these have no intention to go work at the council.

«Advertisements, concerning which we know that these candidates, if elected, would not accept the posts, lead us straight towards discrediting our political party system. This is hypocritical and alienating, causing the attitudes we daily encounter via media. As you all well know,» said the President in his opening speech at the Riigikogu autumn session, calling upon lawgivers to be honest towards voters.