Kross tackles Tallinn TV ads

Photo: Mihkel Maripuu

The day before yesterday, Eerik-Niiles Kross – or, to be more precise, sworn advocate Indrek Leppik of Glimsted bureau, representing Mr Kross – filed a complaint to Tallinn Administrative Court, requesting info campaign by Tallinn city government i.e. TV ads Tallinn Helps (Tallinn aitab) to be declared unlawful and banned.

The complaint contains a clause desiring preliminary legal protection. That would mean prohibiting showing of Tallinn city government advertisements till October 20^th. The clause is actually aimed against three parties: firstly against Tallinn city government, not to deliver TV ads till October 20^th, and secondly against Kanal 2 and thirdly against TV 3 – that the TV channels would not show ads by Tallinn. 

Mr Kross explains that deliberation of the content of the complaint may take time, probably happening after the election day. In longer perspective, that would be vital as well; even so, in Mr Kross’ estimation, legal protection might serve to halt the Tallinn ads immediately.

We are talking about two TV ads by Tallinn. In one of these, the government presents Tallinn’s kindergartens and playgrounds; the second one centres on services for the elderly provided by Tallinn. Both are ads by the city of Tallinn, prepared and paid for by the city; even so, both feature Centre Party candidates running at upcoming local elections – the central figure, of course, being Mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar himself.

This Mr Kross interprets to be elections advertisement by Centre Party candidates. The complaint filed to courts says by this rights of other candidates are violated: «Activities by city of Tallinn in financing election advertisements by the ruling Centre Party sets a precedent where a party participating at elections draws funds for advertisements from budget of a person in public law. By that, a situation of unequal political competition is created, setting parties and candidates not receiving such support in an unfavourable position in Tallinn.»

Mr Kross is not alone in pointing this out. Indeed, all other political parties and candidates running in Tallinn have talked about the massive use of administrative resources and money for advertising Centre Party candidates, Mr Savisaar in particular.

At the end of September, Reform Party Tallinn mayor candidate Valdo Randpere presented Riigikogu a bill to prohibit local governments holding PR-campaigns for three months before elections day. Should the bill be signed into law, this will be in a longer perspective.

The present complaint by Mr Kross, however, requires immediate response; in his opinion, current law offers an opportunity for the move. According to Mr Kross, the decision regarding preliminary legal protection might come in a couple of days, during this week at any rate – provided the court will not ask for additional materials.

Broadly speaking, the issue is of course greater that the two Tallinn TV ads mentioned above. Over these past months, both Postimees and other media outlets have written about examples similar to that.

TV clips by Edgar Savisaar, the man promoting pole walking. Ads with Mr Savisaar to open Hiiu sports arena. People’s Front (Rahvarinne) concert tour. North Tallinn city officials’ ad posters, prepared for city money; all kinds of Tallinn outdoor ads; Lasnamäe Days.

Also, the abundance of opening ceremonies and parties, like the pompous opening of Ülemiste crossing facility; or last week’s show at Tondiraba ice arena, on temporary ice at the construction site. To say nothing about Tallinn TV, or the city circulation newspapers.