Ansip may head party till elections

Photo: Jassu Hertsmann / Postimees

Even if Reform Party nominates new prime minister candidate prior to Riigikogu elections of March 1^st 2015, party chairman may not change.

In 2013, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip was re-elected as Reform Party chairman for two years; therefore, his powers last till May 2015. «He is not intending to go anywhere, anytime soon,» Postimees was told by a source among Reform Party decision makers. For Reformers, in the process of losing obedience of coalition partner IRL as well as support of the people, the last month of the past year was rather confused and intense.

In the beginning of December, it was agreed – as if – that Urmas Paet would be brought forth as the new chairman in the context of European Parliament elections, to whom support would be shown by Mr Ansip, according to an original plan, in his Anniversary of the Republic speech in Tartu, on February 23^rd.  A year back, Mr Ansip used that very pulpit to announce he would not be forming the next power coalition.

The idea of Mr Paet as new leader was just about to sink in, as European commissioner Siim Kallas entered the arena, not seeing things as black and white – and rather not supportive of such a solution. There is a bunch, within Reform Party, that believes Mr Kallas and his daughter Kaja Kallas want to seize power in the party – on of them stepping up to head it.

By the party’s main string-pullers so far, and some in its parliamentary faction, the Kallas duo has been nicknamed Family Aliyev. Not the friendliest of insider hint at Azerbaijan – ruled, after independence, by members of a single family. 

A combination like that would feel rather fearsome, as Kaja Kallas – known to be an independent thinker – would be an uncomfortable pick for a large part of the party; Father Siim, meanwhile, having announced he supports Daughter in everything. And, in the party, the word of Siim Kallas still carries great weight. 

There is an indirect link between the names of new Reform Party leader and the new euro-commissioner, regarding whom the party needs to arrive at a consensus; this, already, feels like a tough trial within the coalition.

In the opinion of IRL, the seat is rightfully theirs – as, according to an earlier agreement, Mart Laar was supposed to become the commissioner. All excited about pulling strings, Reform Party seems to have forgotten: in their eyes, the worthiest candidate for the Brussels spot would be Mr Ansip. 

Clearly, an EU commissioner ought to have prime minister experience under his belt, as is true regarding Mr Ansip and economy minister Juhan Parts (IRL) alike. Mr Ansip and Mr Parts, with similarities in their CVs (both have also served as economy ministers), Mr Ansip feels like the favourite, having these past years spent a large part of his time among European top politicians.

In his end-if-the-year interview to Postimees, Mr Ansip said he would continue in Estonian politics – one way or another. «Estonian state has invested into me quite a lot. It would not be right to retreat into private business, say, with such a baggage of knowledge and network of relations. I have no such plans. I intend to stay in Estonian politics,» said Mr Ansip.

«I’m not overly worried what I will become after leaving prime minister’s post. I am sure I’ll find an occupation good for Estonian state.» Whether he could become the next EU commissioner, Mr Ansip did not desire to reveal. «It’s a long way till that. Whoever will be the Estonian EU commissioner will be decided by government after European Parliament elections. Right now, it is too early to speculate about that,» said Mr Ansip, not excluding the possibility of  government being affected by European elections. «It depends on who of the government ministers decides to run at the elections,» reasoned Mr Ansip.

«Reform Party must clarify its prime minister candidate for next Riigikogu elections, after the European elections. That step will certainly be taken – not necessarily meaning that the government must change.»