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At a meeting this past Saturday, ASBL Free Patriotic Citizen (VIK) and association Better Estonia agreed to take definite steps preparing to create a new political party: Estonian political system, they concluded, is in need of a new energetic force, changing style of politics and stirring the existing parties to alter current manners.
According to Riigikogu member Andres Herkel, elected chairman of VIK, this December, Estonia needs political competition more open than offered by the four-party-system now crystallised.
«Options of Ice Cellar, People’s Assembly, Charter, and other citizen initiatives have exhausted themselves; for the most part, they have not been adhered to. Consequently, the next step will have to be taken,» said Mr Herkel, an IRL member in 1994–2013, having stood in the ranks of its predecessors.
Maario Laas, entrepreneur and leader of Better Estonia, underlined the existing parties lack clear vision of what Estonia ought to be like, for people living happy lives, feeling they are counted with for real.
Last year, plans to found a new party were also mulled by former Eesti Pank chairman Jaan Männik; recently, such an initiative was also voiced by member of European Parliament Kristiina Ojuland forced out of Reform Party.
According to Mr Herkel, he has met with Ms Ojuland at the initiative of the latter. «Of the meeting, I got the impression Ms Ojuland was rather interested in the upcoming European Parliament elections. The elections surely are important; even so, this is not the reason VIK came together nor are we planning our next steps based on that,» said he.
Mr Ojuland has told the media that Mr Herkel was not interested in cooperation. «We do have to do with a large organisation, and with such a colourful political career, our members may have various questions,» explained Mr Herkel.
When it comes to Marek Strandberg, recently leaving the ranks of the greens and, at various times contemplating creation of new parties, he says there has been no talk about him possibly joining the party being founded by Mr Herkel.
Commenting on new-party-plans, the IRL secretary general Tiit Riisalo said it was too early to take a stand. Even so, they are not afraid of competition, stated Mr Riisalu.
VIK has close to 300 members; at the last autumn’s local elections, they participated via various election coalitions. Better Estonia has no fixed membership. According to the agreement, the initiative will be registered, as a new non-profit association, in February.