Former Eesti Pank chairman Jaan Männik (pictured), having planned to create a new right-wing party, promised to give this up if the Free Patriotic Citizen (VIK) and Better Estonia initiative indeed gains traction.
Jaan Männik may cancel own party plans
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Mr Männik announced his new party idea last March, claiming Estonian right wing had two options ahead of it: the existing parties reforming, or else a new one needing to rise to their side. «While announcing this, it was not important for me to play the first fiddle and lead it,» said Mr Männik.
According to Mr Männik, he realised last November that there were four other players harbouring the idea of a new party: University of Tartu medicinal faculty professor emeritus Raik-Hiio Mikelsaar; MEP Kristiina Ojuland; Better Estonia and VIK. Having talked to representatives of these, Mr Männik arrived at the conclusion that, instead of many new right wing parties, Estonia needs one that would be strong.
«I have said the whole time and I still think that if Ms Ojuland starts a party, VIK stars a party, Better Estonia stars a party, Mr Mikelsaar stars a party, and I start a party, this will only serve fragmentise and will be even harmful for Estonian politics,» said Mr Männik.
«Therefore, I have met with Andres Herkel and I have told him that if VIK starts a party, this initiative of theirs might be the force I have been talking about,» said he.
According to Mr Männik he has also met with Ms Ojuland, who is of the same opinion; also, Ms Ojuland and Mr Herkel have met, discussing the same issue.
Mr Männik stated that, if the VIK initiative proves strong, he would not be creating his own party; even so, he hastened not to confirm plans to join the party to be created by VIK. «I like the idea; even so, there is nothing today to join, as yet,» he said, referring to the fact that no party has so far been created.
«Nothing is known regarding who would be the chairman, what would be the programme etc. This is still all ahead of us, we now absolutely nothing about it today and, therefore, let me say this, in summary: I like the idea. The aim is not to fragmentise the Estonian political party culture, to avoid having overly many parties. But, as yet, there is really nothing to join,» said Mr Männik.