Another squirrel seeking majority with soc dems

Photo: Liis Treimann / Postimees

Yesterday afternoon, President Ilves had to shift into top gear to solve governmental crisis, finding himself on a situation where presumed next prime minister had left the arena, and mere six days left to appoint creator of new coalition – instead of two weeks.

At about 9 am, yesterday morning, European Commission vice president Siim Kallas appeared before public, at an ideas exchange, uttering some opening words. The man looked calm and upbeat, untouched as if by a week filled with intense power talks. 

An hour later, Reform Party leadership convened at their Toompea headquarters. For a routine get-together, they supposed, expecting Mr Kallas to come and let them know how advanced the coalition-to-be with social democrats.

Instead, in front of those gathered, Siim Kallas detonated a political bomb, announcing that the public attacks launched against him had gotten too bad; in a situation like this, he couldn’t assemble a government. Mr Kallas said he was giving up candidacy for prime minister and added the statement to be repeated, by him, time and again during the day: «Nobody’s [made] of iron.»

Bolt from blue

Afterwards, lots of guesses were attempted: did Mr Kallas really lost his nerve for mere newspaper stories regarding one-time letters of guarantee by Eesti Pank not pointing to any crime; or was he, rather, moved by fresh insight into the squirrel party inner life?

Did it dawn on Mr Kallas that bridling party intrigues was just going to be too much, for him? During the long years in Brussels, the commissioner had gotten used to another, a softer way of working things out.

For top Reform Party cadre, the step was like a bolt from the blue. A purely personal decision, disclosed to family alone, not even Prime Minister Andrus Ansip knew. An awkward silence settled over the meeting-room.

Mr Ansip wasn’t even present – the outgoing prime minister having assumed the stand that he’s not involved in creation of next coalition. Hearing of the Kallas-surprise, however, he immediately showed up.

By 11 am, it had been agreed, the Reform Party delegation was due at Kadriorg. Supposedly to present prime ministerial candidate to President, for the latter to be convinced the creation of new coalition was firmly on track.

Instead of all that, it was Mr Ansip, faction chief Jaanus Tamkivi and environment minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus did the visit. Which only lasted for 30 minutes or so – with no prime minister candidate to show, what was the leading parliamentary party supposed to talk about?

Kallas the Commissioner, however, hastened to the Tallinn airport before it was noon, to leave Estonia via air. «I’m returning to Brussels, tonight, to prepare for transport committee meeting,» he announced in a social network.

Wanted: a candidate

Meanwhile, President Ilves launched fast-track round of discussions with parliamentary parties. Again, soc dems chair Sven Mikser and IRL counterpart Urmas Reinsalu came to Kadriorg. Now, squirrels had a rather practical nut to crack: finding somebody within their ranks to perhaps be Estonia’s next prime minister.

All that in a situation where the outgoing head of government, Andrus Ansip, had for the nine years failed to find a suitable successor, rather fetching the veteran Siim Kallas all the way from Brussels. Also, the party had to appoint a new chairman, to be approved at some later date by its general assembly.

To decide the issue, the top squirrels arrived at Toompea faction facilities, at 3 pm. Lots of names had been tossed up, foreign minister Urmas Paet already having uttered his refusal to become premier.

Thus, the choice had to be made between two younger generation politicians – justice minister Hanno Pevkur and social minister Taavi Rõivas. Culture minister Urve Tiidus was also set up; she declined.

To make up their minds, board members entered a separate room. Votes were cast. According to Postimees’ knowledge, Mr Rõivas came on top by just one vote.

Thereafter, Mr Rõivas and companions went to Kadriorg to see Mr Ilves. The fresh Reform Party prime minister candidate expressed hopes the power coalition with soc dems would happen just the same.

At the same time, soc dems were together, thinking – we do want to govern; but what do we make of Mr Rõivas?

From morning hours, IRL in its turn had been trying to figure out if it would be better to evoke early elections. That, however, would take a three-party-agreement against Reformers, and – what’s even more complicated – sticking to what’s agreed.