Editorial: Tallinn stirred

Photo: Toomas Huik / Postimees

While the voter is increasingly into Midsummer Night grill wurst thinking (to say nothing about football), opposition is stretching its fingers towards Tallinn power pie. From two angles.

Firstly, an attempt is underway to pry the mayor Edgar Savisaar and other top doers off their seats – the ones under criminal investigation related to ad campaigns for 2013 local elections. Secondly, activities at administrative councils of city districts are tackled – surprisingly, perhaps, some bits of Tallinn power are left on district level. An oppositional council is planned, and oppositional actions increasingly visible.

With a couple of smart moves aimed at the sole party bigwigs, the city would get a breath of fresh air at least. Would be weird indeed for the capital’s politics to stand still till the very 2017.

How serious will it be? That’s another matter. For Estonian politicians, criminal investigations – as we well know – are like water off duck’s back. We did have a certain minister of justice, recently, who wasn’t too much bothered by Prosecutor’s Office investigating his links to party financing problems. A lot later did he finally step down, just for reputational damage. Wouldn’t it be hypocritical, now, to expect a higher standard and a step-down from Centre Party chief while we are waiting for the legal nitty-gritty of TV clips promoting him for taxpayer money? 

Sure, political campaigns for public money are bad. But in the fall of 2013, the voter didn’t care really. The mayor was treated close to 40,000 votes. Therefore, it’s hard to believe that nine months later Tallinners might awake to the topic. Or that another attempt by the opposition to shake the Savisaar chair would cleanse the capital’s politics like a tidal wave. More likely, the news of continued circus at council house will be shrugged off and soon forgotten... especially so with the time of year.

For insiders of Estonian politics, it’s still important to keep a close eye on what’s about to happen. Repeatedly, the centre right has been accused of awakening too late for the local elections. If, avoiding the same old blunder this time around, they will coordinate activities effectively throughout the election cycle, there’s certainly a better chance to succeed at next try for power.

Also, stirring the Tallinn politics is part and parcel of the pre-Riigikogu-elections job. In spring of 2015, a whole lot more will lay on the balance than the name of current, or next, mayor of Tallinn...