Rõivas criticised by comrades-in-party

Photo: Peeter Langovits / Postimees

At all-night Riigikogu sessions, stuff happens. Spontaneously, all by itself. There’s time for it, with the business of daytime out of the way. Thus, in run-up to the lengthy holidays this past weekend, in the long hours of the night, Reform Party faction at Riigikogu got quietly abuzz with the idea that, perhaps, their leader and Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas was wrong in not allowing Tallinn Television (TTV) to attend governmental press conferences.

As evidenced by utterances of many within Reformer ranks, the PM has erred indeed.

«I don’t think this was the wisest decision,» said Rait Maruste, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and a European Court of Human Rights judge for twelve years. «It is none of the prime minister’s business, even though he may not like [TTV], to take sole responsibility like that, and regarding freedom of speech and media just throwing someone out for not liking them is not right.»

According to Black Nights Film Festival chief Tiina Lokk-Tramberg, in her eyes it feels like a breach of press freedom when a TV channel possessing an official licence to operate is banned from government press conferences.  

Mr Rõivas explained yesterday – thereby also answering several party comrades who reprimanded him for being emotional and inconsiderate when repelling TTV –, that his decision not to cooperate with TTV journalists dates back to the beginning of his term as prime minister.

Firstly, substantiated the head of the government, he does not consider it right for Tallinn city government to misuse about ten million euros of taxpayer money to do propaganda while the money is needed, for instance, at kindergartens and streets of Tallinn. Secondly, he expressed doubts whether content offered by TTV was journalism after all, with the channel not even seeking to have any balance.

«Get the hell out?»

As admitted by Ms Lokk-Tramberg, TTV has at times been somewhat juicy in its expressions and has probably been overstepping the boundaries, but to be punished for mentality – «while there has been no treason» – is not right, she thinks. «Everybody has the right to have his views,» she noted.

Former culture minister Rein Lang, the one who issued TTV its broadcasting licence, recalled that with TTV journalists at governmental press conferences – while he participated – never gave grounds to think they misused the material obtained. As long as a TV channel is not inciting feud or hatred, isn’t teaching anyone how to kill, and abstains from discrimination, Mr Lang sees no need to touch its activity licence nor send them out of government press conferences.

Mr Lang only agreed to speak his mind on what he thinks of Mr Rõivas’ TTV ban on condition it would never be printed.

According to Public Broadcasting (ERR) council member Igor Gräzin, none of the previous prime ministers from Tiit Vähi to Andrus Ansip would never ever have thought of telling them to «get the hell out» of here. In the eyes of Mr Gräzin, Mr Rõivas’ decision not to let TTV in Stenbock House door may be explained by his inexperience as prime minister.

Paul-Eerik Rummo, one-time ERR chairman and culture minister, said if he’d be prime minister, he would pay no attention to such a miserable phenomenon and TTV.

«That’s not the level,» noted Mr Rummo, referring to the small audience of TTV in view of the large money it bites off city budget.

Mr Rõivas welcomed the week-long discussion triggered by his ban on TTV, including by his brothers-in-party. According to him, the main issue is whether, in Estonia, biased media for taxpayer money is tolerated as such.

«I am not bothered by [TTV] used for self-advertisement and badmouthing the government. Let [them] badmouth,» he said, yesterday. «But if they undermine credibility of Republic of Estonia, like for instance saying that our elections aren’t secure, and are trying to minimise the horrors of the occupation era, then here comes the point where I feel I’d need to send the editor the movie In the Crosswind [talking about deportations].»

Sticks to decision

Mr Rõivas said he was not about to wink at the issue and, as prime minister and citizen, enhance the activities of unobjective media which does not care for professional journalistic ethics and constantly questions foundations on which Estonia operates.

He confirmed that even if the decision not to allow TTV to government press conferences will mean enormous unpopularity, he’d rather stick to his decision than back down from the principle of no cooperation with abuse of taxpayer money.