Who, if any, could one consider an authority? Attempting to answer: someone who shares your world view (as, otherwise, perhaps, the basis for conclusions might prove too differing), who has experience, knowledge and the bystander look. For Reform Party, its creator, initial chairman and former prime minister Siim Kallas seems to tick all the boxes.
If a quality were to be singled out, it would be the onlooker view, perhaps. As Lennart Meri once said: from afar, one sees farther. A bit removed from events, looking down as if from a hang glider, one beholds what those down below – amid it all – will not always notice. The more valuable the impression the one looking from afar is providing. Reason and logic would dictate that any such impression, especially as coming in the format of advice, is considered precious. Alas, politics don’t always have too much in common with logic. And that’s a pity.
In the daily Päevaleht, yesterday, Siim Kallas summarised the problems plaguing the power party: decisions are made by just a narrow circle of people, critics are regarded as splitters or enemies. In the overall political culture context, this is a far cry from how we’d like decision-making to be, or how people used to the European way of doing things would like a power party to behave.
The second remarkable stand taken by Mr Kallas is perhaps more vital still, and concerns the ability of the party – and of the state, broadly speaking – for renewal. In Mr Kallas’ estimation, the party has for the past 15 years been led by the same coterie, who are suffering of a severe case of the unerring disease. And, coupled with the former assessment, this makes for a very serious diagnosis: if a party in power leaves no room for the notion that its leading figures may perhaps have made mistakes, while all who hint at that are regarded as enemies, there’s not much chance for internal changes.
Time and the world never stand still. One prerequisite for advancement is accepting and adopting the new, especially the critical information. If a party fends off criticism like a duck repels water, it drifts ever farther from reality. The new faces in the party will not help if the ideology and defence against all criticism remains the same: shut up and toe the line, as Mr Kallas put it..
In today’s Postimees, current Reform Party chairman and prime minister Taavi Rõivas says he cannot agree with Mr Kallas. A thing or two might have been done different, but generally all has been done right.
A wise leader will always listen carefully to what his critics are saying (quoting Siim Kallas, again). Let the reader do the conclusion...