Power trio – the only option

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Photo: Jaanus Lensment / Postimees

Despite the red lines drawn, angry letters exchanged and doubts flaunted, the three parties trudging along towards coalition don’t really see another option than to somehow eventually agree. 

«A politically correct coalition by the shallow, the suspicious and the stupid,» is how a poetic Postimees reader put it yesterday. The reader is right: none dares to decide and to risk, to this day nothing is agreed. To this day, the election-winning Reform wants to give up nothing promised; the Soc Dems are trying to punch above their weight; and IRL, caught in the middle, is trying to survive.

Looking for something shared, for three long weeks, some have come to call it a «standstill». Meanwhile, they admit the working groups system, with fewer people involved each day topic-wise, is rather justified.

The working groups will agree about shared stands, but that’s just the beginning: for all of that, party chairmen will need to find financial backing. Nothing definite has been decided. For everything, there is no money. The raw text of an imaginary agreement is ever so general and vague.

Integrated solutions

As admitted to media, yesterday, by Reform chief Taavi Rõivas, it has been decided that the main issues will be solved as a whole – not going for what’s important for one and then see what is left to others.

He said the working groups made some progress, yesterday. Like: when it comes to legislation, it was agreed to focus on quality, not quantity. Also, it was deemed prudent to speed up criminal procedures, add restrictions to criminals, and enhance access to public legal aid.

In rural issues, it was discussed how to boost business in the countryside and help those that so desire to switch over to village living.

Administrative reform addressed

Today, working groups tackle environment and energy, education, research, innovation, e-state, social and healthcare, as well as labour market. Meanwhile, the chief negotiators keep on wrestling with the main issues. «Hopefully in the vital issues we will be nearing the final agreement,» is how Mr Rõivas worded the development. Among other things, the basics of administrative reform await their fate.

IRL head Urmas Reinsalu said the thus far failed attempts at administrative reform have cost Estonia dearly. Now, they wish the new try would succeed. For that to happen, he says the prime minister should personally coordinate and pull the reform. «In my opinion, we did possess the frame of mind or the basic attitude that we are not satisfied with the situation, as well as the political will to follow through with laws,» suggested Mr Reinsalu.

The Soc Dems leader Sven Mikser was not overly eager to speak at the press event yesterday. He did note the goal would be a good coalition agreement, one solving the main problems in the land. For his party, it would be most important to agree about issues related to children’s poverty and wage poverty. «We’re on the road towards an agreement which, should it happen, would to a substantial degree address these areas,» articulated Mr Mikser.

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