Fuel excise rise protested in Toompea

At mid-day, yesterday, a demonstration against fuel excise rise was held in Toompea, registered and organised by EKRE youth organisation Sinine Äratus (Blue Awakening).

While 6,000 expressed interest towards the event in social media, organisers were expecting 500–1,000 to show up. How many braved the rain and participated, it’s hard to estimate. EKRE thinks it was about 3,000.

The demonstrators carried slogans like «Wise Dog Will Not Bite Feeding Hand», «Riigikogu Is Not Master Of People, But Servant», and «Riigikogu, Show Respect Towards Estonian State and People».

Speakers at the event included fuel company Olerex board member Alan Vaht, SMEs representative Kersti Kracht and EKRE politicians. On April 19^th, organiser of the event Blue Awakening said via its Tallinn region board member Silver Jõgger that though the event was organised by their youth organisation, they would not apply a party tonality. Nevertheless, several EKRE members voiced strong criticism towards the government of Taavi Rõivas.

At the meeting, Riigikogu member Jaak Madison (EKRE) called upon people to topple the «social liberal purple coalition». In his speech, he said that the sooner the current coalition falls, the better for Estonian state.

«Summarising, I’m also calling upon Free party and IRL – let’s join forces back to back, go as one and topple this social-liberal purple coalition into the trashcan of history!» Mr Madison shouted as he ended his address. The people who had come to protest against fuel excise rise cheered their approval at the call.

At that, not all participators were supporters of EKRE. «[I am] not an EKRE member. I’m just an ordinary demonstrator here and I’m not here because the excise rise only, but for all of Estonia as such actually,» said Kait, undaunted by the fact the event was being organised by a political organisation.

During the event, a post box was passed among the people where everyone was invited to insert their alternative proposals regarding fuel excise rise. According to Blue Awakening, the most to-the-point proposals will be sent to the government.

Signe and Jaanika, participators at the event, wrote into the post box that they would support taxation of alcohol, tobacco and sweet foodstuffs. As pointed out by many others at the meeting, the state is in need of more effective management.

Along with the protest meeting, IRL youth organisation also came public with a political statement, expressing solidarity with the Estonian people demonstrating against fuel excise rise in Toompea. As a red thread, fuel excise will pass through lion’s share of goods and services, and is therefore painful to all Estonian families and enterprises, said press representative of the organisation.

Demonstrations against fuel excise rise are also scheduled in Tartu and Helsinki, while one is being planned in Narva.