Saddened in soul by freefalling popularity, IRL stands faced with general assembly this upcoming Saturday preceded by stinging statements of one-time mayor of Tallinn, government minister and parliament member Tõnis Palts who thinks the downfall results from disobedience, haughtiness and stubbornness of «boy band».
For reminders – by boy band we mean Urmas Reinsalu, Ken-Marti Vaher, Juhan Parts, Sven Sester and Siim Kiisler of former Res Publica background.
After elections, Mr Palts wrote an epistle to over hundred fellow party members (seen by Postimees yesterday – T. K.) to express concern regarding IRL future. He begins by addressing the party’s current leadership. «Boys, I’ve been telling you for years what ought to be altered. But you have always been wise in your own eyes. The outcome is here,» writes Mr Palts and continues: «Under your leadership, with state support added to the party and the parliamentary faction, over this past period we wasted close to €10m to lose nine seats in Riigikogu! Your talk about us not being the worst losers is an outright lie!»
He acknowledges that among parliamentary parties IRL did way worse than the rest, and is surprised that the «boys» have come to believe their own claims that Soc Dems forfeiting two seats is a deeper drop that the 40 percent nosedive by IRL. «The sponsors’ money and the state support is not your money; this is the party members’ money which you frittered away. Under your leadership, the Free essentially broke away from the party, becoming our greatest competitor,» observes Mr Palts. «This is as if a manager at a company grabs the knowhow and creates a stronger company that we ever were. Under your leadership, we broke through another magical barrier – our support dropped to one digit. Under your leadership, we have all come under an enormous debt. But as for you, lo and behold, you have managed to retain all the jobs and privileges! Happenstance?»
Management change a must
A former entrepreneur turned politician, Mr Palts believes that after a mess like this, shareholders of a company would reclaim these €10m via court, and issue a ban on participating in politics.
«But the IRL members are very peaceable, even overly so. Despite being peaceable inside, still the absolute majority of members and voters would understandably not see you leading the party any longer. Neither is it correct to indirectly push for your own kind to be promoted. Entrepreneurs, for instance, want nothing to do with a party where behind the scene it is still the boys, five Nilssons, who pull the strings. This is sad but true,» says Mr Palts, not thinking it too much to compare own party key figures with Reform member Rain Rosimannus (in political lore Mr Nilsson – T. K.).
This Saturday, IRL elects not new chairman only but also the management. Though considered a supporter of ex-banker Jaan Männik as new chief, he actually has nothing against Margus Tsahkna taking the helm. Rather, in his address, he hopes to see major shift in leadership.
Mr Palts has compiled a thorough document he calls «Agreement of Changes», and in his letter he claims this to be supported by majority of candidates seeking leadership.
«Please let the others make up the team. A team that would mainly be interested in making the party competitive. You behave the Centre [Party – edit] way, using state resources – your advisers – to organise people loyal to you as participants in inner elections, agitating them to vote for you,» writes Mr Palts. Here, he may also be hinting at two «boy band» ministers, finance minister Sven Sester and justice minister Urmas Reinsalu, both running for party management. «And as for yourself, you need to absolutely pull to the background. Grabbing two seats in the government is sufficient to show you know not how to assume responsibility. You need to assume responsibility in order to strengthen the organisational culture, but also to send a signal out regarding change.»
According to Mr Palts, the alleged use of advisers for in-party lobbying is more unethical and corrupt than bringing party members to internal election by buses.
Palts comments not letter
To wind up the letter, Mr Palts – who reaped 1,033 votes these past elections and failed to get elected for Riigikogu – underlines he has for years told the party leadership of said problems. «Not so that, failing to get elected, I started to fuss,» he stresses.
Mr Palts is convinced that had IRL executed timely changes, there’d be no EKRE not Free Party today. «We should not have been hysterical in our election campaigns. We would have firmly won the elections,» he believes. «Stupid, for instance, in internal life to copy everything from Reform of Centre. Reform is a state party like Yedinaya Rossiya (Vladimir Putin’s party United Russia – edit). As for Centre, it’s just a sorry petty thief pocketing public money to stay at power in Tallinn. Copying them, the best we could be is younger brother.»
Tõnis Palts thinks that its latest election campaigns IRL has built like fancy glass skyscrapers ... but, alas, in a swamp. «Whoever has been to a swamp, knows there are some solid turf there. Occasionally, with luck, a skyscraper may up and hold on one of these. Like, at local elections, Eerik-Niiles Kross was a turf like that. But it was a very temporary solution. Turned out, there was an adder’s nest under that,» observed Mr Palts.
Mr Palts desired not to separately comment for Postimees the letter or accusations towards party members.