Savisaar stays at helm. Handshake with contender avoided

Photo: Sander Ilvest

Following the further humiliation and ridicule of Kadri Simson is his addresses at Centre Party congress yesterday, the old/new chairman Edgar Savisaar said he sets to work building a third Estonia. 

Having beaten Ms Simson by mere 55 votes, it was evident that Mr Savisaar was aware the victory was his before it was ever announced. Otherwise, he’d not have returned to public limelight as speedily and confidently as he did at the event. Not all delegates present any longer, in the emptyish ice arena the shout of victory sounded the louder. Courtesy was out – no handshake from Mr Savisaar to opponents.

His re-election campaign largely built on ridicule of not Ms Simpson alone but also of Reform Party, PM Taavi Rõivas and Estonian law enforcement, Mr Savisaar will now have to manoeuvre amongst threats of criminal conviction and, desiring to unite the party, will have to open his ears at least partly to criticism about abandoning the rest of Estonia outside of Tallinn. Having set it as his aim to take 50,000 votes at 2017 local elections, Mr Savisaar is on course towards an all time record.

While it has been speculated that depending on internal Centre elections the current governmental coalition might somewhat be altered, it’s only the Soc Dems who now will have to consider their fate. Neither Reform nor IRL will pay any attention to such gusts of wind and December will probably just come and go. «The spring may prove decisive,» a voice said from coalition, yesterday. «But Savisaar she blood to win.»

And Mr Savisaar pulled out all the stops. He hinted that Ms Simson’s «inexperience in politics and life worked for his advantage»: «Centre Party needs a leader who will be backed by the largest part of Estonian people, not another official in whom the people believe not and behind whom a party is scattered.»

Constantly, Mr Savisaar kept calling Ms Simson and official and let it be known that all her followers wished for was a minister’s salary. «We don’t need someone who divides, we need someone who unites. We need to unite, not divide. Whoever wants to remove from politics those with experience, to avoid the voters with most experience, is irresponsible and a reckless adventurer. Time is on our side. As Reform policies continue, Estonia will reach a point of no return.»

Team Simson hoped till the end. «We cannot be a party of scandals. Yes, we may drown in details, see the hairy hand of competitors everywhere, but isn’t it enough? /.../ We may only achieve our goals when the persecution of our own will stop. In case of victory, I’m stretching out my hand to all,» promised Ms Simson who will continue leading the parliamentary faction and leaning on her team. «We cannot be a party at war with all and everything which indeed gets many votes but is avoided at negotiations. We can be a party where vital decisions are taken in a broader circle, we must become a party which is strong all over Estonia. Let’s make Centre a party which pulls Estonia out of stagnation.»

As equal as election of the chairman was the election of the board, into which the following made it: Jüri Ratas (571 votes), Mailis Reps (458), Aadu Must (392), Enn Eesmaa (388), Kalev Kallo (361), Siret Kotka (333), Mihhail Kõlvart (320), Taavi Aas (313), Jaanus Karilaid (299), Mihhail Korb (290), Priit Toobal (286), Olga Ivanova (281), Yana Toom (268) and Jaak Aab (242). Half and half, regarding the two camps.

«Yes, I may be for Kadri, but at the moment it is too early. Edgar has the right to win one more time. But actually I’d like to go home and finish work on my floor,» said a delegate in the kilometre-long line to vote.

Whoever is teasing Mr Savisaar about his health errs: he is at the best of his with, sharper than before the illness, and at the late hour of 9:30 pm he was waving his comrades good night.