Seeder hopes to win back supportersThe integration process has stopped in Estonia, Pro Patria Res Publica Union (IRL) chairman Helir-Valdor Seeder finds. He is convinced primarily Russian-speaking local governments can hide voters sporting national-conservative views.Local News
Iva: IRL's image that of a male partyMinister of Social Protection from Järva County Kaia Iva (52) wants to reinforce IRL's recent statehood and security focus with esteem for women and families.Local News
Boy band looking for a leader„I don't want to be coarse; however, I can put it in no other way,“ the Pro Patria Res Publica (IRL) union's native pro patrians found after the party council met on Saturday. The virtual vote of no confidence in chairman Margus Tsahkna now leaves the party's uncertain fate in the hands of the Res Publica camp.Local News
Seeder hoping for quick chairman electionChairman of IRL's council Helir-Valdor Seeder finds that electing new leaders at the party's regular general assembly will do a better job of easing in-house tensions and adjusting the conservative party's course than going after articles of association.Local News
Entrepreneurs see profit tax as threat to competitivenessEnterprise organizations are afraid that Finance Minister Sven Sester's (IRL) plan to employ an income tax pledge to stop profits being taken out of Estonia free of tax constitutes an ill-considered plan that could ward off foreign investors.Economy
Talks entering home stretchWhile the desire of the partners of the new government, now tired of night sittings, to keep their soul and face remains a minor annoyance, the Center Party's promise to ensure voting discipline means the triumvirate will have an agreement by tomorrow evening, which it can then present to party councils on Saturday.Local News
Initiatives need to be implemented soonThe prime minister's economic development working group, headed by Erkki Raasuke, presented its report to the public and the incoming coalition yesterday. The working group was paradoxically called to life by outgoing Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas, while the fruits of its labor will now benefit his three biggest competitors.Economy
Center, IRL, SDE: Estonia needs fresh ideasEstonia's Center Party, Social Democratic Party (SDE) and the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) said on Wednesday evening after launching coalition consultations that the new government plans to be open to and consider everybody's good ideas.Local News
Three parties invite Allar Jõks for a cup of coffeeYesterday, representatives of Centre, the Free and IRL met presidential candidate Allar Jõks in Hotel Palace, Tallinn. The meeting featuring Jaanus Karilaid and Kadri Simson (Centre), Andres Ammas and Andres Herkel (Free) and Margus Tsahkna (IRL) happened at initiative of Centre faction at Riigikogu.Local News
Allar Jõks: president of Estonia must be more involved with EstoniaCarrying a burden for Estonia's future as citizen and former Chancellor of Justice, Allar Jõks says life is too long to spend it bored.Local News
IRL cadre claims party is bustA member of IRL leadrship Peeter Laurson assesses the financial situation of the party so bad that a company in such condition would already be undergoing bankruptcy proceedings. Kert Karus the secretary-general begs to differ.Local News
Ten members of parliament require removal of Tiit Ojasoo from officeTen Riigikogu members from every faction wrote to culture minister Indrek Saar and council of NO99 theatre asking that head of the theatre Tiit Ojasoo be removed from office having kicked an actress.Local News
A party fixed by fun Slip of tongue saves Centre eventThe Centre Party council meeting this past Saturday felt like two kettles separately boiling. Thankfully, a blunder by speaker merged the camps in laughter and made waves after the session ended.Local News
Editorial: presidential elections headed towards round twoThe two news yesterday have significantly altered the picture regarding upcoming presidential elections.Opinion
IRL sets up Jõks, soc dems nominate NestorA step ahead was taken in the presidential race, yesterday. Boosted by IRL and the Free, sworn layer got his votes together to run at Riigikogu, while Soc Dems naturally rallied behind president of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor. This is but a prelude, though, for who would know the path the political talks will take.Local News
Rõivas to critics: while you talk we workWithin first year while in coalition with Soc Dems and IRL, Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas (Reform) has managed to send administrative reform into parliament, tidy the eastern border and bring in seven refugees. Therefore, he dares say he's at helm of a government of great decisions and ambitious above average.Local News
Kallas gets going, others on standbyAnnouncing his ambition for for Presidency of Estonia in mid-April, Siim Kallas (Reform) may be left alone as other parties are in no hurry to unveil their candidates before summer.Local News
Centre sees potential benefits in cooperation with party of PutinEarlier, Centre Party has repeatedly promised to vote over continued cooperation with United Russia. At its assembly this Saturday, they did not. The issue was indeed up for discussion, but vice chairman Jaanus Karilaidwho formerly wished the cooperation would cease is now of the opinion that they might try withing the treaty to seek something useful for Estonia.Local News
Parliament struggling to remember their mannersAs admitted by Riigikogu speaker Eiki Nestor, differences do exist between the coalition partners. At that, he urges these to be solved and the mutual communication to be kept civil, honouring one another.Local News
Coalition divorcing over partnership?By yesterday, seven IRL parliamentarians were poised to vote for registered partnership act implementation provisions to pass. Nevertheless, in their struggle for points scored in eyes of electorate the parties managed to get entangled in a fresh mess.Opinion
Editorial: power struggle under gay couples coverTurns out, they may actually split the government, and that formally because of the registered partnership act implementation provisions. In the tussle, good will by soc dems is just nowhere to be seen. And the other two seem to be lacking any trace of trust.Opinion
Editorial: a world with two million EstoniansUnderstandably, we are upset when grand strategic goals are not worded. On the other hand, it is almost always easy to ridicule the lofty ambitions while the ranks of the scorners often include the very ones who formerly bemoaned the absence of big ideas.Opinion
IRL contrives «patriotic» comeback«I understand why people are mad at us. They expect us to have great goals,» said Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) chairman Margus Tsahkna to comment the currently plummeting ratings.Local News
In 2015, Reform drew top donationsLast year, the private donors most generous towards parliamentary parties were entrepreneurs Urmas Sõõrumaa and Hillar Teder. The sums given by the duo put together amounted to almost a quarter of the total donated.Local News
Tsahkna: people must not pay the bigger billsYesterday, social protection minister Margus Tsahkna (IRL) interviewed by Postimees said he understands the panic in parents when getting the unexpectedly big bills for technical aids and is not about to justify mistakes made.Health
IRL's Tsahkna: Fatherland forever New chairman invokes first half of Pro Patria and Res Publica UnionThe fresh head of IRL, Margus Tsahkna thinks this past year featured an overdose of political games. He was especially annoyed by the testing of options for creation of new government under cover of opening the coalition treaty in summer.Local News
IRL wants legal refugee limitWith Estonia having to seek diligently for refugees desiring to live here so as to fill up the EU-imposed quota, a bill is making rounds in Riigikogu aimed at toughening our policy.Local News
Soc Dems keep gambling on Registered Partnership ActInability of coalition to agree about an outwardly easy personnel issue has singled out Soc Dems as the partner proposing peculiar solutions from exiting the government to early elections.Local News
Infighting bites into Centre Party popularityWhile still the top popular party in the land, during this past month Centre has seen its ratings drop by a whopping eight percent as shown by Turu-uuringute AS poll ordered by Public Broadcasting (ERR).Local News
Hestitation coalition created by Rõivas embraces seasonal Christmas peaceBorn in deep inner distrust as situation in parliament allegedly offered no better variants, the coalition led by Taavi Rõivas has arrived at a point where they just don't feel like altering the government before Christmas. But the spring may bring salvation.Local News
Every party gets a part «Protection money» Excel table coming soonStarting today, Riigikogu discusses the 2016 state budget bill. Among other things, the lucky ones will emerge who are in for a windfall of extra taxpayer money – depending on level of love by parliamentarians. No surprise if the likes of Public Broadcasting (ERR) and Olympic Committee (EOK) get showered.Local News
Registered Partnership Act discussion postponed till todayAt Riigikogu session yesterday, the last item on agenda was supposed to be Registered Partnership Act implementing provisions draft legislation, but as Conservative Party (EKRE) deputies already undertook to delay the session during the initial topics to be discussed, the working day ran out and discussions of the provisions will be tackled only today.Local News
Prime Minister threatened: revenge is not in wordsRecently prohibited from departing from his residence, in the Bronze Night of 2007 Martin Kattai (31) was among the angry young men who as IRL members were mentally «ganging up» against Russians with youth organisations in other political parties.Local News
Parts sets sights on EU heightsSoc Dems assessment pending, Reform and IRL have actually agreed for Estonia's new representative at European Court of Auditors is one-time prime minister Juhan Parts (IRL).Local News
In Estonia, a debtor lives the good lifeEstonia is turning into a paradise for indebted private persons. It is mainly the «minnows» who toil to pay back debts over here, like those stupid enough to draw fast loans. Whoever owes a lot is sailing towards expiry of obligations or debt cancellation as allowed by law.Local News
33 months and €850,000 for parties at powerTwo weeks ago, up popped this issue at parties' financing watchdog: what would be even a slightly rational reason for entrepreneur Hillar Teder, one under suspicion in Edgar Savisaar bribe scandal, to have so generously supported the three coalition parties these three years?Local News
Justice minister says soundness of mind needed with hate speech issueWhile recent weeks feature frequent and fiery faultfinding with Estonia increasingly abounding with calls to hate and act ugly, justice minister Urmas Reinsalu (IRL) does not think it wisdom to criminalize hate speech. «We need to realize that by treating the hate speech issue in a manner sloppy, unwise and hasty, it can get absurd,» he warns.Local News
IRL leader wants govt's ratification decision to refer to Tartu Peace TreatyThe chairman of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL), Margus Tsakhna, says the Estonian government must add a reference to the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty to its decision concerning the ratification of the border treaty between Estonia and Russia.Local News
Refugees, reforms, pigs, milk ...Launching the fresh political season today, Riigikogu stands faced with problems at home and abroad. Not limited to the European refugee issues, heads of the factions think it important to progress with administrative/state reform, helping the farmers, and work capacity reform.Local News
Parties: compulsion no optionPostimees asked heads of all parliamentary factions: if local governments do not wish to receive refugees and the state cannot force them to, should something be altered in the law to find homes for immigrants, or what would be the solution?Local News
Fate of coalition to be settled on SundayFor several weeks now, the governing coalition has been discussing social democrats' proposals to amend the power treaty. The talks are nearing their end and the Soc Dems management, convening on Sunday, will determine whether what has been achieved is acceptable and sufficient to continue in the coalition.Local News
Ferryboat traffic takeover spawns bribery scandalA major part of the Port of Tallinn corruption scandal that erupted yesterday is linked to rearrangement of mainland-islands ferryboat traffic. Millions have been pocketed.Economy
Your browser is outdated. For everything to work properly please upgrade your software. 
