Mikser counters Reinsalu's move for quick pointsThe government does not support the justice minister's opinion on what to do with the registered partnership act that comes two months too late. Minister of Justice Urmas Reinsalu (IRL) returned from holiday last week and communicated his ministry's opinion of draft legislation by the Conservative People's Party (EKRE) to repeal Estonia's registered partnership act. Despite an existing agreement, the minister could not resist an attempt to score some quick political points.Local News
USA will remain in NATO under Trump presidencyArizona Senator John McCain assured at his meeting with Estonia’s Prime Minister Jüri Ratas yesterday that the USA will retain its position in NATO. Ratas emphasized at the news conference after the meeting the importance of NATO for Estonia and the Estonians. He added that the EU and NATO should develop closer cooperation. McCain congratulated Ratas on becoming the premier and expressed hope that cooperation between the two countries will continue.Local News
McCain: US-Baltic relations are more important than they have been for a long timeThe relationship between the U.S. and the Baltic countries is perhaps more important that it has been in a long time, U.S. Republican Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on Tuesday in Tallinn.Local News
We will not be tribute to win a strategy gameWednesday witnessed the assumption of office of Estonia's new coalition government the first task of which was to explain to the world that Estonia has not fallen to pro-Kremlin forces the very same day. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Mikser (Social Democrat Party) says that while President Putin might try and test the red line in the Baltic region, the provocation can be prevented in allied cooperation.Local News
Experts say lion's share of NATO leak is hot airThe picture painted before media eyes in Norway by leaked NATO report regarding Russian special units in Estonia is exaggerated and only partially reflects reality, think the experts.Local News
Cash-starved coalition flops badRebellion or avoidance at fines bill vote yesterday points at fracture at board level of Reform Party where internal opposition has set in while in-party voting isn't always very fair.Local News
Combat vehicles blessed with sistersUpdating its military equipment, Norway is selling Estonia 37 used hulls of armoured vehicles, each for the price of a small car. The exceptionally favourable deal is to bolster the Eastern border of NATO and fill a hole in Estonia's armoured maneuverability.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
Estonian parlt to hold 1st reading of Estonian-Russian border treaty Nov 25The Riigikogu foreign affairs committee decided on Thursday to put the bill of ratification of the treaties on the land border and the border between the maritime areas of Estonia and Russia before the house for the first reading on Nov. 25.Local News
Estonian MP Kross gets special visa to attend UN committee meeting in New YorkEstonian MP Eerik-Niiles Kross, who has been barred from entering the United States, received a special visa to take part in a sitting of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York and departed for the US on Thursday.Local News
Estonia eyes engagement against ISISAt defence ministry, ideas have been put into writing regarding Estonia's options between three likely foreign missions looming. A scenario would take our soldiers back to Iraq, to train combatants fighting Islamic State.Local News
Editorial: new ship, same tripAs, under new head Jevgeni Ossinovski, the Soc Dems opted to stay on in government and did the portfolio swap, Hannes Hanso replacing the former party chief and experienced defence minister Sven Mikser was the surprise most surprising. If it works, don't fix it? Not in this case. Why oh why?Opinion
Hannes Hanso «embarrassed» that soc dems wanted to cut defence spendingDefence minister Hannes Hanso (44 today, Soc Dems) says the main near term aim is finding a new deputy chancellor for the ministry, and a new chief for Information Board. As for anti-refugee statements by servicemen, he wants to put an end to that.Local News
Savisaar's greed to serve Centre a grilling?Suspicions say the suspended Tallinn mayor Edgar Savisaar asked money for the party and not himself alone. In high likelihood, therefore, Centre is set to enter suspects list.Local News
Sven Mikser elected head of Foreign Affairs CommitteeThe Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian parliament on Tuesday elected Social Democrat Sven Mikser its new chairman to replace Hannes Hanso who was appointed minister of defense on Monday.Local News
Russia's aggression must not be overlooked - Estonian PMEstonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas voiced gratitude to U.S. troops stationed in this Baltic state at his meeting with the head of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey on Monday and at the same time stressed that Russia's aggressive actions must be kept under constant attention.Local News
Estonian president appoints Ossinovski, Hanso, Oviir ministersPresident Toomas Hendrik Ilves on Monday appointed Social Democrats Jevgeni Ossinovski, Hannes Hanso and Liisa Oviir to the positions of minister of health and labor, defense, and entrepreneurship, respectively.Local News
Ossinovski and his several sorry optionsIn the Hesitation Coalition handed at least some extra time to rule, the Soc Dems chief Jevgeni Ossinovski has an opportunity to show himself a team player and aim for truce in government and own party.Local News
Editorial: the past and the bickeringUnderstandably, the Soc Dems are moving into a governing position their new chief Jevgeni Ossinovski. For one, that's a surer way to see the coalition treaty is honoured. On the other, hand, why send defence minister and party's former chairman Sven Mikser into Riigikogu?Opinion
Soc Dems to seat Ossinovski, Hanso and Liisa Oviir in governmentOn Saturday, board of Social Democrats nominated Liisa Oviiri, Hannes Hanso and party chairman Jevgeni Ossinovski as candidates for business, defence and health/labour ministers respectively.Local News
US F-22 jets arrive in EstoniaTwo F-22 Raptor tactical stealth fighters of the U.S. Air Force arrived in Estonia on Friday.Local News
Editorial: travelling on, in discomfort and political realityThis one thing she got wrong. Having stepped down in anger, business minister Urve Palo slammed this govt a «coalition of convenience». Nothing comfy here, even for Reform.Opinion
Business minister resignsYesterday, Soc Dems management decided that they continue in coalition and intend to maneuver chairman Jevgeni Ossinovski into government. Also importantly, minister or entrepreneurship Urve Palo said she would step down.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
Editorial: the laws of nature governing politicsThis past Saturday, IRL picked social minister Margus Tsahkna (38) as its new chairman, to succeed justice minister Urmas Reinsalu (39). A week before, Riigikogu member Jevgeni Ossinovski (29) rose to be top soc dem before whom defence minister Sven Mikser (41) opted to bow out.Opinion
Defenders of Estonia to be paid betterThough precious little was left in coalition treaty of what parties promised the voters during elections, the plan to raise salaries and benefits is so costly that part of activities may have to be postponed, admits defence minister Sven Mikser (Soc Dems).Local News
Estonia's new government takes oath of officeMinisters of Estonia's new government of the Reform Party, the Social Democratic Party (SDE) and the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) on Thursday took their oaths of office before the parliament.Local News
Mikser, Reinsalu to become Estonian PM's substitutesEstonian Defense Minister Sven Mikser from the Social Democratic Party (SDE) is to be appointed as the substitute of Prime Minister Taavi Roivas during his absences and Justice Minister Urmas Reinsalu from the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) as his second substitute.Local News
Three Estonian parties sign coalition dealThe Reform Party, the Social Democratic Party (SDE) and Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) on Wednesday signed an agreement to form a coalition government to govern Estonia during the four years until next elections.Local News
Hesitation coalition signs truceAt noon today, the long-awaited governmental document gets its signatures by Reform, Soc Dems and IRL. Whether for four years or four months – at least the month-long toil is over. For a moment.Local News
Whipping up willingnessBurning the midnight oil yesterday, Reform Party council proceeded to bless the 38 pages of power agreement for the fresh union of three (aka «hesitation coalition», «spare govt», «the hapless three»). Arguing, and hard pressed. Today, like heavy lifting awaits councils of IRL and Soc Dems.Local News
Jurgen Ligi tipped for education ministerMember of the Reform Party's governing board Jurgen Ligi, former minister of defense and finance, will in great probability get the portfolio of education and research in the new Estonian government.Local News
Will the three wise men finally deliver?After month-long gruelling efforts, Reform chief Taavi Rõivas said yesterday that they are on finishing line. Was this an April Fools’ Day thing? Rather not, one would guess.Local News
7+5+5 hesitation coalition possibly emergingImagine the feeling of putting together a government and handing out portfolios with every party pondering a makeover in a year, latest. Tomorrow, Reform the chief talker will get its initial real life chance to have something agreed. For a moment, Good Friday cools their heads. Come Resurrection Sunday, the three may convene their councils and flash green lights to «hesitation union» to emerge.Local News
Parties push to shift talks into top gearYesterday, they – Reform, Soc Dems and IRL – talked all day. After that, the latter two headed to their own to talk some more and ponder some compromises.Local News
Estonian parties reach agreement re administrative reform at coalition talksThe three Estonian parties engaged in coalition-building talks on Friday reached a principled agreement regarding the administrative and state reforms.Local News
Power talks to drag on for daysToday, representatives of Reform, Soc Dems (SDE) and IRL have another go at getting closer to agreement in three main issues for potential coalition and locate the financial sources to cover costs thereof.Local News
Power trio – the only optionDespite 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.Local News
One step back, two steps forwardThe power talks are on again, spurred on and coloured by the new Riigikogu convening next Monday – beginning by electing its Board. And, places at the Board of the Riigikogu have always been part of power agreements.Local News
Editorial: the four go tug-of-warAs of today, coalition talks «are stuck» (said Sven Mikser) and the struggling agreement in danger of becoming «a round ball» (said Andres Herkel).Opinion
One glaringly not neededOn this tenth day of power babble, chief talker Taavi Rõivas (Reform) said the weighty decisions start today – on the afternoon of which he leaves for Brussels for a couple of days.Local News
Power talks turn eloquent, embellished and emotionalAdmits negotiator-in-chief Taavi Rõivas (Reform): discussions on economy were very colourful. Adds IRL head Urmas Reinsalu: excellent ideas abounded like smorgasbord.Local News
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