[ad_1]
Estonian Prime Minister and Center Party leader J. Rat resigned on Wednesday following allegations of corruption by law enforcement against his party and several of its high-ranking members linked to a real estate development project in the area. from the port of Tallinn.
According to the Estonian constitution, the entire government must resign with the prime minister. President Kersti Kaljulaid has already entrusted the formation of the government to the leader of the Liberal Reform Party, Kaja Kallas. The head of state dedicated 14 days to the process, highlighting the need for urgent action due to the coronavirus crisis.
AFP / “Scanpix” nuotr./Juri Ratas
In the 2019 parliamentary elections, the Reform Party won the most seats, 34, but got bogged down in coalition negotiations. This eventually led to a coalition between the Center Party, the Conservative Estonian People’s Party (EKRE) and the conservative Isamaa.
At that time, the negotiated reform and social democratic parties (SDE) lacked a majority in parliament.
What will the new coalition look like?
Currently, the Reform Party has 34 seats in parliament, the Center Party – 25, EKRE – 19, Isamaa – 12, the Social Democratic Party – 11.
Political scientist Vello Pettai from the University of Tartu says that an old tripartite coalition that had ruled Estonia for many years could form: it would be made up of the Reform Party, the Social Democratic Party and Isamaa.
Pettai does not rule out the possibility that the current coalition with the new prime minister, possibly from the Center Party, could continue the work.
“It just came to our notice then. Also, it is unclear how quickly the party could recover from yesterday’s events. And would it be able to find a credible prime minister who would not have to suffer from shock trade problems and things like that? style? ” 15 minutes said the political scientist.
The Reform Party leader K. Kallas did not reject such a variant: “Although the government collapsed, that does not mean that the coalition disintegrated.”
Postimees Grupp / Scanpix Baltics photo / Tallinn during the pandemic
According to V. Pettai, a coalition of the Reform Party with the Center Party is also possible. But for that, according to the political scientist, the Center Party should look for a new leader.
“Kallas could reach a very favorable agreement with the Center Party, but he should have the controversy surrounding the entire party on his shoulders. That is too high a price,” he said.
According to V. Petta, the conservative Isamaa party will have a decisive voice in the formation of the coalition. But he will have to decide if he wants to play politics like he used to.
“Now Isamaa is more conservative than in the past, she has moved towards EKRE and wants to compete with her. However, party leaders may want to seize the opportunity to return Estonia to a more conventional center-right coalition, “said V. Pettai.
AFP / “Scanpix” nuotr./Kaja Kallas
Kallas said Wednesday that he did not see the possibility of forming a coalition with EKRE on conflicting values. According to Petta, the opposition could lose some of its popularity: “Not to vanish completely, but to lose opportunities to speak as ministers or control the power of the government.”
EKRE is often referred to as the extreme right in the media. She speaks out against immigration, the expansion of LGBT rights, and the government has repeatedly had to speak out against partners abroad over the statements of their representatives.
In January, Finance Minister Martin Helme and his father, former Interior Minister Mart Helme, claimed that the Seimas elections in Lithuania were rigged by the so-called “deep state”.
Postimees Grupp / Photo by Scanpix Baltics / Martin Helme and Martas Helme
Previously, these politicians claimed that the US presidential elections were rigged and that President-elect Joe Biden and his son were “corrupt models.”
V. Pettai assured that the new coalition led by the Reform Party will not necessarily bring significant changes in Estonia.
“First of all, as before, we will have to deal with a pandemic, so there will be no opportunity to propose fundamental changes in domestic or foreign policy.
The coalition will only deal with the crisis and prepare for the municipal elections next year, as well as the 2023 parliamentary elections. ” 15 minutes said the political scientist.
Corruption complaints
The center party board met Tuesday night to discuss the situation when the party and five people, including party members, were found suspect in a criminal investigation into financing the Porto Franco project.
Among the suspects on Tuesday by the security police are the General Secretary of the Center Party, Mikhail Korb, who has also decided to resign, the adviser to Finance Minister Kersti Kracht and businessman Hillar Teder. These people are suspected of bribery and influence peddling.
The names of two more suspects have not yet been released.
As Attorney General Taavi Pern said at a press conference, it is suspected that businessman T. Teder and the secretary general of the Center Party M. Korb agreed last year that H. Teder will donate up to one million euros to the party before local elections, and in exchange for the related company “Porto Franco” it will receive 40 million LTL through the fund established by the Ministry of Economy and Communications, credit in euros.
In the third quarter of last year, Teder donated 30 thousand LTL to the Center Party twice, on July 1 and September 9. euros.
The KredEx board discussed granting the loan to Porto Franco in early July and the government approved the loan on September 3.
Teder and K. Kracht are also suspects in a money laundering arrangement made to conceal the transfer of a bribe.
[ad_2]
