The new cartel has already failed several times. First, the election of the new mayor turned into a false mess with three attempts in the four-sided capital, which left a very bad impression. Instead of coming with a strong coalition, proposing a very good political program and taking a new direction in the city, I went the other way.
One of the main principles of the election was violated
In the Tallinn mayoral election held on April 14, one of the main principles of the elections was violated – the principle of secrecy. The third round of the mayoral election was not secret, as the four groups used a code on the ballot to determine if their members voted as agreed. Looking at the votes for the election of the mayor of Tallinn, you will get a clear view of which representative from the group has crossed the line. If the fourth round had also taken place, it would have been possible to identify the people who did not vote for the mayoral candidate Yevgeni Ossinovski.
Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise and Minister of Justice Urmas Reinsalu condemned violations of electoral secrecy in 2016 (Postimees, 30.08.2016). Today, the chairman of the Patriotic Association has remained silent, but the Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise has remained the same. The Chancellor of Justice does not agree to fill in the ballots with the approved pattern (ERR, 19.04.2024). The Chancellor of Justice says without a doubt that this goes against the principle of a secret ballot.
The legal expert Paloma Krõõt Tupay has also said that the secret of voting is that one does not feel under pressure to vote for or against someone (Delfi, 17.04.2024). Speaking about the event, Olari Koppel, member of the Electoral Commission of the Republic and director of the Office of the Chancellor of Justice, has said that during a secret ballot, no one can confirm how they voted (ERR, 18.04). .2024). Information was also published in the media that representatives took pictures of their ballots during the mayoral vote. Using such measures, we will not see anywhere the new and transparent European political culture that was promised, but the opposite.
“I’m looking for a job in Tallinn!”
I have been waiting for a new substantial program from the new government, but so far it has not been presented. They have discussed some ideas that were previously in the Center Party program, and the rest have been known to most of the capital’s residents for a long time. There are no new ideas or initiatives. Instead, the Quartet has vowed to fire Center Party members from the city system, turning it into a secret witch hunt, preferring political show to real reform.
Instead, the delay of one deputy head of the Tallinn Environment and Municipal Board turned into a real media circus. However, until now such decisions have been at the level of the head of the group, but they are not the subject of a national media circus and the scope of direct orders from members of the city government. It was possible to create a media circus with great fanfare, but a week later the snow was not cleared from the roads and streets.
There is also doubt about the mayor’s personal advertisement on social media for new employees – I am looking for a job in Tallinn! – which raises questions about where the city’s previous principles of a transparent personnel committee or public competition have gone. Will the new city government cabinet members personally select each new employee for the city system?
It all looks weak and bad, even very shameful. If, when the cartel was created, the urban population was promised a reduction in politics, the so-called food chain and more effective management, within a few weeks the to do exactly the opposite again. The first decision was to create the position of a new deputy mayor, of course his advisor and all administrative costs have been added. However, on the first day of work, under the banner of depoliticization, the members of the centrist party were withdrawn from the councils of municipal enterprises, but all social democratic politicians were left in their place. However, one exception seemed a little ironic. That is, the manager of Tallinna Lauluväljäk is still firmly in his position, and her “job” seems to be very satisfied with him.
A partnership on clay feet
The main objective is to attack the Central Party in order to gain support from the Central Party, which will certainly not succeed with such methods. The Social Democrats have also quickly forgotten that for more than two years they were equal partners with the Center Party in the city government coalition, with equal responsibility and decision-making rights. regarding all issues and problems that arise. If some problems in the city system should be determined, they also cannot bury their heads in the sand and bear the same responsibility.
It is absolutely inconceivable that Kaja Kalla will be replaced as prime minister in the government of the republic in the autumn, sent to a high position in Europe, and the long-awaited opportunity will open to form a new coalition in the country. If the social democrats are no longer included in the new state coalition, the question arises, how long the mayor Yevgeni Ossinovski can hold power in the capital town?
Here, the socialists must take into account two other facts: first, the inhabitants of Tallinn do not support the coup d’état in the capital led by the socialists, because it was especially as a result of political betrayal and it happened thanks to the help. of city council representatives who were attracted from the ranks of the Center Party, and not the strong mandate and voter trust that was achieved in the elections.
Secondly, by working with such methods, the socialists and their partners will lose their ranking even more, since they have already lost several hundred. In April, support for the Social Democratic Party and Fatherland fell in the Riigikogu election survey, which Kantar Emor research expert Aivar Voog explained by what happened around the change of power in Tallinn (ERR, 19.04.2024). According to the latest data, Isamaa’s support has fallen by 5 percent. Based on the last weekly survey of the Institute for Social Research and research company Norstat Estonia, it can be said that the support of the Social Democrats has decreased in the weekly support numbers.
Since the new coalition is on clay feet and the majority in the city council is fragile, the new quarter and the mayor are very worried. At the first session of the Tallinn City Council, the coalition could not even approve the agenda of the meeting, as they did not have the necessary votes together.
Research also confirms that the Center Party is clearly and decisively the most popular party in Tallinn with 29% support. The Center Party will win the next local elections anyway!
