tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post5470125742271309794..comments2023-11-05T09:55:13.077+02:00Comments on Itching for Eestimaa: A Rose Revolution?Giustinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756707910693785516noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-68695457828320111052007-04-26T20:57:00.000+02:002007-04-26T20:57:00.000+02:00Reform or Isamaa-Res Publica have been in power si...<I>Reform or Isamaa-Res Publica have been in power since 1999 and perhaps before that too [help me out here guys].</I><BR/>Reform has governed from 1992 to 1995, then from 1995 to 1997 and since 1999 - today. Isamaa has governed from 1992 to 1995, then from 1999 to 2002. Res Publica has governed from 2003 to 2005. In 2006 Isamaa and Res Publica joined to Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-68443717236064998272007-04-11T03:19:00.000+02:002007-04-11T03:19:00.000+02:00Vilhelm,The blog entry in question was actually on...Vilhelm,<BR/><BR/>The blog entry in question was actually one of the major stimuli for me to start a blog of my own on Estonian affairs. I look forward to our future discussions, but first I'd like to invite you to read my take on the elections and what followed. I wouldn't want to rewrite it all to the comments section of your blog. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-18352819034588663692007-04-10T23:00:00.000+02:002007-04-10T23:00:00.000+02:00Dear Giustino,Your interpretation of my addendum t...Dear Giustino,<BR/><BR/>Your interpretation of my addendum to the piece I recently made on the new government in Estonia was really quite interesting. I had not really explicitly thought about that way, but I see your point. Thus, thanks for adding a perspectve!<BR/><BR/>As for Kristjan's comment that I have not "really grasped the spirit of current developments in Estonia, so I would treat his opinions with a degree of skepticism", I am sorry if he feels that I am out of touch with realities of Estonian politics. However, I am no way negative to input or learning, so if he has opinions on my interpretations, I can only urge him to comment on my blog. Perhaps, we might both learn something from an ensuing discussion.<BR/><BR/>Concerning the anonymous comment, it is quite obvious that Pihl is a representative of the so called "deep state", why I thought it quite remarkable that he opted for SDE.<BR/><BR/>Finally, I am happy that an addendum to a piece I wrote can create such discussion. Obviously, I hit it right somewhere, regardless of what might be held about my knowledge of Estonian politics.<BR/><BR/>Yours,<BR/><BR/>VilhelmVilhelm Konnanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04506899921990227704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-59571965101362831852007-04-10T13:31:00.000+02:002007-04-10T13:31:00.000+02:00Pihl is one of those shadowy guys who, like Kagan ...Pihl is one of those shadowy guys who, like Kagan or Kristol in the US, are the ones who really wear the pants in Estonia. And -- he's one of the good guys. If Savisaar's goons Klandorf and Kulla were chaotic evil (the US neocons are simply alternate-reality), this guy is lawful good. Definitely unimpressive, though, but in a manner different from other unimpressivenesses. Too much time under fluorescents has dulled his charisma but in a steel cage match Pihl vs. Bronze Soldier -- it's currently Pihl 1:3.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-40438253083665760592007-04-09T06:55:00.000+02:002007-04-09T06:55:00.000+02:00So they [SDE] obviously have a pretty strong pragm...<I>So they [SDE] obviously have a pretty strong pragmatic streak as a party.</I><BR/><BR/>I think many of the compromises they have made in this coalition agreement come simply from the reality of desperately needing to be in government for the sake of survival and growth.<BR/><BR/>If their position had been stronger - and if it will be next time - I'm sure they'd stick to their guns with far greater vigour.<BR/><BR/>And at the moment, things are looking good for them, I'd say. They're in government with three very strong ministers - in a coalition that seems more likely to succeed than fail. I think Padar has played his cards perfectly, in fact.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-36069700845048736802007-04-09T05:59:00.000+02:002007-04-09T05:59:00.000+02:00Rahvaliit ... tainted ... Perhaps that is what you...<I>Rahvaliit ... tainted ... Perhaps that is what you are getting at. </I><BR/><BR/>Yes, that's certainly a major part of it.<BR/><BR/>As I understand it, Rahvaliit is strong and relatively solid in the municipalities, but I guess we all know how certain Rahvaliit members of government performed in Ansip's 1st. <BR/><BR/>If Reform didn't go for Kesk, why on earth would they go for Little-Kesk? :)<BR/><BR/>Although the difference, of course, is that while Kesk is rotten thoroughly, Rahvaliit is rotten only on the outside. Get rid of Villu and Jope-Ester (who is not so much corrupt as semu-kapitalistic), and you really do have quite a nice, solid party. (Well, might as well get rid of Janno as well, while you're at it. :P)<BR/><BR/>And then, of course, there's KeRa...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-58720442818925130812007-04-09T04:48:00.000+02:002007-04-09T04:48:00.000+02:00- I don't agree that SDE can adopt whatever policy...<I>- I don't agree that SDE can adopt whatever policy and still be SDE. They very much need to be the "leftest" of the "whites", I think.</I><BR/><BR/>Well they are working with a government that has endorsed lowering the flat tax to 18 percent. So they obviously have a pretty strong pragmatic streak as a party. That led me to think that if they justified any policy in the pragmatic context, they might be able to get away with it -- so long as it made sense ;-)Giustinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04756707910693785516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-28572417274779039242007-04-09T04:46:00.000+02:002007-04-09T04:46:00.000+02:00Finally, I don't think Konnander has really graspe...<I>Finally, I don't think Konnander has really grasped the spirit of current developments in Estonia, so I would treat his opinions with a degree of skepticism.</I> <BR/><BR/>What was interesting was his take that Reform could form a government with Rahvaliit. It got me thinking about how -- on paper -- Rahvaliit looks like your typical nationalist, agrarian party but in Estonia -- on the "Estonian street" -- they are kind of seen as tainted for their pact with Keskerakond during the presidential elections.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps that is what you are getting at. I am still not sure why ERL is dying, but from my perspective -- of reading the news about things that matter to me -- Villu Reiljan's leadership of the party did not create broad appeal for ERL.Giustinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04756707910693785516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13406351.post-75382490125515445972007-04-09T04:24:00.000+02:002007-04-09T04:24:00.000+02:00A few remarks, here:- This is the first time for S...A few remarks, here:<BR/>- This is the first time for SDE to be in government as that. Their previous government performance as Mõõdukad was, in the end, a disaster.<BR/>- Their philosophy is now decidedly left-wing (although not as much to the left as is usual in "old" Europe), which is as it should be. I don't think they'll ever get many right-wing votes - these will continue to go to Reform and IRL. Their voter, as I see it, will be the intelligent leftie who can't vote for Kesk for obvious reasons.<BR/>- I don't agree that SDE can adopt whatever policy and still be SDE. They very much need to be the "leftest" of the "whites", I think.<BR/><BR/>I'll probably never vote for SDE myself, but I value them highly because they're currently the least populist and most responsible party in Estonia IMO. I hope they keep it up, and I very much hope they'll take many votes away from Kesk at the next Riigikogu elections.<BR/><BR/>Finally, I don't think Konnander has really grasped the spirit of current developments in Estonia, so I would treat his opinions with a degree of skepticism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com