kolmapäev, juuni 18, 2008

pihl

I have heard a number of political rumors, but one circulated by Eesti Päevaleht is by far my favorite: that Jüri Pihl, the Minister of the Interior, is navigating his way into the top seat in the Estonian government.

The rumor is based on several assumptions. The first is that, if the et tu Padar? moment is to come and Reform is to be forced into opposition, then the Social Democrats, and their measly 10 seats in the Riigikogu, will play deal maker for a collaboration between the interests of IRL and the Center Party. This would mean that SDE would be able to demand the top concession, the prime minister's seat, in the new government.

The second assumption is that Pihl, not SDE leader and Finance Minister Ivari Padar, is more favored for the job. I mean, let's face it, prime ministers have to get up early, wear suits all the time, travel abroad, and give boring speeches about cyber attacks and e-stonia. Why would a guy from rural Võru county, like Padar, volunteer for a position like that?

The third assumption is that Pihl has built himself a veritable tower of power within the security services. By combining institutions and appointing loyalists he now has an important power base in the country, somewhat equivalent to Reform Party's friends in the banking industry and the media, or Center Party's pals in the transit sector. He now has a position from which he can effectively bargain. Perhaps he even has a secret file marked "dirty laundry."

8 kommentaari:

plasma-jack ütles ...

Sounds scary, though probably will not going to happen in near future.

plasma-jack ütles ...

(kirjavead on hinna sees)

Giustino ütles ...

I agree with you Plasma-Jack, but I like the rumor anyway.

Anonüümne ütles ...

Et tu Padar... ha ha hah...

Anonüümne ütles ...

What Estonia really needs ( not) is a riveting political melodrama like "the West Wing"...."Kadriorg"...better than "Kodu kesk Linnas"...
Or instead of HBO's "Rome" "Tallinn" which is I guess "Malev", that's the problem...

Ain Kendra ütles ...

Absolute sure on the aspect of Dirty Laundry. So long in the field. That's effective protection against older generation of politics. However, I think that Pihl's drawers may not contain much essentials for the generation who is now under 25. Pihl won't use the content of drawers publicly however.

Padar is effective learner. Probably it may be too expensive to let him travel in a speed of Ansip, Ilves or Meri (even if he's not heavier than former Finnish president Ahtisaari). But as tandem with Pihl the effect is expected good.

Kristopher ütles ...

Pihl's drawers may not contain much essentials for the generation who is now under 25.

Let's face it; David Beckham he's not.

Giustino ütles ...

Well, it's clear from reading Äripäev at least that Ansip has fallen out of favor and Savisaar, well, he's never been in favor. So, who else is there, other than SDE or IRL?