Estonian Parliamentary Election, 2015

[Southern Hampshire]

From the same article
"The controversial contract of co-operation between the Estonian Centre Party and the Russia's dominant political party of power United Russia has probably contributed to the success in ethnic Russian electorate as well."

You know, the one with Putin? That screams "Get rid of them, NOW!".

My-my! Banning a party on the ethnical gorunds! How "progressive" and "European", Estonia!

So Germany is unprogressive and un-European because they banned an ethnic Aryan party - NSDAP?

God forbid that Estonia bans racist parties like Germany did.

[Scepez]

From the same article
"The controversial contract of co-operation between the Estonian Centre Party and the Russia's dominant political party of power United Russia has probably contributed to the success in ethnic Russian electorate as well."

You know, the one with Putin? That screams "Get rid of them, NOW!".

My-my! Banning a party on the ethnical gorunds! How "progressive" and "European", Estonia!

Maybe, just - maybe, if the level of general scaremongery was a little bit less, if the so-called "True" Estonians didn't make others second-class citizens and always view them as potential traitors and try to culturally exterminate them, then there won't be such tensions tensions, easily exploited by interested parties?

Or maybe, just maybe, banning because they're co-operating with a man who clearly shows interests to attack us, given half the chance? That would be progressive, actually. We can't be progressive if we don't even exist as a nation.

And they're not even being attempted to be "culturally exterminated". In-fact, they're culture is incredibly prevalent. I've seen dozens of Russians exercising their culture by speaking Russian on the streets, with 0 backlash from anyone else. Oh the oppression! And exploited by what "interested" parties?

[Lytenburgh]

So Germany is unprogressive and un-European because they banned an ethnic Aryan party - NSDAP?

God forbid that Estonia bans racist parties like Germany did.

There is such ethnicity - Aryan?

Also - are you comparing the CP To racists?

[Lytenburgh]

Or maybe, just maybe, banning because they're co-operating with a man who clearly shows interests to attack us, given half the chance? That would be progressive, actually. We can't be progressive if we don't even exist as a nation.

Show me the evidence that "a man" with whom they are "cooperating" wants to "attack" you. It is usual Baltic-countries scare tactic. "Ayiiii! Ebul Ruskis want to invade us! Surely, the nation must crack down on [insert current "undesirables", who are, too often, ethnic Russians]"

And they're not even being attempted to be "culturally exterminated". In-fact, they're culture is incredibly prevalent. I've seen dozens of Russians exercising their culture by speaking Russian on the streets, with 0 backlash from anyone else. Oh the oppression! And exploited by what "interested" parties?

But surely you want to cahnge that, won't you?

[Cartalucci]

From the same article
"The controversial contract of co-operation between the Estonian Centre Party and the Russia's dominant political party of power United Russia has probably contributed to the success in ethnic Russian electorate as well."

You know, the one with Putin? That screams "Get rid of them, NOW!".

My-my! Banning a party on the ethnical gorunds! How "progressive" and "European", Estonia!

Maybe, just - maybe, if the level of general scaremongery was a little bit less, if the so-called "True" Estonians didn't make others second-class citizens and always view them as potential traitors and try to culturally exterminate them, then there won't be such tensions tensions, easily exploited by interested parties?

Hopefully the success of the people's republics in Ukraine and the utter failure of NATO will inspire the Russian people of Estonia (and Latvia) to seize control of the territory where they are in the majority and cast out their persecutors.

[Lytenburgh]

Hopefully the success of the people's republics in Ukraine and the utter failure of NATO will inspire the Russian people of Estonia (and Latvia) to seize control of the territory where they are in the majority and cast out their persecutors.

Actually, Russian here want only a few things. First - that their "Ethnically Superior" compatriots stop behaving lika dicks to them. Second - guarantees to Russian language and culture.

[Cartalucci]

Hopefully the success of the people's republics in Ukraine and the utter failure of NATO will inspire the Russian people of Estonia (and Latvia) to seize control of the territory where they are in the majority and cast out their persecutors.

Actually, Russian here want only a few things. First - that their "Ethnically Superior" compatriots stop behaving lika dicks to them. Second - guarantees to Russian language and culture.

A couple of years ago, the Russians of Luhansk and Donetsk wanted those exact same things, but look where we are now. If Estonians and Latvians will not guarantee those rights then the people must ensure that they have those rights themselves.

[Southern Hampshire]

Actually, Russian here want only a few things. First - that their "Ethnically Superior" compatriots stop behaving lika dicks to them. Second - guarantees to Russian language and culture.

A couple of years ago, the Russians of Luhansk and Donetsk wanted those exact same things, but look where we are now. If Estonians and Latvians will not guarantee those rights then the people must ensure that they have those rights themselves.

So what you are effectively saying is that in light of the actions in Ukraine, Latvia and Estonia must cleanse their country in order to ensure national security.

I'm all for.

[New Werpland]

My question is how can there be a party more right wing than Mart Laar's, and if so why would people vote for it?

[Cartalucci]

A couple of years ago, the Russians of Luhansk and Donetsk wanted those exact same things, but look where we are now. If Estonians and Latvians will not guarantee those rights then the people must ensure that they have those rights themselves.

So what you are effectively saying is that in light of the actions in Ukraine, Latvia and Estonia must cleanse their country in order to ensure national security.

I'm all for.

As am I. If the last year in Ukraine has shown us anything its that when Russophobes try to cleanse their country it works out very badly for the Russophobes.

The fact that attitudes like this exist and will very likely try to be implemented in the near future shows why direct action is necessary. If the Centre Party is prevented from forming a government after the election then I hope that a safe zone in the style of DPR or LPR can be formed in Ida-Viru county by local self defence forces.

[Tallinna Rahvavabariik]

Calm down, people.

Firstly, the Center Party is just a particularly populist party who will say and do whatever will bring them the most votes. They have no ideology other than that and frankly, the party has simply made the Russian population their largest voter group by feeding them propaganda and lies about what horrible things would happen if they voted for anyone else.
Secondly, Russians are under no threat whatsoever in Estonia. Not even by the more right-wing parties like IRL and EKRE. Nobody is planning any sort of ethnic cleansing or even curtailing the rights of some ethnic minorities. Any suggestions that something like this is happening or is likely to happen, are simply insane.


And to the person who asked about Mart Laar's party (IRL): IRL is not really all that right-wing, especially in its economic and social policies. They're pretty much comparable to all the major conservative parties in Europe. If you want to describe that as extreme right then that's your prerogative but I don't really see it that way. True, they were more straightly liberal and capitalist in the 1990's but that has changed.

[Southern Hampshire]

So what you are effectively saying is that in light of the actions in Ukraine, Latvia and Estonia must cleanse their country in order to ensure national security.

I'm all for.

As am I. If the last year in Ukraine has shown us anything its that when Russophobes try to cleanse their country it works out very badly for the Russophobes.

The fact that attitudes like this exist and will very likely try to be implemented in the near future shows why direct action is necessary. If the Centre Party is prevented from forming a government after the election then I hope that a safe zone in the style of DPR or LPR can be formed in Ida-Viru county by local self defence forces.

I think Germany, Poland and Finland did pretty well in putting Russians on trains and sending them away.

[Dejanic]

Banning the abhorrent Centre party would certainly be a step forward for Estonia. Especially with Russian expansionism being such a thread to the Baltics and the wider region.

[Allegan County]

As am I. If the last year in Ukraine has shown us anything its that when Russophobes try to cleanse their country it works out very badly for the Russophobes.

The fact that attitudes like this exist and will very likely try to be implemented in the near future shows why direct action is necessary. If the Centre Party is prevented from forming a government after the election then I hope that a safe zone in the style of DPR or LPR can be formed in Ida-Viru county by local self defence forces.

I think Germany, Poland and Finland did pretty well in putting Russians on trains and sending them away.

It was actually the other way around — Poland and Russia did pretty well in putting Germans on trains and sending them away.

[Seaxeland]

The Conservative People's Party of Estonia seems the most sensible, along with the Estonian Centre Party.

[Allegan County]

The Conservative People's Party of Estonia seems the most sensible, along with the Estonian Centre Party.

Since when do Fascists care about sensibility?

[Seaxeland]

The Conservative People's Party of Estonia seems the most sensible, along with the Estonian Centre Party.

Since when do Fascists care about sensibility?

You're not as funny nor as clever as you'd like to think.

[Kelinfort]

I reject any and all calls to ban political parties. This is inherently undemocratic.

[Dejanic]

I reject any and all calls to ban political parties. This is inherently undemocratic.

Learn2Europe. Germany bans Nazi parties for example, I don't see why Estonia and other Baltic nations shouldn't restrict or possibly Ban absurdly pro Russian parties. Russia is a much bigger threat to the Baltics than Nazi Germany is to Germany. Whilst it may sound stupid to you, an invasion seems imminent to many Baltic citizens, and having silly pro Russian parties who would welcome such an atrocity is harmful and twisted.

Maybe we will disagree on this. But I certainly don't think free speech is infallible, especially when lives and nations are at stake.

[Busen]

As for Center Party's lead, I'll note again what I've said earlier in this thread. I see no reason to panic. There is no way that they would ever gain the majority in the parliament which means that they'd need a coalition partner to form a government. Since all the other parties have been, to say it modestly, lukewarm regarding any possible coalition agreement with the Center Party, there is little chance of that happening even if Center Party wins the elections. And in the most unlikely case of them actually getting an outright majority in the parliament, I still really don't see the Ukrainian scenario playing out in Estonia because the situation is just that much different and the Center Party is very very unlikely to do anything about our membership in the EU and NATO.

There would not be an Ukrainian scenario but a Center Party government would certainly initiate constitutional changin whereby Russian will become official and probably make an open door immigration from Central Asia to further strengthen the Russian elements in Estonia and its cultural hegemony. Such government would try to move from the NATO and go into Russian sphere of influence. A Center party PM would rule Estonia as a Russian satrap.

[Geilinor]

Would Centre try to dramatically reverse Estonia's alignment?

[Busen]

Would Centre try to dramatically reverse Estonia's alignment?

Center Party is basically United Russia`s branch in Estonia.

[Tallinna Rahvavabariik]

There would not be an Ukrainian scenario but a Center Party government would certainly initiate constitutional changin whereby Russian will become official and probably make an open door immigration from Central Asia to further strengthen the Russian elements in Estonia and its cultural hegemony. Such government would try to move from the NATO and go into Russian sphere of influence. A Center party PM would rule Estonia as a Russian satrap.

Firstly, the fact that Estonian is the official language is provided in chapter I of the Constitution which can only be changed by a referendum. Secondly, to even initiate a referendum in this case a 3/5 majority (more than a simple majority) in the parliament is required. So the Center Party just can't walk up to the parliament and change the Constitution as it wants. Now try to imagine, even if they through some wonder could get the necessary votes for it, would the population still go for it? They only "would" if the referendum was rigged and this is a whole different scenario already. Also, do you think the military would just do nothing? Of course, that may run the risk of outside intervention, also from our eastern neighbor, but there is just no way something like this could ever pass without a revolution or a larger armed conflict.

Now, I'm not sure where you people get that but you seem to look at the Center Party as some sort of ultimate boogeyman and Kremlin's puppet. If this is really the case then you are giving the Center Party and its leader Edgar Savisaar way too much credit. While they do pander to the Russian population the are also interested in Estonian votes and the fact that they are worried about losing Estonian support has been very evident recently and in their campaign the Center Party has clearly tried to distance itself from evidently pro-Russian stances. The fact that there are a few loudmouths like Yana Toom doesn't really mean anything in the grand scheme of things. Let's just be clear that there are lots of Estonians in Center Party as well.

[Teemant]

There would not be an Ukrainian scenario but a Center Party government would certainly initiate constitutional changin whereby Russian will become official and probably make an open door immigration from Central Asia to further strengthen the Russian elements in Estonia and its cultural hegemony. Such government would try to move from the NATO and go into Russian sphere of influence. A Center party PM would rule Estonia as a Russian satrap.

Firstly, the fact that Estonian is the official language is provided in chapter I of the Constitution which can only be changed by a referendum. Secondly, to even initiate a referendum in this case a 3/5 majority (more than a simple majority) in the parliament is required. So the Center Party just can't walk up to the parliament and change the Constitution as it wants. Now try to imagine, even if they through some wonder could get the necessary votes for it, would the population still go for it? They only "would" if the referendum was rigged and this is a whole different scenario already. Also, do you think the military would just do nothing? Of course, that may run the risk of outside intervention, also from our eastern neighbor, but there is just no way something like this could ever pass without a revolution or a larger armed conflict.

Now, I'm not sure where you people get that but you seem to look at the Center Party as some sort of ultimate boogeyman and Kremlin's puppet. If this is really the case then you are giving the Center Party and its leader Edgar Savisaar way too much credit. While they do pander to the Russian population the are also interested in Estonian votes and the fact that they are worried about losing Estonian support has been very evident recently and in their campaign the Center Party has clearly tried to distance itself from evidently pro-Russian stances. The fact that there are a few loudmouths like Yana Toom doesn't really mean anything in the grand scheme of things. Let's just be clear that there are lots of Estonians in Center Party as well.

If I remember correctly Yana Toom got the most votes in the last European elections among Center party canditates.

[Lytenburgh]

You know, when people completely unfamiliar with Estonia's political climate and parties demand banning of the party on the grounds that "it is Russians party", and cry about Russia's eminent takeover of Estonia (which they, probably, won't even find on the map quickly) - all of this stinks of Russophobia.