Estonian Parliamentary Election, 2015

[Liberty and Linguistics]

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.

I haven't seen anyone advocate the banning of it. I believe you, since there are some rabid Russophobes, here though. I'm staunchly opposed to the Russian government, but it's un-democratic to ban a party with ties to it.

[Kenora County]

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.

I haven't seen anyone advocate the banning of it. I believe you, since there are some rabid Russophobes, here though. I'm staunchly opposed to the Russian government, but it's un-democratic to ban a party with ties to it.

dejanic

[Cartalucci]

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.

Which is exactly why Russians in Estonia need to be ready to take similar action to their cousins in Ukraine. Just as in Ukraine, it starts with talking about banning political parties and it results in "anti terror operations" and people being burned alive.

[United Provinces of Swaziland]

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.

Which is exactly why Russians in Estonia need to be ready to take similar action to their cousins in Ukraine. Just as in Ukraine, it starts with talking about banning political parties and it results in "anti terror operations" and people being burned alive.

Why would you compare an EU democracy with a stable country too...Ukraine?

[Constantinopolis]

Germany bans Nazi parties for example

Leaving aside the fact that you can't cite that as a precedent for banning anyone you don't like, the fact is that Germany's famous ban on Nazi parties is purely symbolic.

Political parties in Germany are not allowed to officially call themselves Nazi or use Nazi symbols, but it's perfectly fine to have a de facto Nazi party using a different name. That's basically what the National Democratic Party of Germany is.

So no, Germany does not ban Nazi or fascist or ultra-nationalist parties in general. Germany only bans officially Nazi parties.

[Shigiel]

Which is exactly why Russians in Estonia need to be ready to take similar action to their cousins in Ukraine. Just as in Ukraine, it starts with talking about banning political parties and it results in "anti terror operations" and people being burned alive.

Why would you compare an EU democracy with a stable country too...Ukraine?

Because apparently, every ethnic Russian must be liberated from the tyranny of the...the...WEST!!!

[Teemant]

I don't know where people who claim that Russians are discriminated in Estonia and don't have same rights come from. If they haven't noticed Estonian education minister (from SDE party) has Russian background.

[Scepez]

I don't know where people who claim that Russians are discriminated in Estonia and don't have same rights come from. If they haven't noticed Estonian education minister (from SDE party) has Russian background.

Clearly he's just being tortured and oppressed to be there *nod* .

(That was sarcasm, if someone needed more hints...)

[Busen]

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.

Which is exactly why Russians in Estonia need to be ready to take similar action to their cousins in Ukraine. Just as in Ukraine, it starts with talking about banning political parties and it results in "anti terror operations" and people being burned alive.

Bad idea since it would cause a casus belli with NATO countries. In such scenario even I would voluntarly take an uniform and defend Estonia.

[Busen]

Germany bans Nazi parties for example

Leaving aside the fact that you can't cite that as a precedent for banning anyone you don't like, the fact is that Germany's famous ban on Nazi parties is purely symbolic.

Political parties in Germany are not allowed to officially call themselves Nazi or use Nazi symbols, but it's perfectly fine to have a de facto Nazi party using a different name. That's basically what the National Democratic Party of Germany is.

So no, Germany does not ban Nazi or fascist or ultra-nationalist parties in general. Germany only bans officially Nazi parties.

They have tried to bann the NPD twice and the Constitutional court rejected it.

Interestingly the lawyer of the NPD was a former RAF terrorist.

[Constantinopolis]

Leaving aside the fact that you can't cite that as a precedent for banning anyone you don't like, the fact is that Germany's famous ban on Nazi parties is purely symbolic.

Political parties in Germany are not allowed to officially call themselves Nazi or use Nazi symbols, but it's perfectly fine to have a de facto Nazi party using a different name. That's basically what the National Democratic Party of Germany is.

So no, Germany does not ban Nazi or fascist or ultra-nationalist parties in general. Germany only bans officially Nazi parties.

They have tried to bann the NPD twice and the Constitutional court rejected it.

Correct. There were attempts to ban the NPD, and those attempts failed. Despite the fact that everyone knows the NPD is a Nazi party, the attempts to ban it were rejected by the constitutional court, because the NPD is not overtly or explicitly Nazi.

This goes to show that Germany's censorship laws are not nearly as restrictive as some people imagine them to be. It is not really correct to say "Nazi parties are banned in Germany". Rather, it would be correct to say "Nazi parties are at risk of being banned in Germany, if they become too explicit about their Nazism".

Thus, if you wanted to institute a German-style policy in another country for parties that support X, the policy would not be "anyone who supports X is banned". Rather, the policy would be "if you support X in a very explicit and blatant way, then you might get banned, after a lengthy legal process".

[Teemant]

I checked Postimees and they have latest popularity ratings. http://poliitika.postimees.ee/3097873/toompeale-mahub-kuus-erakonda

23% Reform party
22% Center party
20% SDE
14% Pro Patria and Res Publica Union
9% Free party
9% EKRE
3% rest of the parties

I hope Reform will win the elections and get more than 23%.

[Sebastianbourg]

Which is exactly why Russians in Estonia need to be ready to take similar action to their cousins in Ukraine. Just as in Ukraine, it starts with talking about banning political parties and it results in "anti terror operations" and people being burned alive.

Bad idea since it would cause a casus belli with NATO countries.

Indeed. Cartalucci seems to be ignorant Article 5's existence.

[Arglorand]

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.

Which is exactly why Russians in Estonia need to be ready to take similar action to their cousins in Ukraine. Just as in Ukraine, it starts with talking about banning political parties and it results in "anti terror operations" and people being burned alive.

You mean, just like in Ukraine, Russian Estonians should fight proudly on the side of their Estonian countrymen to repulse a disgustingly pathetic Russian invasion under the guise of protecting their interests?

Do you just have some sort of mental block on admitting that Russia does not have the right to waltz in and do whatever it fucking likes in its neighbour countries?

[Arglorand]

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.

If Russophobia you believe to be a hatred of the sort of person that you are, then firstly, you strongly overestimate the idiocy level of the average Russian (I can wager all my possessions most of them don't believe the horrible shit you do, they certainly don't in the Baltics) and secondly, you know I find it doubtful you actually know anything about Estonia either, besides for scare stories they tell you on the pathetic propaganda machine you subscribe to.

[Draakonite]

They have tried to bann the NPD twice and the Constitutional court rejected it.

Correct. There were attempts to ban the NPD, and those attempts failed. Despite the fact that everyone knows the NPD is a Nazi party, the attempts to ban it were rejected by the constitutional court, because the NPD is not overtly or explicitly Nazi.

This goes to show that Germany's censorship laws are not nearly as restrictive as some people imagine them to be. It is not really correct to say "Nazi parties are banned in Germany". Rather, it would be correct to say "Nazi parties are at risk of being banned in Germany, if they become too explicit about their Nazism".

Thus, if you wanted to institute a German-style policy in another country for parties that support X, the policy would not be "anyone who supports X is banned". Rather, the policy would be "if you support X in a very explicit and blatant way, then you might get banned, after a lengthy legal process".

It failed because the only people acting like nazis in meetings were police informers...
Wouldn't surprise me if every member is a police informer from different branches.

[Geilinor]

Leaving aside the fact that you can't cite that as a precedent for banning anyone you don't like, the fact is that Germany's famous ban on Nazi parties is purely symbolic.

Political parties in Germany are not allowed to officially call themselves Nazi or use Nazi symbols, but it's perfectly fine to have a de facto Nazi party using a different name. That's basically what the National Democratic Party of Germany is.

So no, Germany does not ban Nazi or fascist or ultra-nationalist parties in general. Germany only bans officially Nazi parties.

They have tried to bann the NPD twice and the Constitutional court rejected it.

Interestingly the lawyer of the NPD was a former RAF terrorist.

Yes, partly because the German government has informants in the NPD.

[The Liberated Territories]

I checked Postimees and they have latest popularity ratings. http://poliitika.postimees.ee/3097873/toompeale-mahub-kuus-erakonda

23% Reform party
22% Center party
20% SDE
14% Pro Patria and Res Publica Union
9% Free party
9% EKRE
3% rest of the parties

I hope Reform will win the elections and get more than 23%.

Indeed.

[Magna Libero]

Definitely not the pro-Russia party. Those who vote for that party seem to be hostile against Estonia and I wonder who gave voting rights to those people.

Reform Party sounds like the best. Hopefully they can continue to make Estonia more business-friendly and a better place than Finland. Estonia is close to Finland and we could easily move there from Finland and go back now and then if we feel like it.

[Tallinna Rahvavabariik]

It's funny how often people take random opinions by random people on random internet forums so seriously and as evidence. It's kind of like that saying "I read it on the internet so it must be true." When some random person here states for example that genocide of Russians will happen if the Center Party cannot form the government or that Estonia will join Russia and genocide of Estonians will follow if the Center Party will form the government then that should be taken with a very large dose of salt. Also, this division into pro-Russian and pro-EU parties ignores reality on the ground. While I can understand that from far away it might look like all of Eastern Europe is the same and by the example of Ukraine there's thought to be a constant battle between the two opposing sides, this doesn't hold true in the case of Estonia and I dare say in the case of all three Baltic states. Our membership in the EU and NATO isn't really questioned by any party except the Independence Party who polled at 0% according to the latest survey. Nor is there any political force who would advocate any sort of association with Russia - the Center Party and the United Left Party only advocate that the relationship between Estonia and Russia should be more pragmatic. It's a view that I personally disagree with but I can understand it and interpreting it as pro-Russian in the sense of favoring any sort of alignment or association with Russia or as hostile to Estonia is disingenuous.

As for the latest opinion polls, in a way it looks better than the last one but in another way it also looks worse at the same time. One should keep in mind though that the surveys were conducted by different polling firms so the methodology may have been different. If we were to take the latest numbers at face value though, let me make a new prediction - the new government will be formed in a way that will be very analogous to the current "grand coalition" in the European Parliament that was formed after the elections last year. Which means that we will likely see the third return of the triple alliance of Reform, IRL and SDE just like in 1999 and 2007, this time to keep the Center Party and fringe elements such as EKRE out of power. The Free Party may be a wild card here but as it currently looks, a two-party coalition will not be possible with the possible exception of Reform+Center coalition. Whether the Free Party will get enough seats that combinations such as Reform+IRL+Free Party or Reform+SDE+Free Party would gain 51 or more seats will be the interesting question.

[Tallinna Rahvavabariik]

According to the latest poll reported this morning on radio the popularity ratings are as follows:

Center Party - 27%
Reform Party - 22%
SDE - 18%
IRL - 16%
EKRE - 6%
Free Party - 6%

Also, according to the survey, Taavi Rõivas (Reform, current prime minister) is the most favored candidate for the next prime minister with 19% support, followed by Edgar Savisaar (Center) with 14%, Juhan Parts (IRL) with 10%, Sven Mikser (SDE) with 9%, Mart Helme (EKRE) with 6% and Artur Talvik (Free Party) with 3%.

[Teemant]

According to the latest poll reported this morning on radio the popularity ratings are as follows:

Center Party - 27%
Reform Party - 22%
SDE - 18%
IRL - 16%
EKRE - 6%
Free Party - 6%

Also, according to the survey, Taavi Rõivas (Reform, current prime minister) is the most favored candidate for the next prime minister with 19% support, followed by Edgar Savisaar (Center) with 14%, Juhan Parts (IRL) with 10%, Sven Mikser (SDE) with 9%, Mart Helme (EKRE) with 6% and Artur Talvik (Free Party) with 3%.

I still belive that Reform party will win the elections. But I think it is becoming more clear by each day that there might be a 3 party coalition. It seems inevitable.

[Parti Ouvrier]

I'd probably critically support the mediocre run of the mill Social Democrat Party over the run of the mill mediocre liberal reform party.

[Barrera]

I don't think any of these parties appeal to me fully.

I'm a social conservative but economic social democrat. Socially, I guess I'd vote Pro Patria and Res Publica Union. Economically, it would be Social Democratic Party.

[Constantinopolis]

Definitely not the pro-Russia party. Those who vote for that party seem to be hostile against Estonia and I wonder who gave voting rights to those people.

See, it's comments like these that make people associate Estonia with far-right views.

(never mind the fact that a "pro-Russia party" doesn't even exist; there are only anti-Russian and neutral-towards-Russia parties)