The Baltic states (catch all)

[Stan]

Prime Minister Andrus Ansip's coalition government (comprised of the People’s Union, Center Party, and Reform Party) won in elections that ended on Sunday!

Good news for Estonia's military ! Minister Ansip has been a staunch supporter of our missions in support of coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Estonia must fulfil the duties it has assumed as an active member of the European Union and NATO."

http://www.valitsus.ee/?id=6458
Earlier in February the Minister has this to say regarding support to the coalition:

According to Ansip, participating in international operations is an essential part of Estonia’s security policy. “It is very easy to maintain a northern placidity and hope that other countries will contribute to international peacekeeping operations. Or to think that crises in the Balkans and outside Europe do not concern us. However, by contributing to foreign missions, by helping others, we also stand for our own interests and strengthen our own security,” he said.

[Stan]

http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/17438/

The newly-formed Estonian Greens were welcomed to the political sphere by collecting six seats in parliament, or 7.1 percent of votes. It represents an impressive debut for the Greens, who performed as well as the established rural party the People’s Union, who also collected six seats and 7.1 percent of votes.
Ansip claimed a double victory. Not only did his party win the election, but the prime minister also set a new record for the most number of individual votes by collecting 22,556 votes. He can now claim to be the nation’s most popular politician.

[SWJED]

Stan - thanks for the reports and insights - Dave

[Stan]

Thanks Dave,
Seems to be my corner (of the world) herein
Regards, Stan

[Stan]

MAKING FRIENDS: After a surprise win in Estonian elections, Prime Minister Ansip looks to form a new coalition.

TALINN – The center-right Reform Party, winner of Estonia's parliamentary elections over the weekend, decided after discussing the results of preliminary consultations to continue bilateral coalition-building talks with the right-wing Pro Patria and Res Publica Union, the Greens and the center-left Social Democratic Party.

More here:

http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/17445/

[Stan]

Mar 12, 2007
Staff and wire reports
http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/17486/

Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said a coalition agreement could be signed by March 26. Early indications point to a coalition between Reform, the Union of Pro Patria and Respublica (IRL), the Social Democrats and the Estonian Greens.

It is widely expected that the Center Party will be exiled to the opposition benches of parliament.
Talks are underway between the four parties, with key agreement points under heavy discussion. Ansip said there was “no signs of anyone intending to drop out” of the negotiations.
Ansip said that the partners had very frankly discussed the dangers that could face a four-party coalition. He said that as long as everyone admitted the importance of passing decisions by consensus and constructive cooperation, the existence of four parties wouldn't necessarily create any particular tension.
"We theoretically know that the most stable coalitions are those formed with the lowest possible majority of votes. If some party turns out to be downright superfluous, it usually doesn't extend the life of a coalition."
Family policy was discussed at a meeting on March 10. Ansip said there was great agreement concerning the partners' aims, but the ways leading to them as well as the costs varied from party to party. "There is little certainty that our present budget permits coverage of all the wishes," Ansip said.
But Ansip added that the Reform Party would have no concessions in its main promise - lowering income tax.

[Stan]

Mar 14, 2007
TBT staff

A recent poll has reported that 70 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the results of the parliamentary elections of March 4. Nearly half of the respondents – 45 percent – support a coalition of the Reform Party, the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL), the Social Democrats and the Greens.
A coalition of the Reform Party and the Center Party would be supported by 36 percent, a coalition consisting of the Reform Party, IRL and the Social Democrats by 25 percent, and one of the Reform Party, IRL and the Greens by 20 percent of those interviewed.
According to a separate Faktum & Ariko poll published last week and commissioned by the daily Eesti Paevaleht, 64 percent of the respondents found that the coalition of the Reform Party, IRL and Social Democrats was the most suitable for them.