Mikser: Ligi's Resignation Relieves Tensions
Following the meeting with Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas, the leader of the Social Democrats, Sven Mikser, said that the resignation of Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi has relieved tensions between the coalition partners.
Mikser told Postimees on Sunday that strain put on the coalition by Jürgen Ligi's remarks on Jevgeni Ossinovski, takes some time to settle but they hope to continue with the normal working routine as soon as possible.
"The coalition has another 4.5 months ahead of it and a few more promises made in the coalition agreement to fulfill. This must be done constructively, without too many tensions," he said, adding that Ligi's decision was a step in the right direction toward helping to solve the problems between the two coalition parties.
"There is a code of conduct in politics, certain actions that require people to take political responsibility, to resign so that others can move forward. We are now in the point from which we should move forward", Mikser said.
"The relations and tensions between ethnic communities is an issue which needs to be treated in a careful and responsible manner. I think this is a lesson for all our politicians," he added.
No need for Ossinovski to apologize
Upon his resignation, Ligi called for Education Minister Jevgeni Ossinovski to apologize and resign as well. Ossinovski and Mikser disagree.
"In the end of the day, it is not me who wrote the comment in Facebook on Thursday morning and it is not me who has escalated those words in the society," Ossinovski told ETV's "Aktuaalne Kaamera", the evening news program.
"It is not so much about a personal offense directed at me but the wider significance of these words; a signal by a member of the government that people of different ethnic origins should somehow have less say in what goes on in Estonia."