Lang: The best and worst of the Reform Party
One of the founding members of the Reform Party, Rein Lang, picked the three best and three worst deeds of the party, which was founded 20 years ago.
“I think that the biggest success is Estonia joining the EU and NATO. It took us from one space to another, took us back to our eternal home, the European cultural space, the Western-Christian cultural space and the trans-Atlantic security environment,” Lang said.
He said that Estonia was made to work for both, and had to adapt. Estonia joined both communities in 2004, when Res Publica, now one half of IRL, led a government which also included the Reform Party. The party had been in the government since 1999 by that time, and has not been excluded since.
The second achievement is Estonia's business and tax environment, which according to Lang is unique in the EU, and one of the keys to country's success.
Clawing out of the worldwide economic meltdown is the third big achievement of the party.
Speaking of the failures, Lang said that the party leaving the government in 1996 is one the top three mistakes, although he added that he himself supported the move back then.
“I think that the Cabinet should have held on until the elections; it would have been good for Estonia,” Lang said about ditching IRL for the Social Democrats earlier this year.
The third big mistake was made in adapting the EU laws 10 years ago. He said that a great many mistakes were made and the government is still pumping out many laws. Each law that is passed limits personal freedom to some extent, Lang said, adding that only free people are able to develop life in Estonia.
The party was founded on November 13, 1994, by a group of public figures led by Siim Kallas and the Estonian Liberal Democratic Party.