Coalition agreement ready, ministries distributed
The chairmen of the Center Party, the Social Democrats, and the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) agreed on the conditions of the new coalition on Saturday morning. According to ERR’s Estonian news portal, the distribution of the ministries was agreed on as well.
Heidi Ojamaa, who is responsible for media relations of the Social Democratic Party (SDE), confirmed to ERR’s Estonian news portal on Saturday morning that the coalition agreement had been finalized, and that it had also been decided who
“We are going to publish them in a little while,” Ojamaa said, adding that this would happen as soon as all three parties’ leaderships had met.
Center Party: Social Democrats and IRL realized change was inevitable, Reform didn’t
The Center Party’s leadership met in the Tallinn University of Technology’s Mektory business center, where they discussed and approved the new coalition agreement.
In a speech to the assembled leadership, party chairman Jüri Ratas said that the political situation had developed the way it did because of the Reform Party’s arrogance and its belief that it was infallible. “The Social Democrats as well as IRL saw the necessity of the inevitable change in the way the state is run, but the Reform Party didn’t want so much as hear of it,” Ratas said. He also criticized the Reform Party’s narrative that the new coalition meant a “left turn” for Estonia, and the way this had been portrayed in the foreign media.
Center Party ministers
According to information available to ERR’s radio news, each of the coalition parties will get five ministries. Out of the Center Party, Kadri Simson will take over as Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, Martin Repinski as Minister of Rural Affairs, Mailis Reps as Minister of Education and Research, and Mihhail Korb as Minister of Public Administration. Jüri Ratas is the candidate for Prime Minister.
Social Democratic ministers
Of the Social Democrats, chairman Jevgeni Ossinovski would continue as Minister of Health and Labour, and Indrek Saar as Minister of Culture. Sven Mikser would take over as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andres Anvelt as Minister of the Interior, and Urve Palo as Minister of Entrepreneurship and Development.
IRL: Names of ministers to be made public on Monday
According to initial information available to ERR’s Estonian news portal, the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) will get the ministries of defense, finance, social protection, the environment, and justice.
Advisor to IRL chairman Margus Tsahkna, Susan Lilleväli, said on Saturday morning that this couldn’t currently be confirmed, as the party leadership hadn’t signed off on it yet. “The partners have agreed on this distribution and we’ll confirm it once the leadership meeting has taken place,” Lilleväli said. She didn’t want to name any candidates for those positions. Later on Saturday, the party announced that it would make the names of its candidates public on Monday.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn