Ansip to New Citizens: Build Institutions, Hold Officials Accountable
At a time when some have perceived his administration as getting away from democratic traditions, the prime minister took the opportunity to remind the nation - and 70 newly naturalized citizens - of their civic duties.
“Compared to other European countries, there are very few of us. It is all the more important that the majority of people living in Estonia participate in exercising the power vested in them,“ said Prime Minister Andrus Ansip.
At the citizenship ceremony held in the Parliament conference hall on October 31, the head of government recalled the words of late president Lennart Meri.
“The Estonian state is costly for the citizen’s pocketbook and dear to the the heart of its citizens,“ said Ansip, saying that part of civic duty was to hold government accountable for use of taxpayer money.
Estonia first began to hold new citizen ceremonies in 2008.