Mikser: We Would Say No to Playing Second Fiddle to Savisaar
Chairman of the Social Democrats Sven Mikser said that his party would not join a Center Party coalition as a junior partner.
Speaking on ERR radio, the MP said that the aim of his party at the October 20 local elections is to oust the Center Party from its power monopoly in Tallinn.
“I will go as far as to say the Social Democrats will not be a junior partner to a Edgar Savisaar-led Tallinn government,” Mikser said, adding that the party had "learned its lessons" from previously leading Tallinn in a coalition with the Center Party after the 2009 local elections.
The coalition lasted little over a year and culminated, in December 2010, with the Social Democrats issuing an ultimatum for Savisaar to step down.
The demand was made after the national security agency, the Kaitsepolitsei, published documents saying Savisaar and Tallinn's deputy mayor Deniss Boroditš asked for 1.5 million euros from Russia to finance the campaign.
Mikser said that the main focus is on the next parliamentary elections in 2015 where the Social Democrats hope to lead a coalition.