Toom: Center Party not ready for Simson or Ratas leadership
Estonian MEP Yana Toom said Jüri Ratas and Kadri Simson, who have been mentioned as possible replacements for current Center Party chief Edgar Savisaar, are likeable young people but the party is not yet ready for them.
In an interview with Eesti Päevaleht, Toom said she will cut her time at the European Parliament short if the Center Party gets the mandate to form the next Estonian government, adding that despite other parties rejecting cooperation with her party, many of the political promises voiced by the Social Democrats can only be pushed through with the help from the Center Party.
She said the party does not need a leadership change, and that Savisaar is the best man for the job.
“Firstly, I believe an isolated partner will rule out future dialogue. Secondly we need Russia – even if just for joint anti-terrorism fight. Thirdly, it bothers me that resolutions concerning Russia are so unbalanced,” Toom said, speaking about voting against EU resolutions against Russia. She explained that the EU cares far less about the bombing of Donetsk than of Mariupol.
“There is no point in going on and on about Russia being a evil empire which is led by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” she said, adding that such branding decreases the chance for a dialogue across the Narva river.
Editor: J.M. Laats