TALLINN — The board of the People’s Union put the merger agreement project with the Social Democrats on vote late on Monday and was approved with strong majority, but fissures in the party may still prevent the join-up.

Ten People’s Union board members voted for and only five against the merger agreement project. The agreement project, composed by the unification delegations by both parties, will now be sent to the party’s regional boards. The unification is not complete until it is [private_supervisor]approved at the People’s Union and Social Democratic party congresses.

People’s Union Chairman Karel Rüütli told the press that the parties have reached the consensus on solving the problems that Estonia is facing and completed a balanced contract representing the intentions of both parties.

However, not all the party members are happy about the merger, including Arnold Rüütel, the former president of Estonia. Rüütel sent an email to all members last week saying that the move is in contradiction to what was decided at December’s party congress. Ultimately the party congress could still jettison the merger.

“I have distanced myself from these decisions handling the possible unification with the Social Democrats and I do not consider those binding, as they are in conflict with the decision that was made at the congress,“ said Rüütel. “I believe in you, and I believe in the People’s Union and its ability to move on independently.“

Rüütel also expressed his strong disapproval earlier this month when he chose to walk out of the council meeting to show that uniting with the Social Democrats is not supported. He was joined by Villu Reiljan and others.

However, the vote results in October’s local government elections prove that the party’s support is small, as People’s Union received only 12,456 votes, a mere 1.9 percent. Meanwhile the Social Democrats received 7.5 percent of the October vote, less than half the Reform Party’s total.

The Estonian media has speculated for months that the People’s Union would unite another party. The Center Party, Estonian Greens and Social Democrats all sent official merger proposals to the People’s Union in November. However, People’s Union chose to continue on its own until this month. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]approved at the People’s Union and Social Democratic party congresses.

People’s Union Chairman Karel Rüütli told the press that the parties have reached the consensus on solving the problems that Estonia is facing and completed a balanced contract representing the intentions of both parties.

However, not all the party members are happy about the merger, including Arnold Rüütel, the former president of Estonia. Rüütel sent an email to all members last week saying that the move is in contradiction to what was decided at December’s party congress. Ultimately the party congress could still jettison the merger.

“I have distanced myself from these decisions handling the possible unification with the Social Democrats and I do not consider those binding, as they are in conflict with the decision that was made at the congress,“ said Rüütel. “I believe in you, and I believe in the People’s Union and its ability to move on independently.“

Rüütel also expressed his strong disapproval earlier this month when he chose to walk out of the council meeting to show that uniting with the Social Democrats is not supported. He was joined by Villu Reiljan and others.

However, the vote results in October’s local government elections prove that the party’s support is small, as People’s Union received only 12,456 votes, a mere 1.9 percent. Meanwhile the Social Democrats received 7.5 percent of the October vote, less than half the Reform Party’s total.

The Estonian media has speculated for months that the People’s Union would unite another party. The Center Party, Estonian Greens and Social Democrats all sent official merger proposals to the People’s Union in November. However, People’s Union chose to continue on its own until this month. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]approved at the People’s Union and Social Democratic party congresses.

People’s Union Chairman Karel Rüütli told the press that the parties have reached the consensus on solving the problems that Estonia is facing and completed a balanced contract representing the intentions of both parties.

However, not all the party members are happy about the merger, including Arnold Rüütel, the former president of Estonia. Rüütel sent an email to all members last week saying that the move is in contradiction to what was decided at December’s party congress. Ultimately the party congress could still jettison the merger.

“I have distanced myself from these decisions handling the possible unification with the Social Democrats and I do not consider those binding, as they are in conflict with the decision that was made at the congress,“ said Rüütel. “I believe in you, and I believe in the People’s Union and its ability to move on independently.“

Rüütel also expressed his strong disapproval earlier this month when he chose to walk out of the council meeting to show that uniting with the Social Democrats is not supported. He was joined by Villu Reiljan and others.

However, the vote results in October’s local government elections prove that the party’s support is small, as People’s Union received only 12,456 votes, a mere 1.9 percent. Meanwhile the Social Democrats received 7.5 percent of the October vote, less than half the Reform Party’s total.

The Estonian media has speculated for months that the People’s Union would unite another party. The Center Party, Estonian Greens and Social Democrats all sent official merger proposals to the People’s Union in November. However, People’s Union chose to continue on its own until this month. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]approved at the People’s Union and Social Democratic party congresses.

People’s Union Chairman Karel Rüütli told the press that the parties have reached the consensus on solving the problems that Estonia is facing and completed a balanced contract representing the intentions of both parties.

However, not all the party members are happy about the merger, including Arnold Rüütel, the former president of Estonia. Rüütel sent an email to all members last week saying that the move is in contradiction to what was decided at December’s party congress. Ultimately the party congress could still jettison the merger.

“I have distanced myself from these decisions handling the possible unification with the Social Democrats and I do not consider those binding, as they are in conflict with the decision that was made at the congress,“ said Rüütel. “I believe in you, and I believe in the People’s Union and its ability to move on independently.“

Rüütel also expressed his strong disapproval earlier this month when he chose to walk out of the council meeting to show that uniting with the Social Democrats is not supported. He was joined by Villu Reiljan and others.

However, the vote results in October’s local government elections prove that the party’s support is small, as People’s Union received only 12,456 votes, a mere 1.9 percent. Meanwhile the Social Democrats received 7.5 percent of the October vote, less than half the Reform Party’s total.

The Estonian media has speculated for months that the People’s Union would unite another party. The Center Party, Estonian Greens and Social Democrats all sent official merger proposals to the People’s Union in November. However, People’s Union chose to continue on its own until this month. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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