TALLINN — The Green Party is throwing out 20 of its members on the pretext of damaging the party’s reputation and ignoring communication principles written in the party’s constitution.

The party has been torn between its füüsikuteks faction which supports concentrating on energy issues, and the lüürikuteks faction which wants the party to focus more on developing Estonia’s civil society and direct democracy reforms. It appears that the füüsikuteks , led by Marek Strandberg have won the fight.

The board of the Green Party gathered Tuesday to [private_supervisor]discuss the future membership of 20 people who have been in the party’s inside opposition for months. The crisis within the party began in November 2009, when the party’s congress decided to elect new board members.

Only Strandberg, former chairman of the board, Valdur Lahtvee, and Mart Jüssi remained as board members. Later the the three decided to turn to the courts to annul the congress’ decision, claiming that the votes were not correctly counted and quorum’s requirement was not followed. Harju County Court repealed the congress’ elections on April 13 and the former board members were back in power.

“There has been loyalty control, phone call and communication surveillance of some party members, threatening our employees, and revealing our inner issues to public, which has severely damaged our party’s reputation,” Katrin Mesilane, the press spokeswoman of the Green Party told the media.

Mesila said that it is important not to attack, or slander the party members and people have tolerated the ignorance of those principles long enough.

Riho Raassild, former party member who was also one of those who were thrown out of the party told BNS that Strandberg and his followers used political repressions inside the party for a long time while limiting the freedom of speech inside the party and making decisions that were aimed at cracking the party.

Expelled members include Andres Laidvee, Airi Hallik-Konnula, Andrus Mäesepp, Anti Poolamets, Avo Kask, Dagmar Mattiisen, Egge Kulbok-Lattik, Elmer Joandi, Jaak Hohensee, Juta Luts, Jüri Ginter, Martin Vahi, Mikk Sarv, Olev Leesmend, Ott Köstner, Peep Tobreluts, Peeter Jalakas, Riho Raassild and Ruth Randoja ja Tanel Tammet.

None are Riigikogu members, and it remains to be seen whether the 20 will form a new party or how the expulsion will affect the party’s six members of parliament.

Immature politics?

Political analyst Toomas Alatalu said that the move was regrettable in context of upcoming elections. In addition, Estonia is becoming a eurozone and OECD member proving that the country has shown its maturity in fiscal politics to the rest of the world. However, the situation in the People’s Union and now in the Green Party shows the immaturity of Estonia’s carousel of partisan politics, which is hindering the political development of the young democracy.

“The opposition is rendered with the help of the court, voting tricks and slander. Experienced politicians, and known intellectuals who are needed in Estonian politics are included in the fight” Alatalu told Baltic Reports. “As a result the large parties keep going stronger because people get disappointed and will not vote for small parties.”

Alatalu said that it is the greatest downfall of democracy in times when fresh ideas and new leaders are needed. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]discuss the future membership of 20 people who have been in the party’s inside opposition for months. The crisis within the party began in November 2009, when the party’s congress decided to elect new board members.

Only Strandberg, former chairman of the board, Valdur Lahtvee, and Mart Jüssi remained as board members. Later the the three decided to turn to the courts to annul the congress’ decision, claiming that the votes were not correctly counted and quorum’s requirement was not followed. Harju County Court repealed the congress’ elections on April 13 and the former board members were back in power.

“There has been loyalty control, phone call and communication surveillance of some party members, threatening our employees, and revealing our inner issues to public, which has severely damaged our party’s reputation,” Katrin Mesilane, the press spokeswoman of the Green Party told the media.

Mesila said that it is important not to attack, or slander the party members and people have tolerated the ignorance of those principles long enough.

Riho Raassild, former party member who was also one of those who were thrown out of the party told BNS that Strandberg and his followers used political repressions inside the party for a long time while limiting the freedom of speech inside the party and making decisions that were aimed at cracking the party.

Expelled members include Andres Laidvee, Airi Hallik-Konnula, Andrus Mäesepp, Anti Poolamets, Avo Kask, Dagmar Mattiisen, Egge Kulbok-Lattik, Elmer Joandi, Jaak Hohensee, Juta Luts, Jüri Ginter, Martin Vahi, Mikk Sarv, Olev Leesmend, Ott Köstner, Peep Tobreluts, Peeter Jalakas, Riho Raassild and Ruth Randoja ja Tanel Tammet.

None are Riigikogu members, and it remains to be seen whether the 20 will form a new party or how the expulsion will affect the party’s six members of parliament.

Immature politics?

Political analyst Toomas Alatalu said that the move was regrettable in context of upcoming elections. In addition, Estonia is becoming a eurozone and OECD member proving that the country has shown its maturity in fiscal politics to the rest of the world. However, the situation in the People’s Union and now in the Green Party shows the immaturity of Estonia’s carousel of partisan politics, which is hindering the political development of the young democracy.

“The opposition is rendered with the help of the court, voting tricks and slander. Experienced politicians, and known intellectuals who are needed in Estonian politics are included in the fight” Alatalu told Baltic Reports. “As a result the large parties keep going stronger because people get disappointed and will not vote for small parties.”

Alatalu said that it is the greatest downfall of democracy in times when fresh ideas and new leaders are needed. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]discuss the future membership of 20 people who have been in the party’s inside opposition for months. The crisis within the party began in November 2009, when the party’s congress decided to elect new board members.

Only Strandberg, former chairman of the board, Valdur Lahtvee, and Mart Jüssi remained as board members. Later the the three decided to turn to the courts to annul the congress’ decision, claiming that the votes were not correctly counted and quorum’s requirement was not followed. Harju County Court repealed the congress’ elections on April 13 and the former board members were back in power.

“There has been loyalty control, phone call and communication surveillance of some party members, threatening our employees, and revealing our inner issues to public, which has severely damaged our party’s reputation,” Katrin Mesilane, the press spokeswoman of the Green Party told the media.

Mesila said that it is important not to attack, or slander the party members and people have tolerated the ignorance of those principles long enough.

Riho Raassild, former party member who was also one of those who were thrown out of the party told BNS that Strandberg and his followers used political repressions inside the party for a long time while limiting the freedom of speech inside the party and making decisions that were aimed at cracking the party.

Expelled members include Andres Laidvee, Airi Hallik-Konnula, Andrus Mäesepp, Anti Poolamets, Avo Kask, Dagmar Mattiisen, Egge Kulbok-Lattik, Elmer Joandi, Jaak Hohensee, Juta Luts, Jüri Ginter, Martin Vahi, Mikk Sarv, Olev Leesmend, Ott Köstner, Peep Tobreluts, Peeter Jalakas, Riho Raassild and Ruth Randoja ja Tanel Tammet.

None are Riigikogu members, and it remains to be seen whether the 20 will form a new party or how the expulsion will affect the party’s six members of parliament.

Immature politics?

Political analyst Toomas Alatalu said that the move was regrettable in context of upcoming elections. In addition, Estonia is becoming a eurozone and OECD member proving that the country has shown its maturity in fiscal politics to the rest of the world. However, the situation in the People’s Union and now in the Green Party shows the immaturity of Estonia’s carousel of partisan politics, which is hindering the political development of the young democracy.

“The opposition is rendered with the help of the court, voting tricks and slander. Experienced politicians, and known intellectuals who are needed in Estonian politics are included in the fight” Alatalu told Baltic Reports. “As a result the large parties keep going stronger because people get disappointed and will not vote for small parties.”

Alatalu said that it is the greatest downfall of democracy in times when fresh ideas and new leaders are needed. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]discuss the future membership of 20 people who have been in the party’s inside opposition for months. The crisis within the party began in November 2009, when the party’s congress decided to elect new board members.

Only Strandberg, former chairman of the board, Valdur Lahtvee, and Mart Jüssi remained as board members. Later the the three decided to turn to the courts to annul the congress’ decision, claiming that the votes were not correctly counted and quorum’s requirement was not followed. Harju County Court repealed the congress’ elections on April 13 and the former board members were back in power.

“There has been loyalty control, phone call and communication surveillance of some party members, threatening our employees, and revealing our inner issues to public, which has severely damaged our party’s reputation,” Katrin Mesilane, the press spokeswoman of the Green Party told the media.

Mesila said that it is important not to attack, or slander the party members and people have tolerated the ignorance of those principles long enough.

Riho Raassild, former party member who was also one of those who were thrown out of the party told BNS that Strandberg and his followers used political repressions inside the party for a long time while limiting the freedom of speech inside the party and making decisions that were aimed at cracking the party.

Expelled members include Andres Laidvee, Airi Hallik-Konnula, Andrus Mäesepp, Anti Poolamets, Avo Kask, Dagmar Mattiisen, Egge Kulbok-Lattik, Elmer Joandi, Jaak Hohensee, Juta Luts, Jüri Ginter, Martin Vahi, Mikk Sarv, Olev Leesmend, Ott Köstner, Peep Tobreluts, Peeter Jalakas, Riho Raassild and Ruth Randoja ja Tanel Tammet.

None are Riigikogu members, and it remains to be seen whether the 20 will form a new party or how the expulsion will affect the party’s six members of parliament.

Immature politics?

Political analyst Toomas Alatalu said that the move was regrettable in context of upcoming elections. In addition, Estonia is becoming a eurozone and OECD member proving that the country has shown its maturity in fiscal politics to the rest of the world. However, the situation in the People’s Union and now in the Green Party shows the immaturity of Estonia’s carousel of partisan politics, which is hindering the political development of the young democracy.

“The opposition is rendered with the help of the court, voting tricks and slander. Experienced politicians, and known intellectuals who are needed in Estonian politics are included in the fight” Alatalu told Baltic Reports. “As a result the large parties keep going stronger because people get disappointed and will not vote for small parties.”

Alatalu said that it is the greatest downfall of democracy in times when fresh ideas and new leaders are needed. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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