TALLINN — The agrarian People’s Union of Estonia and left-wing Social Democratic Party signed a memorandum Monday that will set up the unification of the two parties.

There has been speculation in the Estonian media for months that the People’s Union would unite another party. The Center Party, Green Party 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 now.

According to the memorandum, the two parties promise to [private_supervisor]form a political union that will be listed as one party on the next election’s ballot, whose goal is to cross the rift between people and offer an alternative for right-wing and populists preying on people’s dissatisfaction.

Jüri Pihl, the leader of Social Democratic Party, said there is a clear need for a third strong political force in Estonia.

“I believe that we can offer a considerable alternative for the voters if we unite our forces,” Pihl said.

Karel Rüütli, the leader of the People’s Union, claimed that Estonia needs a caring and wise party after the parliamentary elections next year to bring real change into how the country is governed.

The two parties assert in the memorandum that smart and responsible social politics, education policies, job policies, and regional politics can be executed even though Estonia is not yet among the rich countries in Europe, a tease at the Reform Party’s electoral promise was to make Estonia one of the Europe’s top five richest countries within 15 years.

The memorandum is not final, as the parties will form work groups to find agreeable candidates, a new election platform and other unification aspects. The final merging contract will be presented to the councils of each party by May 10. If both of the parties then decide to approve the contract, then the merger will take place by March 2011.

Exactly how the merger will affect the March 2011 parliamentary election remains unclear. The popularity of People’s Union is falling and in October’s local government elections the party received only 12,456 votes, a mere 1.9 percent. About 16 percent of those came from Tartu.

Meanwhile the Social Democrats received only 7.5 percent of the October vote, less than half the Reform Party’s total. The Social Democrats are strongest in the urban areas of Tallinn, Tartu and especially Rakvere.

Do or die for People’s Union

The People’s Union has been in a state of internal strife since the general prosecutor pressed charges on party leader Villu Reiljan, alleging he took a one million krooni (€63,700) in cash and real estate as bribes. Reiljan was found guilty and has appealed the decision. The court of appeals is scheduled to rule on his appeal Nov. 20. Reiljan could face up to eight years imprisonment. Meanwhile Reiljan’s fall from grace has hammered the party’s popularity. If People’s Union won’t get the minimum votes in 2011, it would likely disband.

The merger is not unanimously supported by People’s Union members claiming that Rüütli acted against the party’s constitution and should step down from his position.

The party’s most prominent member, former Estonian President Arnolt Rüütel chose to walk out of the council meeting Monday to show that uniting with the Social Democrats is not supported. He was joined by Reiljan and a few others.

While signing the memorandum, Pihl said that Reiljan and former Minister of Agriculture Ester Tuiksoo are not welcomed as members of the new parties. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]form a political union that will be listed as one party on the next election’s ballot, whose goal is to cross the rift between people and offer an alternative for right-wing and populists preying on people’s dissatisfaction.

Jüri Pihl, the leader of Social Democratic Party, said there is a clear need for a third strong political force in Estonia.

“I believe that we can offer a considerable alternative for the voters if we unite our forces,” Pihl said.

Karel Rüütli, the leader of the People’s Union, claimed that Estonia needs a caring and wise party after the parliamentary elections next year to bring real change into how the country is governed.

The two parties assert in the memorandum that smart and responsible social politics, education policies, job policies, and regional politics can be executed even though Estonia is not yet among the rich countries in Europe, a tease at the Reform Party’s electoral promise was to make Estonia one of the Europe’s top five richest countries within 15 years.

The memorandum is not final, as the parties will form work groups to find agreeable candidates, a new election platform and other unification aspects. The final merging contract will be presented to the councils of each party by May 10. If both of the parties then decide to approve the contract, then the merger will take place by March 2011.

Exactly how the merger will affect the March 2011 parliamentary election remains unclear. The popularity of People’s Union is falling and in October’s local government elections the party received only 12,456 votes, a mere 1.9 percent. About 16 percent of those came from Tartu.

Meanwhile the Social Democrats received only 7.5 percent of the October vote, less than half the Reform Party’s total. The Social Democrats are strongest in the urban areas of Tallinn, Tartu and especially Rakvere.

Do or die for People’s Union

The People’s Union has been in a state of internal strife since the general prosecutor pressed charges on party leader Villu Reiljan, alleging he took a one million krooni (€63,700) in cash and real estate as bribes. Reiljan was found guilty and has appealed the decision. The court of appeals is scheduled to rule on his appeal Nov. 20. Reiljan could face up to eight years imprisonment. Meanwhile Reiljan’s fall from grace has hammered the party’s popularity. If People’s Union won’t get the minimum votes in 2011, it would likely disband.

The merger is not unanimously supported by People’s Union members claiming that Rüütli acted against the party’s constitution and should step down from his position.

The party’s most prominent member, former Estonian President Arnolt Rüütel chose to walk out of the council meeting Monday to show that uniting with the Social Democrats is not supported. He was joined by Reiljan and a few others.

While signing the memorandum, Pihl said that Reiljan and former Minister of Agriculture Ester Tuiksoo are not welcomed as members of the new parties. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]form a political union that will be listed as one party on the next election’s ballot, whose goal is to cross the rift between people and offer an alternative for right-wing and populists preying on people’s dissatisfaction.

Jüri Pihl, the leader of Social Democratic Party, said there is a clear need for a third strong political force in Estonia.

“I believe that we can offer a considerable alternative for the voters if we unite our forces,” Pihl said.

Karel Rüütli, the leader of the People’s Union, claimed that Estonia needs a caring and wise party after the parliamentary elections next year to bring real change into how the country is governed.

The two parties assert in the memorandum that smart and responsible social politics, education policies, job policies, and regional politics can be executed even though Estonia is not yet among the rich countries in Europe, a tease at the Reform Party’s electoral promise was to make Estonia one of the Europe’s top five richest countries within 15 years.

The memorandum is not final, as the parties will form work groups to find agreeable candidates, a new election platform and other unification aspects. The final merging contract will be presented to the councils of each party by May 10. If both of the parties then decide to approve the contract, then the merger will take place by March 2011.

Exactly how the merger will affect the March 2011 parliamentary election remains unclear. The popularity of People’s Union is falling and in October’s local government elections the party received only 12,456 votes, a mere 1.9 percent. About 16 percent of those came from Tartu.

Meanwhile the Social Democrats received only 7.5 percent of the October vote, less than half the Reform Party’s total. The Social Democrats are strongest in the urban areas of Tallinn, Tartu and especially Rakvere.

Do or die for People’s Union

The People’s Union has been in a state of internal strife since the general prosecutor pressed charges on party leader Villu Reiljan, alleging he took a one million krooni (€63,700) in cash and real estate as bribes. Reiljan was found guilty and has appealed the decision. The court of appeals is scheduled to rule on his appeal Nov. 20. Reiljan could face up to eight years imprisonment. Meanwhile Reiljan’s fall from grace has hammered the party’s popularity. If People’s Union won’t get the minimum votes in 2011, it would likely disband.

The merger is not unanimously supported by People’s Union members claiming that Rüütli acted against the party’s constitution and should step down from his position.

The party’s most prominent member, former Estonian President Arnolt Rüütel chose to walk out of the council meeting Monday to show that uniting with the Social Democrats is not supported. He was joined by Reiljan and a few others.

While signing the memorandum, Pihl said that Reiljan and former Minister of Agriculture Ester Tuiksoo are not welcomed as members of the new parties. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]form a political union that will be listed as one party on the next election’s ballot, whose goal is to cross the rift between people and offer an alternative for right-wing and populists preying on people’s dissatisfaction.

Jüri Pihl, the leader of Social Democratic Party, said there is a clear need for a third strong political force in Estonia.

“I believe that we can offer a considerable alternative for the voters if we unite our forces,” Pihl said.

Karel Rüütli, the leader of the People’s Union, claimed that Estonia needs a caring and wise party after the parliamentary elections next year to bring real change into how the country is governed.

The two parties assert in the memorandum that smart and responsible social politics, education policies, job policies, and regional politics can be executed even though Estonia is not yet among the rich countries in Europe, a tease at the Reform Party’s electoral promise was to make Estonia one of the Europe’s top five richest countries within 15 years.

The memorandum is not final, as the parties will form work groups to find agreeable candidates, a new election platform and other unification aspects. The final merging contract will be presented to the councils of each party by May 10. If both of the parties then decide to approve the contract, then the merger will take place by March 2011.

Exactly how the merger will affect the March 2011 parliamentary election remains unclear. The popularity of People’s Union is falling and in October’s local government elections the party received only 12,456 votes, a mere 1.9 percent. About 16 percent of those came from Tartu.

Meanwhile the Social Democrats received only 7.5 percent of the October vote, less than half the Reform Party’s total. The Social Democrats are strongest in the urban areas of Tallinn, Tartu and especially Rakvere.

Do or die for People’s Union

The People’s Union has been in a state of internal strife since the general prosecutor pressed charges on party leader Villu Reiljan, alleging he took a one million krooni (€63,700) in cash and real estate as bribes. Reiljan was found guilty and has appealed the decision. The court of appeals is scheduled to rule on his appeal Nov. 20. Reiljan could face up to eight years imprisonment. Meanwhile Reiljan’s fall from grace has hammered the party’s popularity. If People’s Union won’t get the minimum votes in 2011, it would likely disband.

The merger is not unanimously supported by People’s Union members claiming that Rüütli acted against the party’s constitution and should step down from his position.

The party’s most prominent member, former Estonian President Arnolt Rüütel chose to walk out of the council meeting Monday to show that uniting with the Social Democrats is not supported. He was joined by Reiljan and a few others.

While signing the memorandum, Pihl said that Reiljan and former Minister of Agriculture Ester Tuiksoo are not welcomed as members of the new parties. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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