European Forum

Estonian Social Democratic Party to startmerger talks with People's Union

On 13 April the Estonian Social Democratic Party reported that it signed a joint declaration of intent with oppositional People's Union on 12 April, whereby the parties will open talks with a view to merger. The declaration was signed by SDE's Chairman Mr. Jüri Pihl and People's Union Chairman Mr. Karel Rüütli.

The extended board of the People's Union gathered later on 12 April and formed a negotiation team. SDE has already set up a work group for consultations with the People's Union.

The parties will start negotiations to participate in the next parliamentary elections with a common list. Leading bodies of the two will be working in conjunction until the end of the merger process, however SDE is the uniting party and People’s Union is the party that unites with the SDE. It is planned to submit the merger agreement for consideration to the parties' extended boards by May 10 at the latest.

The People’s Union is a socially-oriented rural party, which has five remaining representatives in the national parliament Riigikogu, making it the smallest party. However they are one of strongest parties in the countryside and smaller cities, which significantly helps SDE to raise its support in the rural areas. People’s Union has also almost 10.000 members which makes it the 2nd biggest party in Estonia. SDE has 3500 members. However, it is widely expected that many of the People’s Union members who do not support social democratic values, will not join the emerged party, including the former leader of the People’s Union Mr. Villu Reiljan MP and the former Minister of Agriculture Mrs. Ester Tuiksoo MP who are under investigation for corruption charges. Mr. Reiljan’s corruption charges are also the reason for the downfall of the party’s popularity which today is around 3%. The most well-known figure of the People’s Union is the former President of the Republic Mr. Arnold Rüütel.

In the European level People’s Union has so far had cooperation with the Alliance for Europe of the Nation’s, but they have no MEPs. The declaration signed on 12 April clearly stipulates that the emerged party will remain in the PES and the party will most likely keep the same name – the Estonian Social Democratic Party.

Estonia will hold the next parliamentary elections on March 6, 2011. After the merger only five parliamentary parties will remain in Estonia, with the Greens being the smallest on the treshold of 5% .

Sources: SDE