ESTONIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS II: WHAT'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TALLINN 000118 SIPDIS FOR STATE EUR/NB SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EN SUBJECT: ESTONIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS II: WHAT'S AT STAKE? REF: A) TALLINN 92 B) TALLINN 79 C) TALLINN 88 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Estonia's March 4 parliamentary elections will produce a multi-party coalition government that is unlikely to bring about any significant changes in Estonia's domestic or foreign policy. All of the major parties are campaigning on a mixture of social and economic issues including education, health care reform and wages. Although foreign policy issues are on the back burner, there are differences among the parties on key issues such as Iraq and Russia that could influence Estonia's long-term strategies in these areas. End Summary. Another Coalition on the Horizon... -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Just over a week before Estonia's parliamentary elections, we can state that the next government is likely to be a coalition involving two or three of the country's six major parties, even if we don't yet know which ones. In spite of their contrasting platforms, the two parties likely to do best in the election -- Reform and Center -- are highly pragmatic. Moreover, a booming economy will ease the coalition negotiations, as there should be enough money in the budget to give all the parties in the next coalition a share to spend on their priority issues. As a result of these factors, we expect the next Estonian government will not make significant changes in key economic or foreign policies. It's the Economy. . . . -------------- ¶3. (U) Over the last several weeks we have asked senior representatives from the major political parties what they believe will be priority issues for the new government. Invariably, domestic economic and social issues topped their lists. Promoting continued economic growth, with particular emphasis on the need to address Estonia's growing labor shortage (Ref A) and improve productivity, was a common theme. In addition, investing in education, reforming the healthcare system, addressing demographic issues, and improving wage levels were also frequently cited as priorities. ¶4. (SBU) Speaking frankly, Mart Laar, Pro Patria-Res Publica (IRL) Prime Minister candidate told us that Estonia needs to deal with the fact that it no longer has a competitive advantage on low-cost labor. Estonia needs to move toward a more knowledge-based economy. Viljar Jaamu, Director of Enterprise Estonia, agreed with Laar's assessment. He said that the next government's challenge will be improving Estonia's productivity to transition the economy into higher value-added sectors and services. ¶5. (SBU) The populist Center Party has emphasized the need for higher wages -- calling for a 23% increase in wages each year over the next foQyears. Edgar Savisaar, Center Party Chairman and Minister for Economy, told us that wages have to go up in order to stem the out-migration of workers. He dismissed arguments that raising wages faster will have a negative impact on economic growth, noting that when the GOE increased retirement benefits several years ago "nothing happened to the economy." The Reform Party, has also campaigned on the need for higher wages, although Reform has targeted attracting higher paying jobs to Estonia. Reform Secretary General Kristin Michal dismissed Center's wage pledge for its lack of details and said that it seemed to smack of "a top-down tendency, command-control mentality that will only increase labor costs without attracting higher- end jobs with better salaries." ¶6. (SBU) More than any other economic issue, the parties are divided over tax policy. Center has made eliminating Estonia's flat tax a priority, although after two years as a member of a government committed to the flat tax, it is clear that Center will give up this position in coalition negotiations if that is necessary to get into the next government. And it will be necessary since Reform and the IRL both oppose Center's tax plan. Andrus Ansip, Prime Minister and Reform Party leader, has said that protecting the flat-tax is a non-negotiable red-line in Reform's TALLINN 00000118 002 OF 003 platform. Reform plans to continue lowering income taxes by 1% a year until the tax rate is 15% in 2015. Reform has also pledged not to introduce a tax on reinvested corporate profits, because the party views the current tax structure as one of the cornerstones of Estonia's economic competitiveness. Foreign Policy, a Difference of Degrees -------------- ¶7. (U) As in previous elections, parties have placed relatively little emphasis on foreign policy issues in their campaigns. In our discussions with the major parties, all stated decisively that the elections would not significantly change Estonia's foreign policy goals. However, two issues have emerged that divide the parties: Estonia's military presence in Iraq and relations with Russia. ¶8. (SBU) The Center Party and People's Union politicians have been in the forefront with their unease over Estonia's participation in Iraq. In last year's parliamentary debate on reauthorizing Estonia's Iraq mission, some members of both parties supported limiting the mission mandate to six monthQ(rather than a year). In the run up to the vote, Center MP Ain Seppik openly expressed his concerns to us that Iraq was turning into a "quagmire with no exit strategy" for Estonia. He said Center and People Union MPs were growing more and more convinced that Estonian troops should return from Baghdad. Alternatively, Reform party leaders including PM Andrus Ansip and FM Urmas Paet are among the strongest supporters for Estonia's Iraq mission. In a speech to Parliament on February 20, Paet declared that leaving Iraq now would be "irresponsible." IRL also supports the Iraq mission and the party has supported keeping the troops there for as long as they are needed. However, apart from Iraq, there continues to be strong cross-party support for Estonia's mission in Afghanistan and Kosovo. ¶9. (SBU) Although not a major issue in the elections, Estonian-Russian relations will remain a contentious and sensitive matter for the next government. The still unsigned Russian-Estonian border treaty has not been an issue in this campaign -- but may haunt the next government. (Note. Particularly now that it appears the Latvians will sign their border treaty soon. End note.) While Reform has demonstrated a pragmatic interest in working with Moscow on concrete matters (e.g., cooperation on transport, law enforcement, environment, etc.),it has not hesitated to milk the controversy over the Soviet "Bronze Soldier" monument for its own political gain at the expense of support from Estonia's Russian-speaking minority and relations with Moscow (Ref B). In contrast, the Center Party has consistently taken a more conciliatory approach on minority issues and relations with Russia, which is largely responsible for the party's very high level of support among Russian-speakers. ¶10. (SBU) While Estonia's role in the EU has not been a key campaign issue, Jana Vanaveski, Foreign Affairs Advisor to President Ilves, told us the results of the election will directly affect Estonia's ability to shape EU policy making. In her opinion, it is important that Estonia has ministers that speak English and personally attend ministerial meetings in Brussels. When there are Ministers with key portfolios -- like Minister of Economy Savisaar -- who do not speak English and rarely go to Brussels, it diminishes Estonia's ability to influence EU policy. Given the growing importance of EU discussions on energy security, for example, the next government's decision on key ministerial positions are critical. In our meetings with party leaders, only the Social Democratic candidate for PM, Ivari Padar, cited Estonia's role in the EU as one of the most important issues for the next government. Comment: Why the Elections Matter -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Comment. In just over 15 years, Estonia has emerged as a staunch ally in the GWOT and a reliable partner in promoting the Freedom Agenda. The country's dynamic economy serves as a model for other countries TALLINN 00000118 003 OF 003 in the region. While we do not expect any significant policy changes following these elections, the shape of the next coalition government may change the tone of Estonia's approach to key issues including Iraq, Russia and the EU. End Comment. GOLDSTEIN