Are the battles and screwing between Central and Reform Party everlasting ? For many years those parties have thrown each other with dirt. So, who’s better than who ? In Estonian, there’s a saying that “Targem annab järele!”. This means that the smarter one should lay off, not keep adding oil to the flames. But in this case it seems to be a dead circle because both of the parties are really bullheaded and doesn’t want to let go. If one does something to offend the counter party, then there’s definitely coming something, maybe even more blackening, for response.
In my opinion, Central Party has always been the one with darker conscientious, because they have slandered Reform Party more openly or even more proudly. But when I start to think about the whole situation, then the Reform Party isn’t so innocent either. They have just managed to keep their parties name cleaner. But that is also a thing that can be argued about, because it depends from whose side are you on. These parties have different kind of ideologies and it’s every individuals choice to make for whose side to take. The main thing is that politics should be a honest game.
One example of how far the politicians are willing to go with making fun of the counter party:
http://www.keskerakond.ee/annakinga/est/
Annamaria
Friday, May 15, 2009
Politics is not ONLY a dirty game!
The two biggest political parties in Estonia – Central Party and Reform Party - have been fighting for the power for many years. However, this isn’t the only fight they are having – the fight between the two parties has become a normative for the Estonian politics. We hear more about what they think of each other than what they’re views are on the politics. Today, Estonian politics is a game that involves little political work.
It seems that the Central Party likes to play a little more. And with their boldness and sense of humour (although sometimes they joke about things they shouldn’t and at other times try to hide a sharp insult behind a joke) they entertain people and make them want to know more. The games and articles on their web page and in their newspaper talk incredibly often about their least favourite opponent – the Reform Party. However, The Reform Party seems numb and as if they try to be above these silly jokes. The Reform Party’s web page is less amusing and one finds rare articles about the Central Party. But maybe they just aren’t as good at the game? Maybe it’s not that they don’t care but they don’t know how to win the game and don’t dare to try.
Today, when Estonia is trying to come out of the crisis as a winner, it is time to realise that politics isn’t only about power. Once you are active in the government, your main goal must be to lead the country, not spend your time slandering your opponent. As the Estonian President T.H.Ilves said a couple of days ago: „Exactly now is the time when Estonia needs the politicians’ cooperation… I hope that the opposition uses the budget discussion to introduce their standpoints… not to attract the attention away from the most important.“ (Ilves, 2009).
Savisaar (2009) can’t get enough of telling people how impotent Ansip is at his job and as he stated in a recent article on his party's web page, how far the Reform Party is from the level that Europe aqcuires. Ansip’s main problem with his enemy is the misuse of power in Tallinn.
There will always be a fight for power between parties, but constant fighting with each other is not politics, it’s a dirty game. People will get tired of it and nobody will win. „Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing“ (Henry Russell Sanders) is not the case in leading a country to a better future. Once you’re in the government, you will have to do your job as well!
References:
Ilves, T.H. 2009.
http://www.postimees.ee/?id=118915
Savisaar, E. 2009.
http://www.keskerakond.ee/meedia/uudised#807
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winning_isn't_everything%3B_it's_the_only_thing.
Marit
It seems that the Central Party likes to play a little more. And with their boldness and sense of humour (although sometimes they joke about things they shouldn’t and at other times try to hide a sharp insult behind a joke) they entertain people and make them want to know more. The games and articles on their web page and in their newspaper talk incredibly often about their least favourite opponent – the Reform Party. However, The Reform Party seems numb and as if they try to be above these silly jokes. The Reform Party’s web page is less amusing and one finds rare articles about the Central Party. But maybe they just aren’t as good at the game? Maybe it’s not that they don’t care but they don’t know how to win the game and don’t dare to try.
Today, when Estonia is trying to come out of the crisis as a winner, it is time to realise that politics isn’t only about power. Once you are active in the government, your main goal must be to lead the country, not spend your time slandering your opponent. As the Estonian President T.H.Ilves said a couple of days ago: „Exactly now is the time when Estonia needs the politicians’ cooperation… I hope that the opposition uses the budget discussion to introduce their standpoints… not to attract the attention away from the most important.“ (Ilves, 2009).
Savisaar (2009) can’t get enough of telling people how impotent Ansip is at his job and as he stated in a recent article on his party's web page, how far the Reform Party is from the level that Europe aqcuires. Ansip’s main problem with his enemy is the misuse of power in Tallinn.
There will always be a fight for power between parties, but constant fighting with each other is not politics, it’s a dirty game. People will get tired of it and nobody will win. „Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing“ (Henry Russell Sanders) is not the case in leading a country to a better future. Once you’re in the government, you will have to do your job as well!
References:
Ilves, T.H. 2009.
http://www.postimees.ee/?id=118915
Savisaar, E. 2009.
http://www.keskerakond.ee/meedia/uudised#807
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winning_isn't_everything%3B_it's_the_only_thing.
Marit
Opinion Article
Keskerakond against Reformierakond, these two party’s have been rivals since I first heard about politics. In last elections Reformierakond has been won and have been in coalition. It’s no wonder that Keskerakond attacks it’s rival in every possible way. Lately they vote no confidence against Andrus Ansip. Their commercial are goaled against Reformierakond for example: “Reformierakond’s ideas are in recycle bin of history” , “Estonia needs change”. And they talk in their commercials that coalition just take money from people, and don’t do nothing to give new breath to economics, instead accusing them closing schools, but in real life we must close schools because we don’t have so much students than 10 years ago. It makes sense that when time is changing, we must change ourselves and everything around us. It’s not very clever to run school, where you don’t have students.
Keskerakond talks lot’s about lying. Specially how reformierakond lies to people. But instead they put Edgar Savisaar to on top of their list, but he don’t have even on mind to go in to Brussels. As he said “See, these elections are different terms than any so far. If the previous election was a case of voting by individuals, in this case, it is not, unfortunately, the opportunity to vote for someone by Edgar Savisaar, however, this is the opportunity to vote at all pleased by the Center Party” in Eesti Päevaleht - http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/466282 . This is just unethical to lie to people and after that justify himself. After losing the top spot in last two elections, they tried everything to get on the top at upcoming elections. They want to change the voting areas in Tallinn, for their own good. They name it as a reform. Actually they already did it, but Chancellor of Justice said that’s against the law, and later sued it to court. http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/467718 .
I wrote this article on this way, becouse everyone talks, how bad is coalition, that the economic situation is only their fault. But instead Tallinn is in trouble, because also they have problems with their budget. But they haven’t done anything yet and even major of Tallinn admits that they are in trouble by July. http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/468541 . but the point is, nowadays it’s all about talk down others and push yourself up, everyone do this before elections, but I think that it would be better to try to solve problems together than fight this never ending war.
Sören Saarikko
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Ansip = Hitler
Although already a few weeks old story, it is well worth mentioning:
The Central Party's newspaper "Kesknädal" compared the prime minister Andrus Ansip with Adolf Hitler.
The story started as a life story of Hitler (dedicated to his 120th birthday) but then came the comparison: the parallels between the Estonian government and the rise and fall of Hitler's administration. The story ends with a sarcastic "Oh, God!"
I am happy to live in a country where freedom of speech really means that people are free to speak their mind. However, comparing the prime minister with Hitler (especially here in Estonia where everybody remembers the history) is slander and just wrong.
Although I have posted here stories about the Central Party having a great sense of humour, this comparison is unethical and disrespectful to the Estonians who have chosen their government.
The article: http://www.kesknadal.ee/g2/uudised?id=12332
Marit
The Central Party's newspaper "Kesknädal" compared the prime minister Andrus Ansip with Adolf Hitler.
The story started as a life story of Hitler (dedicated to his 120th birthday) but then came the comparison: the parallels between the Estonian government and the rise and fall of Hitler's administration. The story ends with a sarcastic "Oh, God!"
I am happy to live in a country where freedom of speech really means that people are free to speak their mind. However, comparing the prime minister with Hitler (especially here in Estonia where everybody remembers the history) is slander and just wrong.
Although I have posted here stories about the Central Party having a great sense of humour, this comparison is unethical and disrespectful to the Estonians who have chosen their government.
The article: http://www.kesknadal.ee/g2/uudised?id=12332
Marit
Ansip will continue as the Prime Minister
The Central Party wanted to distrust the government and take power away from the Reform Party and the prime minister. The Central Party justified their decision with the thought that the government is unable to bring Estonia out of the crisis. Ain Seppik from the Central Party accused Ansip of frivolity.
They managed to gather 37 signatures but this was not enough, 53 members wanted Ansip to stay. Therefore, the prime minister Andrus Ansip will continue his work.
When the results came out, members of the parliament applauded.
See more:
http://www.postimees.ee/?id=118679
http://www.postimees.ee/?id=118833
Marit
They managed to gather 37 signatures but this was not enough, 53 members wanted Ansip to stay. Therefore, the prime minister Andrus Ansip will continue his work.
When the results came out, members of the parliament applauded.
See more:
http://www.postimees.ee/?id=118679
http://www.postimees.ee/?id=118833
Marit
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Central Party decided to vote no confidence against Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
Central Party (Keskerakond) decided to vote no confidence against Prime minister Andrus Ansip (Reformierakond). Ain Seppik form Central Party said that there are serious contradiction within the coalition, which is due to decide on the government stalled.
Seppik also says that Ansip is not open to find solutions and don’t want to work with coalition. „Voting against the progressive tax law shows it clearly“ said Seppik.
Seppik also mentioned that Prime Minister Andrus Ansip has lost his reliability. „He spent the entire 2008 talking the story, that if this is the crisis, then in this crisis he want to live, and in December in front of legislative council he said that 2009. Budget is in balance“ said Seppik.
The whole article in Eesti Päevaleht - http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/467599
Sören
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Toobal accuses squirrel party ( Reformierakond ) of financing their electoral campaign with European Parliament money
Central Party's permanent secretary Priit Toobal evaluates that Reformierakond's new electoral campaign violates several correct electoral conventions, which Ansip's party promised to comply.
"Reformierakond promises to draw out hundreds of travels to European Parliament to people who participate in their camapaign and they're planning to use millions of EEK's of European Parliament's money for that," says Toobal.
Toobal observes that, "The convention of upright and good electoral campaign enacts that all the expenses related to the campaign should be financed only by party's own budget. In these circumstances Reformierakond is using European Parliament's money to raise their own party's constituency."
"Besides all that they are hiddenly buying votes. Reformierakond sees that their ideas have failed. Therefore they don't see other way than buying voices of voters and rendering package tours to Brussels," adds Toobal.
Link to original article: http://www.keskerakond.ee/meedia/uudised ( 21.04.2009 )
Annamaria
"Reformierakond promises to draw out hundreds of travels to European Parliament to people who participate in their camapaign and they're planning to use millions of EEK's of European Parliament's money for that," says Toobal.
Toobal observes that, "The convention of upright and good electoral campaign enacts that all the expenses related to the campaign should be financed only by party's own budget. In these circumstances Reformierakond is using European Parliament's money to raise their own party's constituency."
"Besides all that they are hiddenly buying votes. Reformierakond sees that their ideas have failed. Therefore they don't see other way than buying voices of voters and rendering package tours to Brussels," adds Toobal.
Link to original article: http://www.keskerakond.ee/meedia/uudised ( 21.04.2009 )
Annamaria
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Reformierakond accuses Central Party in bureaucracy
Reformierakond thinks that City Administration's ( Central Party ) decision to establish Ülemiste and Kadriorg departments enlarges bureaucracy and city's expenses.
"It's obvious that by eliminating local districts, Central Party just creates better administrative conditions to their party. This decision wasn't supported by any arguments nor calculations of financial savings. Opposite to that, by establishing these new departments, they increase the expenses of the town", says Reformierakond's city council's fraction leader Remo Holsmer.
"It's obvious that by eliminating local districts, Central Party just creates better administrative conditions to their party. This decision wasn't supported by any arguments nor calculations of financial savings. Opposite to that, by establishing these new departments, they increase the expenses of the town", says Reformierakond's city council's fraction leader Remo Holsmer.
Grantor of Keskerakond involved with Slovakia villa scandal
Today (09.04) published granters of Central Party(Keskerakond) suprise with names - Micka Pavel, Milan Bališ and Peter Ziegler. Two of them are involved with villa scandal which has longed past few years in Slovakia.
There was surmise that former Prime ministier got the villa for favor from business men includes Milan Bališ who he helped to get rich.
Later came Switzerland provenience business man Peter Ziegler who said that, he loaned money for former Prime minister, but didn't say the conditions of this loan.
Central party answered to this, that they don't know about why these three business men out from Estonia made this donation.
These three men together donated 1.4 million kroons. The donations together with others donations are over 1.7 million at the first quarter. Central partys last years whole donations were under 1.8 million kroons.
More about Slovakia former prime minister in - http://www.spectator.sk/articles/view/33300
Article - http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/464966
Central Party's answer - http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/464958
Sören
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Throw some shoes at the Estonian ministers!
You can play an amusing game on Keskerakond’s web site. You must choose the type of shoes you like and fire the ministers („anna kinga“ – an expression in Estonian that means fire someone, or „give shoes“ in exact translation, therefore the connection with shoes). As we know, the Reform Party is in power, so the Central Party gives you the oppurtunity to fire them from power.
The Central Party sure has a great sense of humour.
Want to throw some shoes at the ministers? http://www.keskerakond.ee/annakinga/est/
By Marit
The Central Party sure has a great sense of humour.
Want to throw some shoes at the ministers? http://www.keskerakond.ee/annakinga/est/
By Marit
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Propaganda war in kindergartens
The city administration of Tallinn (where Keskerakond is the party in power) ordered all the kindergartens in Tallinn to put up yellow posters where they blacken the government for cuts in the budget and praise themselves for correcting the mistakes in a perfect way.
The headline „Ettevaatust, hoiduge kollaste valede eest“ („Be careful, abstain from the yellow lies“) is said to be meant for the parents who bring their children to kindergartens.
Tallinn’s education office does not see it as a problem because the city didn’t use their money and they can’t see political advertising but information in these posters.
Remo Holsmer (Reformierakond) from the town council sees the posters as shameless anti-state action.
The Department of Education thinks that kindergartens are a wrong place for the city and the state to fight. The ministry says that all kind of propaganda must stay away from educational institutions.
Postimees.ee sent questions to the mayor Edgar Savisaar and he replied with a public letter. There he says that nothing else was left to do, it was the only way to grab attention and let the kindergartens know that the city will not frighten the kindergarten workers with non-existent wage reduction. He says that they only give out objective information and the journalists make it into something wrong and similar to propaganda. The journalist from Postimees.ee, Uwe Gnadenteich also asked the mayor whether he sees any ethical problems and the mayor seemed very upset by that and answered: „Küsin vastu: kas see oli eetiline probleem, kui te otsustasite lasteaiaõpetajad ja koos nendega ka lastevanemad ohverdada Reformierakonna, IRLi ja sotside altarile ning mürgitasite nende meeli väärinformatsiooniga? Ma ei tunne Teid isiklikult, kuid nii ei kõlba käituda sõltumatul ajakirjandusel.“ ("I ask back: was it an ethical problem when you chose to sacrifice the kindergarten teachers and with them also the parents to the altar of the parties Reformierakond, IRL and Sotsiaaldemokraadid and poisoned their minds with false information? I don’t know you personally but this is not a proper way for independent journalism to work“). See more: http://www.tallinnapostimees.ee/?id=98837
He adds that the same is with the „darkened Tallinn“ where journalists have not remained neutral. „Paraku, nagu ma juba hoiatasin ühes eelnevas sissekandes oma blogisse - te ei püüa ju enam hiiri!“ („As I already warned you in a former post in my blog – you are not chasing mice anymore!“).
Kindergartens are scared. They did what they were asked to do but they are not happy to be under pressure. Although some had no problem putting the posters up for everybody to see, others refused to follow orders.
Is it right to take dirty politics to places that should be free of every kind of politics? Or are the posters informative and propaganda is the last thing you will find there? The city and the state must find another way to do politics. And another place.
By Marit
The headline „Ettevaatust, hoiduge kollaste valede eest“ („Be careful, abstain from the yellow lies“) is said to be meant for the parents who bring their children to kindergartens.
Tallinn’s education office does not see it as a problem because the city didn’t use their money and they can’t see political advertising but information in these posters.
Remo Holsmer (Reformierakond) from the town council sees the posters as shameless anti-state action.
The Department of Education thinks that kindergartens are a wrong place for the city and the state to fight. The ministry says that all kind of propaganda must stay away from educational institutions.
Postimees.ee sent questions to the mayor Edgar Savisaar and he replied with a public letter. There he says that nothing else was left to do, it was the only way to grab attention and let the kindergartens know that the city will not frighten the kindergarten workers with non-existent wage reduction. He says that they only give out objective information and the journalists make it into something wrong and similar to propaganda. The journalist from Postimees.ee, Uwe Gnadenteich also asked the mayor whether he sees any ethical problems and the mayor seemed very upset by that and answered: „Küsin vastu: kas see oli eetiline probleem, kui te otsustasite lasteaiaõpetajad ja koos nendega ka lastevanemad ohverdada Reformierakonna, IRLi ja sotside altarile ning mürgitasite nende meeli väärinformatsiooniga? Ma ei tunne Teid isiklikult, kuid nii ei kõlba käituda sõltumatul ajakirjandusel.“ ("I ask back: was it an ethical problem when you chose to sacrifice the kindergarten teachers and with them also the parents to the altar of the parties Reformierakond, IRL and Sotsiaaldemokraadid and poisoned their minds with false information? I don’t know you personally but this is not a proper way for independent journalism to work“). See more: http://www.tallinnapostimees.ee/?id=98837
He adds that the same is with the „darkened Tallinn“ where journalists have not remained neutral. „Paraku, nagu ma juba hoiatasin ühes eelnevas sissekandes oma blogisse - te ei püüa ju enam hiiri!“ („As I already warned you in a former post in my blog – you are not chasing mice anymore!“).
Kindergartens are scared. They did what they were asked to do but they are not happy to be under pressure. Although some had no problem putting the posters up for everybody to see, others refused to follow orders.
Is it right to take dirty politics to places that should be free of every kind of politics? Or are the posters informative and propaganda is the last thing you will find there? The city and the state must find another way to do politics. And another place.
By Marit
Sunday, March 8, 2009
PROPAGANDA
Example of the slogan from the blog: "Keskerakond - their politics is bad breath"
In counterweight to the Keskerakond party advertisement campaigns by the volunteers at the beginning of this year was created blog - PROPAGANDA. You may take a closer look at it here.
As it was said there, blog creators are from parties and political interest groups independent citizens, who are just expressing their personal opinions. It must be admitted that they do it pretty actively. PROPAGANDA has also communities at such the social networks like orkut.com and facebook.com. All who wish may buy at the blog T-shorts with different political slogans that are deeply imbued with the dislike to the party Keskerakond. And also a lot of different things like: posters, wallpapers, mobile phone ringtones etc., is possible to find there.
By Maria
Friday, March 6, 2009
Estonian inhabitants make complaints against the recent Keskerakond party advertising campaign
As it says in recent article in newspaper Eesti Paevaleht The Department of Consumer Protection has got numerous complaints regarding the incorrect political advertisement of the Keskerakond party. Statewide campaign began in the 12 of January 2009 and now we can see different advertising slogans everywhere around the cities, such as “Nende poliitika on majanduslangus” (“Their politics is economic recession”) etc.
In the advertising campaign called “Eesti vajab vahetust” (“Estonia needs changes”) Priit Toobal (Keskerakond party sekretary) was pointing out next statement “absolute fiasco in economic policy of the opposition parties Reformierakond and IRL (Isamaa ja Respublika Liit) , led to the huge economic recession”, which is actually a direct charge of opposition party and doesn’t comply to the norms of ethics.
Current advertising law is not regulating the political advertising in any way and the Department of Consumer Protection asked the ministry of economics to take a clear-cut decision concerning the topic: “Should the political advertising be under the control of the advertising law?”. Up to now there is no response received.
Keskerakond has also created the website http://www.protest2009.eu/ee/ with the elements of sarcasm. It is possible to join the group of protesters against the coalition of right parties - Reformierakond and IRL on the website. The information about the campaign is shown on the main page. Ibidem visitors can chose one of the presented slogans, which in their opinion better describe actions of ruling parties. Here are some examples of those slogans:
- Retire Ansip!
- We do not deserve such a government!
- Edgar Savisaar – new Prime Minister!, etc.
Visitors may add their comments and also observe the statistics about the number of people who are joining the group and supporting each slogan separately.
Feel free to share your opinion: should the political advertising campaigns be regulated by the law and if yes, to what extent?
By Maria
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Dear readers, Welcome to our blog!
We hope you will enjoy our posts and spend great time here!
We are first-year students from Tallinn University Baltic Film and Media School and we study PR. Therefore, politics and communication interest us. This is why we have chosen to write about the most popular parties in Estonia – Keskerakond VS Reformierakond. We will try to observe how they fight with each other and which tools they use to blacken the other party. We will analyze it and give some personal opinions.
Also we will cover the topics that we think are noteworthy, but have no direct deal with the fight between these two parties.
Hope to see you soon!
We are first-year students from Tallinn University Baltic Film and Media School and we study PR. Therefore, politics and communication interest us. This is why we have chosen to write about the most popular parties in Estonia – Keskerakond VS Reformierakond. We will try to observe how they fight with each other and which tools they use to blacken the other party. We will analyze it and give some personal opinions.
Also we will cover the topics that we think are noteworthy, but have no direct deal with the fight between these two parties.
Hope to see you soon!
Yours sincerely,
The Spamm team
The Spamm team
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)