Other events in Baltic States

Three prominent members of the People’s Union – MP Tarmo Mänd, Aivar Sõerd and Kaja Sepp announced that they would be leaving the People’s Union and join the Reform Party, writes LETA/EPL Online.

Member of Riigikogu Tarmo Mänd, former minister of finance Aivar Sõerd and former head of the Järva County unit of the People’s Union Kaja Sepp sent a public statement to the media, announcing that they were prompted to leave the People’s Union due to philosophical differences with the party.

The stated that the People’s Union has lost its clear direction. “The stance taken at the People’s Union congress to join forces with left-centrist parties essentially means for party members a choice between two major political directions,” wrote the politicians. They added that they would prefer allegiance with the direction that is in compliance with their philosophy. “We cannot agree that the party that has thus far been right from the centre is turned into a left-wing party,” complained Mänd, Sõerd and Sepp.

The three politicians disagree with the party’s refusal last spring to join the coalition after the Social Democrats were removed from it. “Joining the Government was a good opportunity for the People’s Union and it was a big mistake to give it up,” read the statement.

Mänd, Sõerd and Sepp added that they have decided to continue their work in the Reform Party.

MP Tarmo Mänd joining the Reform Party means that the Reform Party’s and PRU’s Government coalition will get a narrow majority ahead of the Centre Party, People’s Union and of the Greens in Riigikogu.

Chairman of the People’s Union and the head of the People’s Union faction Karel Rüütli stated that Mänd will now have to leave Riigikogu. “Let us recall that Tarmo Mänd was not elected in Riigikogu with a personal mandate, but rather with a general list with the party’s votes,” explained Rüütli. He remarked that Mänd, who has called himself a ‘Statesman’ in each of his speech can now prove that his self-imposed title is true and will have to leave the Parliament after he was ‘bought’ by the Reform Party.