Estonia, Financial Services, Legislation

"We have in recent years repeatedly witnessed cases where the illusory nature of bans and restrictions and lack of direct deterrence in the legal regulations on party financing and trading with influence has facilitated all kinds of "legally everything is correct" schemes, favoured cross-party circulatory recognisance, corrupted the public sphere of decisions and thus undermined the faith of the Estonian people in our representation democracy," said Ilves.

"Former Riigikogu member Silver Meikar has in his article in Postimees yesterday written about the alleged hidden financing scheme of the Reform Party. It is in the interests of the future of our state, health of democracy and trustworthiness of politicians, to find out if the events took place as described," Ilves wrote.

He reminded that currently there is lively discussion in the society over the proposal to start financing party foundations from the state budget, an idea that almost all parties seem to fully approve of.

"Regrettably I have not noticed similar pan-party will of action and unity when independent experts, members of a special committee that investigates the legality of financing and representatives of citizens' society have proposed ideas of restricting party financing or making its conditions tougher," said Ilves.

"Condemning such double morals is our obligation and the inevitable prerequisite for improving political culture."