Tiit Vähi: Estonian PM lies and doesn’t even blink
09.10.2008, 11:10
Estonian ex-PM Tiit Vähi says that parties
on power think they are above the nation and are putting the whole country at
risk.
Vähi said in a recent interview to Maaleht that ruling politicians have
become so clever that they no longer need outside advice. “I am an experienced
politician and businessmen, but no-one has come to ask my opinion lately,” said
Vähi.
Vähi who is openly critical about Prime Minister Andrus Ansip added that the
Estonian business world has come to a standstill: “There is nothing exciting
happening and businessmen are wondering why they should be investing in it.”
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“I have been speaking recently with leading Estonian businessmen who say that
they no longer find Estonia a good place to do business. Some say it is a
backwater country, others such as Raivo Vare call it a warfront country while
Tunne Kelam says it is a country built around a NATO military base.”
Vähi said that he has been an outspoken critic of the ruling coalition since
he cannot tolerate to see how unprogressive and populist is Estonian politics.
“Prime Minister is lying to the public and he is not even blinking. This is
dangerous for the country. Everything went well until we carried out reforms and
became EU and NATO members. Then everything stopped. Instead of signing a border
agreement and normalising trade relations with Russia with aggravated the
relations in the interest of domestic politics and are now paying the price,”
said Vähi.
“Parties today at interested only in internal squabbling, votes and
popularity and have sacrificed the interests of the nation and the state in
general,” he added.
Vähi who has ruled out his return to politics said that the current PM Andrus
Ansip seems to live in another planet. “If he had meant his promise to make
Estonia one of the five richest countries in Europe he would have done something
to achieve it right after the elections. Instead, the government started to seek
conflicts and provoke Russia and turned its back on this vast and lucrative
market.”
Vähi said that the promise to make Estonia one of the richest countries was a
populist election promise, but it worked. “The list continues with bluff about
this year’s budget, Bronze Soldier and overall anti-Russian sentiment.”
“What I am afraid of is that this seems to be the theme also for next year’s
Europarliament and local elections. Kristiina Ojuland and Marko Mihkelson are
already making openly anti-Russian statements in the hope that it will carry
them to the Europarliament.”
“The government claims that Russians don’t want to do business with us. This
is nonsense. Ust-Luga will be unable to handle all the trade between Russia and
EU which is growing at huge speed. The question is who will get the flow of
goods, Finland or Latvia, since Estonia has played itself into offside.”
Vähi said that he cannot understand why Estonian politicians believe they are
smarter than Finnish politicians who have for decades maintained good relations
with Russia. “Why should Russia be among Estonia’s top three enemies. This is
affecting our economy since foreign investors see it as an additional risk and
security factor.”
Speaking of the key reasons behind the current economic crisis, Vähi said
that the Estonian economic miracle was largely based on inflow of cheap foreign
money. “For some reason the government has not understood that this inflow has
now stopped and continues to inflate the budget. The second big reason is that
we have isolated us from the Russian market which cost us up to 10 billion
kroons in tax revenues.”
“It is only a matter of time when Russia passes Germany and becomes Europe’s
largest economy. But EU and Russia need to cooperate and the question is whether
Estonia blocks this cooperation or promotes it and earns from
it.”