The opposition Isamaa party s Tartu regional branch board accepted 403 new members on Monday, most of whom joined in the wake of Madis Sütt, some-time founder of the non-parliamentary Rahva Tahe party. Considering there are 7,731 members in the party according to the business register data, the membership increased by 5.2 percent in that one day and stemming a general trend for a fall in party membership in recent years.
Sütt, who became a member of the party on January 19 this year, had tried to start his political activity with the Rahva Tahe Party in 2018. That campaign caught public attention due to the fact that there was a prize giveaway of a phone offered to those joining.
Estonia drops a place in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index
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Estonia dropped one place in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders, landing on the 15th spot in the world – which is still a very high ranking among the 180 countries in the index.
In 2020, Estonia ranked 14th; however, in 2015, the country ranked 10th and in 2013, 2014 and 2019 11th.
In this year’s index, Reporters Without Borders says that 2020 was a tough year for Estonian journalists. “Members of the government often attacked them verbally. Some politicians threatened to reduce funding for the state broadcaster because of its critical reporting.”
While support for the Reform Party has fallen during the current coronavirus restrictions, the party is still the most popular, a recent survey commissioned by the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues and carried out by pollster Norstat shows.
Reform is supported by 32.3 percent, Center by 19.7 percent and Estonian Conservative People s Party (EKRE) by 18.9 percent of voting-age citizens. During its six-week drop, the Reform Party has shed 3.2 percentage points. Support for Center and EKRE remained unchanged compared with last week s survey results.
The top three are followed by the non-parliamentary party Eesti 200 with 13.4 percent, the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDE) with 6.7 percent and the opposition Isamaa with 5.5 percent. Support for Eesti 200 rose by 1 percentage point compared with last week and has moved up by 2 percentage points over the past two weeks.
EU flags brought back to Estonian parlt s White Hall 2021-04-14 BNS/TBT Staff
TALLINN - Flags of the European Union have been brought back to the White Hall of the Estonian parliament on the orders of Juri Ratas, president of the Riigikogu and leader of the Center Party, the junior half in the two-party government coalition; the flags were removed by Ratas predecessor as speaker, Henn Polluaas from the now opposition Estonian Conservative People s Party (EKRE), Postimees reports.
Ratas said in a webcast of Postimees last month that he deems the presence of the Estonian flag important in the Riigikogu hall; however, Estonia has also had a very successful period during its EU membership.