Estonia has earned an international reputation as an e-savvy culture for its commitment to developing "smart" technologies.
It's hardly surprising that in a world where Facebook friends outstrip your real life ones and text messaging has replaced face-to-face communication, that politicians are jumping on the bandwagon.
Tallinn mayor Edgar Savisaar recently raised eyebrows after bombarding citizens with an early morning text message 's complete with smiley face 's in a bid to attract votes in the upcoming European Parliament elections due to be held on June 6.
The unsolicited message reading "Rise and shine, vote 104, your Edgar," which was sent en-masse to local residents, had some commentators questioning whether Savisaar was manipulating popular media for his own personal gain.
Although, that said, every politician worth his salt seems to have embraced the online revolution.
With a powerful global reach the Internet has become a fertile forum for political debate, preaching and manipulation.
But these new methods of online campaigning in the virtual world also expose us to the risk that political campaigns will become increasingly less transparent.
Twenty-seven countries will vie for seats in one Parliament. Nearly 375 million European citizens will choose 736 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) between June 4-7, in what is the biggest transnational election in the world.
The EU Parliament has continued to expand its sphere of power since elections were first held 30 years ago.
At the same time political apathy has risen and voter turnout has nosedived.
The EU has developed a number of marketing type strategies in a bid to drum up interest in the elections, however, voters remain indifferent.
Quirky, unsolicited text messages aside, is Savisaar really a candidate worthy of voters' choice?
The leader of Estonia's Center Right party and former Prime Minister was forced to resign as interior minister in 1995 amid allegations he had made secret tape recordings of his political rivals.
The European Parliament is the only part of the EU bureaucracy that is directly chosen by voters. Parliamentary representatives are responsible for preparing various laws, regulations and directives that member states must conform to.
The Parliament also plays a role in the election of the EU executive - European Commission and holds powers to sack the EC.
Come June 6 it's important that voters turn their focus not just on local domestic politics, but to problems that affect all of Europe.
Those elected to the European Parliament, should be hard-working; have leadership drive and a commitment to developing common European goals and advancing their countries interest not just their own personal ambitions 's a facet that has become all to familiar in the political landscape of the Baltics.
Voter apathy and political corruption make for a dangerous cocktail that can allow candidates, with little national interest and plenty of personal interest, to slip through the crack and seize important leadership roles affecting all of Europe.
The question is, does anyone care?
