Emerging coalition promises to continue effectively addressing COVID-19 crisis

TALLINN – The Reform Party and the Center Party will start coalition talks on Thursday with the aim of forming a government that, according to the parties' joint statement, "will continue to effectively resolve the COVID-19 crisis, keep Estonia forward-looking and develop the country in all its areas and regions".

According to the joint statement, both parties understand that Estonia's political and social climate is tense and promise to do everything in their power to create wider political trust and a willingness to cooperate among all people to move Estonia forward.

"The coronavirus pandemic also requires us to continue to take decisive action in the near future to prevent the spread of the virus, to vaccinate, to strengthen the healthcare system, to organize education, to ensure people's incomes and to support entrepreneurship," it is said in the joint statement.

According to the joint statement, the coalition partners will base their coalition talks on the principle that they stand for a forward-looking political culture that respects all groups in society and respectful governance based on the spirit of the Constitution.

In the joint statement, the Reform Party and the Center Party said that Estonia is a fine small country that supports all people and their wish for personal fulfilment as well as to contribute to Estonia's development. The parties also promised to proceed from the common best interests of the Estonian state and people and the principles of justice and law. Estonia is a state governed by the rule of law, where all social decision-making processes are as transparent as possible, it was said in the joint statement.

The parties said they consider it important to reduce social, economic and regional inequalities and to promote the health and well-being of every person, to stand up for the rights of all people in Estonia, including minorities, and to respect privacy.

According to the joint statement, central to Estonia's foreign and security policy is membership in the European Union, NATO and the United Nations as well as active representation of Estonia's interests in international organizations as well as in bilateral relations. The parties also promise to continue to play an active role in meeting the European Union's climate goals and to work to use various EU funds to carry out the green and digital revolution, which will not leave any Estonian people or regions behind, as soon as possible.