TALLINN - The planned merger of Pro Patria Union and Res Publica, two right-wing parties, hit a stumbling bloc after the two sides failed to agree upon a name for the new entity on April 4. On April 8, Pro Patria Union's extended board approved the merger but rejected the proposal to name the new party For Estonia. The merger was supported by 42 of the 44 party members who took part in the meeting. There was one vote against and one abstention.
Pro Patria Union chairman Tonis Lukas told the Baltic News Service that, although a vote in favor of the merger was expected, the nonexistent opposition came as a surprise.
"For people who are used to our reputation and long history, it is not always easy to imagine someone else as part of our organization," Lukas said, adding that he was pleased with the overwhelming outcome.
The board will now initiate legal preparations for the merger, spokespeople for Pro Patria Union said, while discussions in regional chapters follow.
After turning down the proposed name For Estonia, board members have begun brainstorming an alternative, which will be decided on at a meeting in early May.
Overall, news of the merger has been well accepted, albeit with some political criticism.
Political scientist Rein Taagepera, who helped form Res Publica but quit last year, said a drowning man will always snatch at a straw, and it was in the interests of that straw not to let itself be snatched.
A merger of the two parties, he explained, will not automatically lead to an upsurge in their combined approval rating. "One plus one equals one-and-a-half is a more usual outcome" for such mergers, commented Taagepera.
But a national poll has suggested otherwise. According to a TNS Emor poll published in the Postimees daily on April 8, although Res Publica's popularity remains low, the success of Pro Patria would 's theoretically - lift the joint party's rating close to that of the Reform Party. Fifteen percent of those surveyed supported the Reform Party, while 11 percent backed Pro Patria Union, 5 percent the Social Democratic Party, 4 percent the People's Union and 3 percent Res Publica.
Officials from the European People's Party, a faction in the European Parliament, welcomed the merger decision of its two Estonian members.
"I am convinced that this decision will reinforce the efforts of Pro Patria Union and Res Publica to take the lead in Estonian politics," EEP President Wilfried Martens said.
He expressed confidence that the new party would continue the active participation of Pro Patria Union and Res Publica in EPP forums.
On April 5 the chairman of the EPP-ED group in the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, made a statement welcoming the merger.
"I sincerely believe that parties which have firmly stood for reforms, social market economy and Christian Democratic ideals are ready to tackle the challenges ahead such as demographic change, the weakening of values in society and political populism," Poettering said.
