Tallinn mayor faces no-confidence vote

  • 2002-06-20
  • Aleksei Gunter, TALLINN
Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar will soon face his first no-confidence vote over alleged prejudices in approving new city officials and spending municipal money on personal political campaigns.

Four members of the Tallinn City Council's opposition party Res Publica have proposed the vote, which has gained the support of other opposition members.

"The ruling coalition has been carrying out an active political promotion campaign involving biased TV-shows and postcards with Savisaar's photo," said Indrek Raudne, a member of the City Council from the opposition Res Publica party. "(They've done this) with the help of municipal money."

The city sent birthday cards to elderly Tallinn residents last month.

Raudne and other fellow opposition members also allege that Savisaar has stacked key position at municipal agencies, including hospitals, with party supporters.

Opposition members also say Savisaar recently attempted to write off the travel expenses of his wife, Vilja Savisaar, who is also a member of the City Council and accompanied him on a trip to the United States earlier this year.

Deputy Mayor Toomas Vitsut dismissed the allegations as a political stunt.

"We all understand the elections are looming," he said.

So far support for the no-confidence vote has not leaked into the ruling coalition. According to Allar Tankler, a spokesman for Res Publica, 21 members of the 64-seat City Council have so far expressed support for the no-confidence vote.

The opposition has 21 seats in the council. At least 33 votes are needed to unseat the mayor.

"We will hand in the no-confidence bill June 20 and will probably carry out the voting later," said Tankler.

June 20 is the last City Council session before the summer break. Res Publica plans to introduce the vote that day and let it fester over the summer.

Under their plan, the vote would not take place until the council begins meeting again in late September, a month before the Oct. 20 local elections.