Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- [But no reason for Russia to be nervous; the U.S. wouldn't have objected if Puerto Rico, say, had joined the Warsaw Pact in the 1980s.] Sunday August 26, 11:29 PM Estonia to elect new president to lead it into EU and NATO TALLINN, Aug 26 (AFP) - Estonia begins on Monday the process of electing a new president to guide the tiny Baltic nation into the European Union and NATO but the biggest challenge of the office may be living up to reputation of outgoing leader Lennart Meri. Two candidates are formally registered for the Monday vote to replace Meri, 72, who is barred by the constitution from serving a third consecutive term in office. But three others are also seen as serious candidates in later rounds of voting. None of the five is seen as likely to change Estonia's foreign policy priorities of joining the EU and NATO, although opposition candidates are more critical of the costs involved in joining the 15-nation EU, which could happen as soon as 2004. Analysts also believe none of the presidential candidates is likely to win the necessary two-thirds majority, 67 votes from the 101 members of parliament, to be elected to a five-year term. "Under the current balance of power, it is highly unlikely the parliament will be able to elect the new president," public opinion pollster Juhan Kivirahk told AFP. Deputy parliamentary speaker and former education minister Peeter Kreitzberg is carrying the banner for the opposition Centrist Party against Andres Tarand, who previously served as the leader of the pro-government Moderates and a caretaker prime minister. In subsequent rounds each of the three governing coalition parties is putting up its own candidate. But even if they were to back a single candidate they would only have a razor-thin majority of 54 votes in the 101-seat parliament. If no candidate is elected on Monday, or in two subsequent rounds of voting on Tuesday, an electoral assembly composed of the 101 members of parliament and 266 local government representatives will be convened on September 21. Although the local government representatives are rather unpredictable, the Reform Party's candidate Toomas Savi, who is well-known from his time as parliamentary speaker, is expected to garner most votes from the electoral assembly. The Pro Patria Union of Prime Minister Mart Laar is putting forward former university rector Peeter Tulviste, who is currently serving as a city council chairman in the university town of Tartu. Wide-ranging popular support is enjoyed by the People's Union candidate Arnold Ruutel, a former Communist who attained his popularity as the country's president during the restoration of independence 10 years ago. Whoever finally gets the presidential job will have a hard time filling the shoes of Meri, who has become a living legend in this country of 1.4 million people. "While Meri was part of Estonia's liberation struggle, the current candidates are just common people," explained Rein Ruutsoo, social scientist and one of the drafters of the Estonian constitution. The son of an Estonian diplomat who was educated abroad, Meri speaks six languages and is widely read in history and literature. He has played a major role in securing for Estonia the support of Western countries in its bid join the EU and NATO, from which it hopes to receive an invitation next year. "Meri has been the best brand for Estonia abroad," said Ainar Ruussaar, a columnist and journalist covering the presidential election. Despite the office having few formal powers, since becoming the first post-independence president in 1992 Meri has commanded great moral authority. "Lennart Meri's footsteps abroad are too big for anyone to jump into them but the new president could do more to bring politics closer to the people at home," Kivirahk said. With Estonia near to securing its main foreign policy goals, the next president is expected to focus on domestic issues, such as working to close the gap between the rich and poor which has opened wide during ongoing economic reforms. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
