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President Ilves met with Mr. Edgar Savisaar, leader of the Centre Party

08.06.2009

President Ilves met with the leader of the Centre Party, Mr. Edgar Savisaar, to discuss the domestic political situation and the alternatives for maintaining the balance of the state budget President Toomas Hendrik Ilves met today with the leader of the Centre Party, Mr. Edgar Savisaar, to discuss the domestic political situation and the alternatives for maintaining the balance of the state budget.

The Head of State also congratulated Mr. Edgar Savisaar on the Centre Party’s success in the recent European Parliament elections.

“However, the deputies elected to the European Parliament must now abandon their slogans on fighting with all the parties or maintaining the income tax rates or replacing the Prime Minister or creating jobs in Estonia – they are expected to work in the European Parliament to solve the problems of Europe,” President Ilves emphasised.

The Head of State stated that yesterday’s elections were noticeably affected by domestic politics and the recession but also added that, “These elections were definitely affected by the mood of protest and dissatisfaction of thousands of people; however, I do not think that the outcome of the election should tell us what the Estonian Government should be.”

President Ilves and Mr. Edgar Savisaar also discussed the relations between the minority government of Mr. Andrus Ansip and the parliamentary opposition.

“I do hope that the main intention of both the Government and the opposition is to help Estonia overcome the economic crisis, as quickly and painlessly as possible, therefore ensuring the capabilities of the state and local governments to discharge their functions, provided by law, both this year and in the years to come. I do believe that the Parliament will find the best solutions for Estonia in balancing the budget,” said the Head of State. “I do also hope that the parties will be prepared for respectful co-operation to achieve this objective and that the so-called ‘railroad politics’ will be a thing of the past.”


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