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President of the Republic Met with Head of Government and Chairman of Coalition Council24.07.2002
Tonight at Kadriorg President Arnold Rüütel discussed with Prime Minister Siim Kallas and Chairman of the Coalition Council Edgar Savisaar possibilities to organise local elections at the designated time pursuant to the ruling of the National Court made on 15 July.
The head of state said that the situation in which citizens' election alliances are allowed only in small local government units could lead to court actions. Such a development would threaten running of elections in time and would violate the constitution. Amendments of election rules immediately before elections could be handled as ignoring of principles of democracy and constitutional legal certainty.
Apart from time factor, President Rüütel stressed during the meeting the importance to observe the principle of uniform elections provided in the constitution. Division of the local governments into small and big with election alliances allowed in some and banned in others would not guarantee equal rights to all citizens as stipulated in the constitution, admitted the head of state. He also stressed the importance to maintain the political stability and reliability of the state.
Edgar Savisaar confirmed that the government coalition fully supported the elections to take place at the designated time on 20 October 2002. Chairman of the Coalition Council Savisaar said: ''That who torpedoes the elections takes a tremendous responsibility''.
The President admitted that the goal of partisan elections was right whereas the society did not yet seem to be ready for a sharp switchover to this principle. The short timeframe and public opinion seem rather to favour the election of local councils using election alliances and the implementation of a new order in 2005. ''Thus, the elections would take place at the time designated in the constitution and we would also gain experience of how partisan responsibility would deepen and readiness in our society would mature to elect party lists. The current discussion allows to conclude that there is no readiness as yet,'' admitted the head of state.
President Rüütel is going to discuss the issue with chairmen of factions of the Riigikogu in near future.
Press Service of the Office of the President
At Kadriorg, 24 July 2002
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