Estonia 200 and Greens to decide on merger in October

Estonia 200 and the Greens will discuss whether to merge and run together in next spring’s parliamentary elections, with decisions expected this month, ERR reports.

Estonia 200 leader Kristina Kallas said she would propose at the party’s council meeting on Sunday that it run with the Greens in the March elections. She declined to comment further on a possible merger or her political plans before the meeting.

The Greens plan to discuss the proposal at a general meeting expected to take place at the end of October. Rasmus Lahtvee, one of the party’s leaders, told ERR that the date has not yet been set, but that a merger with Estonia 200 will be on the agenda.

“We have explored different possibilities and what the two parties have in common. It is clear that something needs to change in Estonia’s political landscape,” Lahtvee said. He added that only a general meeting can decide on a merger and that the decision should come by the end of October.

Asked whether the parties might begin more serious merger talks in November, Lahtvee said there should be clarity soon, as the president is due to announce it by December 6.

Less than six months before the elections, Estonia 200 has very low polling support. A Norstat poll published this week put the party at 1.2 percent. The latest Emor poll commissioned by ERR gave Estonia 200 1.9 percent support in September and the Greens 1.1 percent.