Estonian Greens likely to contest elections after merger fails

Estonia’s Green Party is highly likely to contest elections despite its planned merger with Eesti 200 falling through, party council chairman Marti Soosaar told ERR. The final decision will be made by the party’s new board and council.

Green Party members met on Sunday evening to discuss their next steps after Eesti 200 announced it would not merge with them. Soosaar said the meeting also included Eesti 200 members who had supported the merger.

According to Soosaar, those members said Eesti 200 had rejected the merger because it could trigger a government crisis and prevent important work from being completed. He said the party had concluded that proceeding would be irresponsible.

The Greens also discussed their own leadership. The terms of the current board and council are ending, and the party plans to hold a general meeting to elect new leaders.

Soosaar said the party’s election list could include up to 50 candidates, adding that it would try to recruit as many as possible.

He said he was disappointed by Eesti 200’s decision, as he had hoped to turn the party into a green party. Soosaar added that both parties should aim to broaden their support, and said neither had benefited from the failed merger.