Suursild pledges coalition stability through next elections

Pärnu’s newly elected mayor, Siim Suursild of the Isamaa party, said on ERR’s Vikerhommik radio programme that the governing coalition does not plan to reshuffle posts under its coalition agreement before the next elections. He said Isamaa would focus on families’ ability to cope, extracurricular education and balancing the city’s investments.

Suursild said the plan was to work in good faith for the three and a half years remaining until the next elections.

“We will move forward without any changes or manoeuvring. The new coalition agreement does not plan to replace anyone on the basis of the agreement,” Suursild said.

“We are proceeding in good faith that this coalition will last and that it will be possible to implement the ideas and promises made to the people of Pärnu. What the partners do is a matter for their own conscience. We will do everything on our part to ensure that this coalition lasts,” he added.

According to Suursild, each coalition member will be responsible for deciding whom it sends to represent its voters and party in the city government. As mayor, he said, he could only hope that the team would start working effectively and that past problems would not be carried into the new office.

Asked about possible skeletons in the closet, Suursild said his record had already been thoroughly scrutinised after taking part in many election campaigns and holding significant positions in Pärnu and Pärnu County.

“Something can always be found somewhere, but at present I personally cannot foresee anything,” he said.

Isamaa prioritises families’ ability to cope

Suursild said the most important issue for Isamaa was families’ ability to cope. He said extracurricular education had been a priority for the party since the state reduced its support for it.

“I have been involved in this process for a long time and know how funding for extracurricular education once came from the state budget to local governments,” he said.

“At some point, those taps were turned off. Ensuring children’s activities and the wellbeing of our families, and thereby supporting families, is one of our biggest goals. For Pärnu, as for many other places in Estonia, it is most important that we have young people who will move life forward and develop the city,” Suursild added.

Suursild said Pärnu’s budget was large and some investment plans needed to be reviewed critically.

“As has been said, it is concrete versus people. I think we will find a balance here. The process of some investments may slow down, but we will pay more attention to our people,” he explained.

Suursild sees a place for Pärnu Airport in Scandinavia

Suursild views Pärnu Airport as part of the state’s infrastructure, alongside Saaremaa Deepwater Port, Kuressaare Airport and Tartu Airport. He said the best operator and management model for such infrastructure objects should be found in cooperation with the state.

“Pärnu should not think that we will become an airport competing with Riga or Tallinn, but we certainly have our own niche. Finnish companies have also shown how regional airports could operate in this region. I think that if we find the right solution in cooperation with the state, Pärnu Airport will have its place in the Scandinavian market,” Suursild said.

In Suursild’s view, keeping the coalition together would require communication. He said he had been part of several Pärnu city coalitions and had seen how politics developed among multiple parties.

“If you talk to people, test ideas and find solutions, I think it is possible,” he said, adding that Isamaa would bring in long-standing and well-known figures from the region who had their own ideas and wishes for finding solutions for Pärnu.