Eesti 200 and Greens consider joining forces before elections

Estonian parties Eesti 200 and the Greens are considering joining forces for the parliamentary elections, ERR reports. The Greens lack the money to contest the election, while Eesti 200 says it needs more people to complete its candidate list.

Eesti Ekspress reported that Eesti 200 leaders held talks this spring with the Social Democrats, the Free Party and the Greens. Discussions with the Social Democrats ended quickly, while talks with the Free Party later fell through. The Greens and Eesti 200 discussed the possibility for longer.

Greens leaders Rasmus Lahtvee and Marti Soosaar are handling the discussions. Both said no decision has been made, although Soosaar told Eesti Ekspress he liked the idea of a merger. Eesti 200 leader Kristina Kallas also confirmed that the parties were considering joining.

The Greens are struggling to raise the 946-euro election deposit, which members cannot afford to pay themselves, according to Eesti Ekspress. Eesti 200 has the money but is having difficulty finding the 125 names needed for a full candidate list.

Soosaar said a merger could result in an entirely new party. Kallas said discussions were continuing and that it was not yet clear whether the parties would merge. The Greens plan to hold a general assembly by the end of October, when a decision is expected.

According to the commercial register, the Greens have 705 members and Eesti 200 has 579. In Emor’s latest poll commissioned by ERR, Eesti 200 had 1.9 percent support in September and the Greens 1.1 percent. Adding the figures together would still not put the parties above the election threshold.