A tax humpback has been born – the third government of Kaja Kallas started work. For a long time, time will tell, but it is not easy to remember situations where partners fire in each other’s direction even before they take office.
The social democrats, who receive tax increases in the coalition, are not fully satisfied with the coalition agreement and demand an increase in the minimum wage before moving on to the income tax. Of course, it came as the first surprise to the Reform Party that a small partner would tie their main promise to something that the government has nothing to do with – the minimum wage is agreed upon by trade unions and employers.
The leading partner already had the first spin that “what are you messing with, the unions want to pull out of the salary negotiations!” However, the pragmatic newcomer Eesti 200 immediately settled the social democrats’ jitters – let’s go, if necessary, we’ll do it together!
But before the coalition collapses, the ministers will have their first test of strength, and that is to explain their decisions to the voters. And there is something to explain and justify. Since it is only the first day of the government, I will not criticize, but I will point out the first… challenges of the ministers.
Action plans of the ministers of the Reform Party
Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo’s responsibility will be to answer Estonia’s pensioners: but what does this coalition mean for us, the elderly? And a good balance must be found between the truth and what Kaja Kallas promised – 400 euros in four years. If there is no extraordinary pension increase, and Prime Minister Kallas also mentioned it, this increase is deeply suspicious.
Justice Minister Kalle Laanet needs to be explained that establishing gender quotas in workplaces is the way to go. Freedom of speech is not actually restricted under incitement of hatred, and that today somehow nothing can be done with provocateurs, although in fact it is. Also, when talking about the right to vote, the words “suspension” and “loss” must be defined so that the chancellor of justice and the president do not get offended.
Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev has to think about how the previous finance minister saw the finances in order even before the elections, and how it turns out now that money was constantly taken from the Caucasus, but never put back. In addition, the minister must be told that today’s income tax exemption system is Estonia’s main issue and that all possible taxes must be raised in order to fulfill the most expensive election promise. Especially those that affect people with lower incomes the most.
Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur has to explain why Nursipalu still had time before the elections, but today the chips are already flying. The role of Culture Minister Heidy Purga will be to explain that sport does not really need money from bad betting companies. You can’t get it from the state either, and not very much from entrepreneurs either.
The Minister of Climate and Living Environment, Kristen Michal, must find a way out for our main mineral resource – oil shale. To find the words why new mines are not really needed, how the eternal miners are hanging up their helmets and relearning to be good men, and how we could actually do much better without oil shale. The skepticism of one of the largest employers in Ida-Virumaa, Viru Keemia Grupp, stems from the fact that they simply do not understand how good the ideas are actually written in the coalition agreement.
It’s enough for the rest
According to the coalition agreement, Interior Minister Lauri Läänemetsa does not have a lot of work to do, but as the chairman of the party, he can explain for a long time that in fact the Social Democrats are not the biggest losers of today’s coalition agreement, and the fulfillment of every promise of the Reform Party is still related to these fundamental points.
Minister Riina Sikkut needs to find arguments against what the experts are saying and confirm that private health insurance does not actually make solidarity health care even more inaccessible to those who, in addition to tax money, do not pay for their health in addition to tax money…
The Minister of Regional and Rural Affairs, Madis Kallas, must find a formula for how the abolition of free public transport and, in addition to tax increases, the abolition of such a benefit will actually help rural people to move better and more efficiently. Reasons must also be found for Estonian food producers, who are already in trouble, so that the increase in the food basket will not affect them.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna does not need to break the peaks in his portfolio, the main issues will probably be ensuring that the old experienced fish keeps the line in the new party and admonishing the coalition partners. The beginning has already been made.
IT and Economy Minister Tiit Riisalo starts creating a personal state and discovers a sleeping tiger. There is no need to explain how e-election legislation, despite repeated reminders, is not really a problem, and mobile voting is a particularly convenient thing.
However, the field of work of the Minister of Education Kristina Kallas will be particularly broad – a communication plan will probably have to be drawn up in parallel with the action plan to explain to parents with Estonian and Russian mother tongue that the written transition is beautiful, but here it falls behind “little things”, such as the lack of teachers and study materials.
Good luck to Kaja Kallas and his government!
