Opinion stories from and about Estonians.
When your political party’s decisions – however vile or stupid – dictate your values, you really have none; you’re only loyal to your party, not to any values, views or positions, the deputy editor-in-chief of Estonian World, Sten Hankewitz, writes. There’s an interesting phenomenon going on in the political world …
Sten Hankewitz: When party politics dictates your values, you have none Read More »
The Kõigi Eesti grassroots movement that was started in March out of concern about the recent developments in the Estonian politics, on Sunday issued a strong statement, influenced by the historical events and quoting a legendary writer, in the face of public threats and intimidation by the far-right Estonian Conservative …
Estonian grassroots movement Kõigi Eesti: freedoms might already be at risk Read More »
Joining the largest economic and political union in the world – the European Union – was the best decision Estonia could make in 2004.* When Estonia restored its independence in 1991, it had a choice – to keep strong economic bonds with former imperial power Russia, or look to the …
Estonia’s decision of the decade: joining the EU Read More »
Estonian World finds itself in a new and unique position where, for the first time, the inclusion of a far-right party in the Estonian government demands an English-language “watchdog” media role from us. For almost 28 years, Estonia moved forward. Successive governments introduced reforms, the country turned its face west …
Hafiz Abdul Manan, a mechanical engineer and a Pakistani expat living in Tallinn, argues that the fundamental cause of current Estonian political tension is rooted in crisis of values; Estonians need to unite and forge an identity that not just nurtures their culture and traditions but also makes them a …
Hafiz Abdul Manan: The case for modern Estonian identity Read More »
In a speech given at the opening session of the XIV Riigikogu (the Estonian parliament), President Kersti Kaljulaid said that if we allow our freedoms and values to be attacked – an indirect reference to the rhetoric used by EKRE party leaders – then our democracy will also soon be …
Estonian president Kersti Kaljulaid: We have a crisis of values Read More »
The Estonian community in Sweden, in a public appeal, addressed to the Estonian president, prime minister and chancellor of justice, condemn EKRE’s attacks on minorities and say they’re not going to watch silently how Estonia is moving towards the Hungarian and Polish autocratic societies. Estonian World publishes the appeal in …
Estonians in Sweden condemn EKRE’s attacks in a public appeal Read More »
Benjamin Klasche, a PhD candidate at Tallinn University and a German expat living in Tallinn, gives his view as to what drives people to vote for extreme parties like the Estonian Conservative People’s Party. We live in tumultuous times. Globally, we have to deal with an environmental crisis that appears …
The former president of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, writes in a Facebook post that the Estonia we want should be a country governed by law, a country where people are not judged based on their origins, religion or native language, and a country where people can remain themselves. Four years …
Toomas Hendrik Ilves: We want an Estonia where people can remain themselves Read More »
The freelance journalist and a member of the Estonian Centre Party, Abdul Turay, says in a public letter to prime minister Jüri Ratas that the coalition with far-right EKRE party would not only destroy Ratas’s legacy – it would destroy the reputation of Estonia; Estonian World publishes Turay’s letter in …
Abdul Turay in a public letter to Jüri Ratas: EKRE are flat out fascists Read More »