Who hasn’t heard the Estonian Prime Minister complaining that the country has no money and that we are in a deficit of 400 million euros? There seems to be no hope of finding the modest 10 million needed for teachers’ salary increases. Instead of seriously addressing teachers’ concerns and seeking solutions, the arrogant Prime Minister accuses striking educators, opposed to his reformist stagnation, of not understanding the fragile state of the country’s finances and failing to appreciate his political talent, which in two years has sent prices soaring and pushed a large number of Estonians below the poverty line.
But how dire are the state’s finances really, and are there truly no areas where savings could be made, as the Prime Minister laments?
An Overstaffed Parliament.
As time goes on, the purpose of our parliament becomes more questionable. Is a poorly led legislative body that merely rubber-stamps government decisions, consuming huge resources for generous salaries, representation costs, and the maintenance of the Toompea Castle, really worth it? Moreover, is it necessary for a country of just over a million citizens to have a 101-member parliament, many of whom contribute little during their tenure?
In Finland, a country four times our population, there are 200 members of parliament, one for every approximately 28,000 Finns. In Estonia, one representative is elected for every 13,500 citizens.
Why maintain such a large parliament when half the number could do the same job? The financial savings would not be ten million but would reach into the hundreds of millions.
An Ostentatious State Apparatus.
There have long been stories about an excessively large army of officials and civil servants in Estonia, whose high salaries are justified by duplicating duties and prolonging procedures. By reducing the state apparatus by at least a quarter, we could save billions. Avoiding the construction of a new, over 60 million euro eco-building for the Climate Ministry and not opening the planned regional development agency with 400 high-paid officials, as well as closing the pointless money-wasting Enterprise Estonia (EAS), whose 578 dedicated bureaucrats have plunged domestic exports into a black hole, would again save hundreds of millions. But Kaja Kallas says there is no money.
An Extravagant Presidential Institution.
Since Lennart Meri’s departure, there hasn’t been a president in Kadriorg whose heart beats in rhythm with the people. Some have been harsh admonishers, others have maintained a low profile, but does this justify spending tens of millions a year? The president could manage with much more modest working spaces, without a personal chef, three drivers, and a gardener, saving money for teachers’ salaries, support for large families, and pension increases.
A Money-Burning State Television.
Estonia, a small country, has three state-funded TV channels. Maybe one would suffice, operating in the existing TV house, without planning a new mega-building with public funds. Again, millions would be saved. If private channels constantly strive to cut costs, why should state television be partying during a plague?
Funding-Slashing NGOs.
Many smart people have found a nice way to cheat the state out of money. Register an NGO that deals with the protection of sexual minorities, women’s rights, domestication of migrants, banning cage-keeping of chickens, and other fashionable absurdities, and you can apply for various grants. In your report, show how your NGO, with a new official car, is making the world a better place and teaching foolish Estonians to worship European values. Ending the pampering of NGOs with public money would again result in millions in savings.
Money Ships to Distant Lands.
We are so poor that we can’t pay teachers a decent salary, but at the same time, we send money ships to other parts of the world where our help is supposedly desperately needed. Maybe we should help our own needy, the quarter of the population that can’t make ends meet. Why cry over starving children in Africa when a large portion of our own children’s only proper meal of the day is the lunch provided at school? Let’s be honest and admit that help is needed here in Estonia.
There are dozens of ways to save money, but if the Prime Minister has convinced herself that there’s no money and none will come, there’s little hope that serious thought will be given to savings. The only hope for Estonia’s progress is for Kaja Kallas to leave politics and for the current tax barons to be replaced by thinking politicians.
Vsevolod Jürgenson
