VZCZCXRO0260
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHTL #0537 1580543
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070543Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8702
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS TALLINN 000537 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIA: MERGER OF RES PUBLICA AND PRO PATRIA 
UNION FORMALLY APPROVED 
 
REF: A) TALLINN 322  B) TALLINN 451 
 
¶1. On June 4 the general assemblies of Res Publica and 
Pro Patria Union approved their parties' merger into 
"the Union of Pro Patria Union and Res Publica."  Taavi 
Veskimagi, Chairman of Res Publica, told the press the 
goal of the merger was to "prevent the leftists and the 
new nomenclature from coming to power in the next 
parliamentary elections." Veskimagi said that with 8,700 
members, 32 seats in parliament (Res Publica has 25, Pro 
Patria Union seven) and 70 local government leaders, the 
new party would be better able to defend the interests 
of Estonian voters. 
 
¶2. The leader of Pro Patria Union, Tonis Lukas, said the 
timing was auspicious for creation of the joint 
political party.  Referring to the present coalition, 
which consists of two left-of-center parties and the 
conservative Reform Party, he said "... this unnatural 
union will remain in power in Estonia for a long time if 
we do not establish a large, strong center-right force." 
 
¶3. Both parties will maintain their current leadership 
structures, with Res Publica Chairman Taavi Veskimagi 
and Pro Patria Union's Tonis Lukas remaining in charge 
as co-chairmen until a new leader is elected in June 
¶2007.  Party representatives say they intend to make the 
name of their joint prime ministerial candidate for next 
year's parliamentary elections known before the end of 
June.  Several senior members of Res Publica and Pro 
Patria Union have mentioned former Prime Minister Mart 
Laar as best suited for the job. 
 
WOS