The President of Estonia has sent a letter to the Association of Local Governments, asking it to thank the current municipal councils for the work done and inviting voters to come to the election boxes.

The President wrote:

"Please thank through the Estonian Association of Local Governments all current municipal councils and give my best wishes both to the voters and to the people that will be elected on Sunday to the new local councils.

These will be our third local governments after the war. In the years 1993-1996 the local governments reshaped the relationships between the individual and the power. It was a time of groping searches. In the period 1996-1999 the local governments of most cities, towns and rural municipalities prepared their development plans. It was the time of raising the glance. Now, in the years from 1999 to 2002, the local governments take responsibility before their voters for the attainment of clear and convincing goals.

The major goals are for the most part set for a longer period than the three-year mandate of the local government. We have to be convinced that a person that is elected to the council will also be responsible for the goals of the local government and will remain true to his or her words. Our work in local governments has to be consistent team work. The voter should remember the promises given and should check the fulfilment of these promises. The relationship between the voter and the power should be transparent in that respect. This is the only way for every individual to participate in the administration of his state.

When going to vote, people should ask themselves whether they are satisfied with the organisation of the daily life in their rural municipality, town or city, whether the local authorities have managed to fulfil the wishes of voters, whether the often scarce financial resources have been used rationally, economically and according to their intended purpose. The final decision of the voter before the voting box should proceed from these factors.

A democratic country is efficient only in case the entire population and each individual voter participates in the administration of their state and in the removal of shortcomings. Each of them with his or her vote.

I thank all current councils for the work done. To all future councils I wish a strong will to work. And I am sure that our people have enough will, wisdom and maturity to adopt the right decision before voting boxes."


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, October 15, 1999

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