Eesti Rahvusringhääling

[Kai]

Eesti Rahvusringhääling​

Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) – Estonian Public Broadcasting – is a publicly funded radio and television organisation created in Estonia on 1 June 2007 to take over the functions of the formerly separate Eesti Raadio (ER) (Estonian Radio) and Eesti Televisioon (ETV) (Estonian Television), under the terms of the Estonian National Broadcasting Act. The first chair of ERR is Margus Allikmaa, the former chair of Eesti Raadio. Present CEO is Erik Roose.

The organisation has proved popular since its creation, with ETV becoming the national television channel, creating and producing their own shows. Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) can be streamed live from all across the world from online browsers as well as an app.

 

[Kai]

Estonian Government Sworn In
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Lawmakers today approved the Government put to Parliament by the President, swearing in Estonia's first female Prime Minister and a wholly new government in the wake of a corruption scandal which saw the previous Prime Minister Juri Ratas resign pending police investigation. In remarks delivered to ERR immediately after leaving the Chamber, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that she was 'ready to get on with the job of modernising and innovating' and intended on delivering 'a major foreign policy address' to Parliament in short order. Though foreign policy retains an important position on the Government's agenda, the Prime Minister stated that it would not be 'at the forefront of her to-do list', instead she personally intended on focusing on domestic unemployment, infrastructure, and establishing e-Government.

 

[Kai]

Opposition Pans Government Foreign and Defence Policy
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The Government's Western Europe-centric foreign policy has been widely applauded by analysts and members of the Coalition. Martin Helme, Leader of the Conservative People's Party, has taken to Facebook to publicly criticise the new policy. In online remarks delivered to his Facebook followers during a livestream earlier today, he stated that 'this government has made Estonia less safe by failing to hollistically look at Estonian security' by 'refusing to even mention Ukraine and devote more than a sentence of gratitude towards the Russian people'. Helme stated that if elected he would seek to 'normalise ties with Russia' and 'explore all options for strengthening the economic relationship with the West while deepening our strategic dialogue with the East'. The Conservative People's Party has previously been seen as tougher on Russia than their counterparts in the Coalition, so this about face has surprised many in the halls of power.

The Minister of Defence rebuked Helme's comments in comments delivered exclusively to ERR. Jüri Luik stated that 'this Government is focused on securing our country while defending our democratic values. You cannot have economic prosperity while selling your strategic autonomy to the highest bidder. We're committed to engaging with our friends in Russia, Ukraine, and across Europe.' He stated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs intends on speaking with her Russian counterpart as soon as practicable, to discuss the economic relationship and opportunities for growing the bilateral relationship. 'We cannot afford to have adversaries. This government has a desire to co-operate with all countries while strengthening partnerships with our fellow democracies'.