On the Today programme, his comments were disconnected, cliche-riddled and unremittingly stupid. But to clog the collective consciousness with nonsense is exactly the point Had Reform merely announced its intention to suspend the asylum system for an entire parliamentary term, I’d have just ignored it. Even to dignify its policy platform with a response is to enter its alternate universe, in which it’s preparing for government. I prefer, if only fractionally, this universe we’re in, where the party hangs by a thread on the results of a parliamentary inquiry into Nigel Farage’s £5m gift from a disinterested well-wisher. Had Zia Yusuf, the party’s home affairs spokesperson, gone on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme merely promising a British version of ICE, I still would have ignored it, not due to complacency, more due to a bone-penetrating despair that anyone, even he, would look at the US’s shadow militia, performing staged acts of unfettered violence and inhumanity, and think: “That looks cool – I bet I could get some political capital out of that.” Continue reading...

Reform did not breach electoral law in foreign donations discussion, party finds: The party launched an internal probe after a Channel 4 News report on its funding. #ReformParty #ElectoralLaw #ForeignDonations #PoliticalFunding #Channel4News

How the Trump camp, in its second term in the White House, has promoted far-right parties in Europe with its rhetoric and damaging actions

How the Trump camp, in its second term in the White House, has promoted far-right parties in Europe with its rhetoric and damaging actions

Estonia’s political season has begun turbulently, with a presidential election, a failed artillery shell procurement, ministerial changes and opposition threats to bring down the government, ERR’s Aktuaalne kaamera reported. Political scientist Mari-Liis Jakobson said both the coalition and oppos…

Reform Party secretary-general and Riigikogu member Kristo Enn Vaga said he initially felt he had let down the people he represented after suffering a health episode during a live broadcast of the television debate programme First Studio, ERR reported. Vaga took part in the debate for the first t…

The article examines Canada's historical experience with populism, particularly focusing on the Reform Party founded by Preston Manning in the 1980s. It argues that Canada's populist movement emerged 30 years before the Trump era and was characterized by responsible, constructive populism rather than the destructive variety seen in other countries. The author, Father Raymond J. de Souza, draws parallels between Manning's approach and the current global populist wave, emphasizing how Manning's leadership created a model that avoided the extremes of populism seen in the United States and Europe. Manning's Reform Party, which later evolved into the Conservative Party of Canada, focused on smaller government, fiscal conservatism, and constructive policy-making rather than divisive rhetoric. The article highlights how Manning's successors, including Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney, continued this tradition of responsible populism, working to include immigrants and communicate effectively in French, while avoiding the destructive elements of populism that have characterized movements like Trump's. The author contrasts Canada's experience with the 'dumpster fire' of destructive populism in British Columbia and argues that Canada's early adoption of constructive populism has made it exceptional in the global political landscape. The article concludes that Canada has 'been there, done that, and done it better than others,' offering a model for how populism can be harnessed for positive political change rather than division.

Reform UK has proposed cutting capital gains tax on crypto investments to 10%

Urmas Reinsalu, leader of the opposition Isamaa party, has accused the Social Democrats of evading responsibility after party leader Lauri Läänemets said snap elections would plunge Estonia into chaos, ERR reported. “Social Democrats, do not evade responsibility,” Reinsalu wrote on social media. …

Estonia’s Reform Party will present changes to the government’s composition at 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, ERR reported. The event will be streamed live on the ERR website. Former commander of the Estonian Defence Forces Martin Herem has accepted an offer to become defence minister, replacing Hanno Pev…

Kristo Enn Vaga, a member of Estonia’s parliament and secretary-general of the Reform Party, was allowed to return home overnight after further medical examinations, ERR reported. Vaga suffered a health emergency during the live television programme Esimene stuudio on Wednesday evening and was ta…

Podcast Episode · Political Views TV · September 9 · 57m

Kristo Enn Vaga, secretary general of Estonia’s Reform Party, fell ill during ERR’s live broadcast of the “Esimene stuudio” debate on defence spending on Wednesday evening and was taken by ambulance to an emergency department for further examinations, ERR reported. The health incident occurred ab…

Reform Party MP Mart Võrklaev told ERR that Estonia’s current government was doing “fairly well” despite the challenges it faces. He also rejected reports that more Reform Party ministers were planning to resign. Võrklaev said he was unaware of any ministers besides Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur …

Estonian Energy and Environment Minister Andres Sutt of the Reform Party has announced that he will not run in the next Riigikogu elections and will therefore step down from the government, ERR reported. “In the autumn before elections, people always ask who is running. This time, my answer is no…

Reform Party Secretary General Kristo Enn Vaga told ERR that the name of Estonia’s next defense minister should be known next week. The party will discuss the candidates at its board meeting on Wednesday. “The new defense minister cannot take office before the Riigikogu, Estonia’s parliament, has…