Center Party boots rebellious MPs

TALLINN – The executive board of the Center Party on May 18 endorsed the expulsion of the six rebellious members from the party after they left the party's faction in Parliament.

Center Party press officer Evelyn Sepp told the Baltic News Service that the decision was made on the basis of the party statutes: since members had left the centrist faction in Parliament, they were thus expelled also from the party. As a result, Peeter Kreitzberg, Sven Mikser, Jaanus Marrand, Harri Ounapuu, Mark Soosaar and Olev Laanjarv are no longer members of the Center Party, one of the two most popular parties in Estonia.
The fate of Liina Tonisson, another prominent member of the party who has been expelled by the local chapter, was not decided by the board. Center Party Secretary General Kadri Must said that there was no need to hurry with Tonisson since she has said she wants to remain in the party.
Tonisson was a close colleague of Center Party Chairman Edgar Savisaar since the latter became leader of the Popular Front in 1988 during the drive for the reestablishment of independence.