Estonian vote runner-up offers talks to populists

Bloomberg

Estonia’s ruling Center Party, the runner-up in parliamentary elections, unexpectedly invited anti-immigrant populists to coalition talks, raising the risk that nationalists may gain a voice in another European Union government.
With the EU struggling to address gains made by euroskeptic nationalists in elections from Rome to Warsaw, Center invited the anti-establishment EKRE party and the junior ruling Isamaa to hold talks on creating a new cabinet on Monday. By doing so, Center is trying to outmanoeuver the Reform Party, the winner of the March 3 election that’s expected to receive the first mandate to form a government from the president.
It puts the conservative Isamaa in the role of kingmaker and marks a reversal for Center, which along with Reform had pledged to keep EKRE from government. EKRE scored third in the elections by railing against immigrants and saying the nation of 1.3 million’s unwavering engagement with the EU hasn’t helped lift Estonians’ living standards.
A coalition isn’t a sure thing, however, with Center leader Juri Ratas, who’s also prime minister, saying talks would be difficult. He also said his party wouldn’t let EKRE contradict Estonia’s values. Isamaa will hold a meeting on Monday to discuss the invitation.“Every government has to value the freedoms and basic rights of our people,” Ratas said in a statement. “And also offer safety to all Estonian residents and to strengthen the rule of law and democracy that underpin Estonia.”