Ene-Margit Tiit: Why give ordinary citizens a say in a convention?

Emeritus professor and statistician Ene-Margit Tiit of the University of Tartu has issued an open letter responding to an opinion article by Marju, Erik and Mati published in Postimees. While Tiit views the convention idea-which would give ordinary citizens a chance to participate in political decision-making-positively, she raises the question of whether it is truly sensible and necessary.

Emeritus professor and statistician Ene-Margit Tiit of the University of Tartu has issued an open letter to three fellow thinkers, Marju, Erik and Mati, responding to their opinion article published in the newspaper Postimees.

Tiit acknowledges that reading the article was a refreshing and stimulating experience, and thanks the authors for their clear and courageous contribution. Yet she raises a fundamental question: is a convention that allows a broad swath of Estonians-ordinary people like Aunt Maali and Uncle Heino-to participate in shaping political decisions truly a sensible and effective mechanism?

The convention idea rests on the premise that ordinary citizens should be able to have their voices heard in important state decisions, rather than rely solely on elected representatives. While Tiit acknowledges that in principle this idea is good and necessary, she prompts readers to consider its practical implementation and potential pitfalls.

Ene-Margit Tiit is one of Estonia's most renowned statisticians and demographers, having devoted decades to research and teaching at the University of Tartu. She has frequently spoken out on matters of public importance, bringing a statistical and analytical perspective to public debate.