Izmailova on the Greens: I don't know what their worldview is

Former Green Party leader and current Social Democrat Züleyxa Izmailova admits she does not understand the Greens' current worldview. Both the Greens and the Left Alliance are preparing for parliamentary elections, but both say the Social Democrats do not represent them.

Estonia's smaller parties, the Greens and the Left Alliance, confirm that they will participate in parliamentary elections as independent parties, not under the wing of the Social Democrats. Yet their former leader, Züleyxa Izmailova, who now serves in the Social Democratic Party, cannot explain what distinguishes the Greens from other left-wing parties.

Izmailova: the Greens are nowhere to be seen or heard

Izmailova led the Greens five years ago but left in 2022 to join the ranks of the Social Democrats for the second time, as she had already been a member of the Social Democrats before joining the Greens. She once reached parliament as a member of Estonia 200.

Izmailova is now convinced that the Social Democrats are the only political force in Estonia that substantively represents green and environmental issues. The Greens do the same in her view, but this message does not reach the public: "We do not hear or see it. I think that's their problem."

Izmailova could not say anything about the Greens' worldview. "To be honest, I don't know. I know what the Social Democrats' worldview is, but I don't know what the Greens' worldview is now," she said, adding that society does not consist of just one issue and that she lacks an overview of the Greens' positions on fiscal, economic, and healthcare policy.

Izmailova urged the Greens to join the Social Democrats: "One major concern with environmental protection has been fragmentation over the years. We need to consolidate more, and I would certainly recommend they do so."

Greens: those who joined the Social Democrats have regrets

Green Party co-chair Rasmus Lahtvee said the party is preparing for elections, reviewing its programme, and holding talks with potential candidates. He views joining the Social Democrats as a wrong move.

"Several people have, for example, gone to the Social Democrats, and from what I've heard, they are disappointed in their reconsidered choice. That's how it is," Lahtvee said. He acknowledged that people in the party occasionally harbour thoughts about which political force they could join, but there has been no serious discussion at leadership level.

Left Alliance: 508 members and a Discord channel

The Left Alliance, known until last year as the United Left Party of Estonia, has been led since the start of the year by Indrek Nägelik. He describes himself more as the party's "voice" than as an official chair, as there is no such position according to the party's bylaws.

The party has only 508 official members, just above the legal minimum. A large portion of them are pensioners who joined the former united left party rather than the current Left Alliance. A more active core of about 30-40 people communicates via a Discord chat channel.

What distinguishes the Left Alliance from the Social Democrats, according to Nägelik, is a sharper focus on left-wing tax policy and a more demanding stance on healthcare financing. "For years, we have been hearing about the depletion of health insurance fund reserves within the next ten years. The Left Alliance is somewhat more forthright and concrete in this regard," he explained.