Photo : Raigo Pajula/AFP/Deutsche Welle
04 June 2022, Saturday | #219
IN BRIEF
By Padmashree Anandhan
ESTONIA
Estonia's Prime Minister to hold talks to maintain a majority in parliament
On 03 June, Estonia’s prime minister Kaja Kallas removed the former coalition parties from the government. Kallas removed the centre-left Center Party as it supported the far-right opposition EKRE party for blocking the reform on primary education. She said: “Estonia needs a functioning government based on common values now more than ever. The security situation in Europe does not give me, as prime minister, the possibility of continuing cooperation with the Centre Party.” Therefore with half of the Cabinet members removed, Kallas now plans to hold talks for power-sharing with center-right Christian Democrat Isamaa party and the SDE Social Democrats to ensure a majority in the parliament. It is a risky scenario as the government must be in place before she meets with UK prime minister Boris Johnson. (“Estonia: Governing coalition collapses,” Deutsche Welle, 03 June 2022)
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Dublin Airport under criticism for poor queue management
On 03 June, BBC reported on the recent confusion arising in the Dublin Airport which has made close to 1400 passengers to miss the boarding. This has led the Dublin Airport Authority to bring new measures, increase staff, and security lanes to better the queue management. The major issues to poorer queue management were, understaffing, competitive labour market, cancellation of raft and mainly staff shortages. The queues and disruption have questioned the impact behaviour of the passengers and the capacity of the airport staff. (“Dublin Airport: What's causing delays and what's being done?,” BBC, 03 June 2022)
RUSSIA
BBC interviews a return Russian soldier from the front lines
On 03 June, in a BBC interview with a returned Russian soldier from the front lines found that many soldiers are refusing to go back to war due to harsh experiences. According to the anonymous Russian Soldier, the reason for military drills the soldiers were sent to the front lines of the war against Ukraine. The Russian said that they did not expect Russia to be less equipped without “basic equipments,” helicopters and trenches. Troops were also not expecting Ukraine to give back a strong counter and heavy shelling against their attacks, the Russian highlighted the limitations in the weapons logistics. On the question of Russian military law, the soldier said that the Russian law does contain provisions which allow soldiers to relieve themselves from fighting if do not wish to. As far as the interviewee is concerned, he returned with a letter stating “morally and psychologically exhausted,” but then he reported that higher commanders engage in intimidating acts on soldiers to make them stay. On the last question on prosecutions, the Russian responded by saying that he was not aware of such practice. (Olesya Gerasimenko and Kateryna Khinkulova, “The Russian soldiers refusing to fight in Ukraine,” BBC, 03 June 2022)