Estonian election success unimitable

Despite its introducing austerity measures, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip's governing coalition was re-elected on Sunday. The secret of Ansip's success lies in the special nature of the Estonian mentality, writes the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung: "The high degree of willingness in Estonia to cinch the belt tighter without complaint must have to do above all with the specifically Baltic mentality: Scandinavian sober-mindedness blended with the Protestant work and abstinence ethic, together with the return to the ultra-Hanseatic virtue of only spending what you've earned. Added to that, the Estonians already have much experience at recovering from economic crisis. Let's not forget, they successfully made the leap from planned to market economy. All of these psychological prerequisites are missing however in the crisis-ridden states of Southern Europe. For that reason - unfortunately - they will hardly be able to follow in Estonia's footsteps."

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