Olari Lippmaa
Olari Lippmaa | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Lippmaa in 2019 | |
| Member of the Folkssenaat | |
| Assumed office 17 September 2018 | |
| Constituency | Lanekirik |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 October 1975 Seitse Sammu, Kirenia |
| Nationality | Alslandic / Kirenian |
| Political party | Alslandic Section of the Workers' International |
| Alma mater | University of Seitse Sammu |
| Website | Folkssenaat page |
Olari Lippmaa (born 14 October 1975) is an Alslandic and Kirenian politician and diplomat who has been a Member of the Folkssenaat since 2018. Between 1996 and 2004 he worked for the Community of Nations.
Early life
Lippmaa was born in Seitse Sammu, Kirenia to a mixed Alslandic and Kirenian family and he grew up spending time on both sides of the border. After graduating from high school in Seitse Sammu in 1993 Lippmaa studied international relations at the University of Seitse Sammu from 1993 until 1996. After graduating Lippmaa began working for the Community of Nations in Kesselbourg City in 1996. In 2004 he and his wife permanently relocated to Rahu and worked for a Kirenian language rights organisation before entering politics.
Political career
Lippmaa was elected to the governing board of the Alslandic Section of the Workers' International (ASAY) in 2015, he had joined the party in 2007. Prior to 2015 he had been on the party's list in Martiland in every election since 2010 and came close to winning a seat in 2014. In 2016 as a member of an ASAY delegation to Kirenia, Lippmaa was briefly detained by Alslandic border guards when returning from the trip, he was held in custody for 6 hours before he was released. Lippmaa claimed the detention was politically and ethnically motivated and called into question the impartiality of the border officials at the crossing. He also claimed he had been targeted because of his background as a Kirenian as well as a prominent politician within ASAY. Shortly afterwards, Martish Police opened an investigation into the incident and the Alslandic Federal Border Force suspended two guards for a week over the incident.
In the 2018 Alslandic legislative election Lippmaa led the ASAY list in the Martish Community and won a seat in the Folkssenaat. He was one of two Martish ASAY senators elected in 2018.
Member of the Folkssenaat
Lippmaa was sworn in on 17 September 2018. He is a member of the Folkssenaat's committee on Foreign Affairs and became the committee's vice-chair in 2021.
After the 2021 Yndyk train bombing, Lippmaa like much of his party voted against the "2021 Anti-terrorism and Security act". During a debate before the vote, Lippmaa called the act "undemocratic" and compared Ottila Möller to Rafael Duclerque. After the debate Lippmaa apologised for the comparison on social media after facing backlash from veterans groups as well as historians and other Senators. During the vote on the act, ASAY senators turned their backs and walked out of the chamber after the vote was held. Shortly afterwards ASAY tabled a bill to reduce the powers of the act although the bill was blocked from receiving a vote in the Folkssenaat by the National Bloc.
Candidate for Premier
On 29 June 2022, Lippmaa was formally selected as ASAY's candidate for Premier in the upcoming 2022 Alslandic legislative election. During his acceptance speech he vowed to campaign on social and economic issues such as the cost of living increase as well as adding a non-binary or 'other' option to Alslandic ID cards and passports. As of Lippmaa accepting the candidacy, ASAY held a strong second position in opinion polls.
Political views
Lippmaa is a councilist and a self-described follower of Kirenian councilist leader Ilmar Levandi. Lippmaa is also a supporter of Jabik Nieuwenhuis' policies as Premier of Alsland. Lippmaa is critical of Alsland's membership in the ECDTO and would prefer Alsland to withdraw from the alliance and declare neutrality. Lippmaa is also against Alsland joining the Mutual Assistance Organisation (MAO) but would like to see some sort of economic and travel agreement signed between Alsland and MAO as well as Alsland gaining observer status within MAO. He does support Alsland joining the Association for International Socialism at some point in the future but has dismissed any idea that this is feasible within the next 10 years.
Personal life
Lippmaa is fluent in Kirenian and Gaullican although he says he has forgotten the language. He is married and has 3 children. Lippmaa is agnostic.