ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the IME-programme from 1987 as the starting point. It deals with the major points of Estonia’s political development in the years up to 1990, aiming to define the most important of the new political groups which appeared at the time and their mutually dividing lines. The chapter looks at the government programme which was adopted in spring 1990. The rest of the programme dealt with a number of other areas in society: social and cultural policy, family policy, migration policy, medical-care policy, housing policy, scientific and educational policy, and also the bodies of power and the government. The government programme started somewhat despondently to ascertain ‘that the Estonian society finds itself in a condition of deep crisis’ and that ‘the crisis deepens’. In relationship with the Russians and the other national minorities in Estonia the government programme established a conciliatory tone.
