Isamaa, Centre and EKRE seek interim government before elections

Estonian parties Isamaa, the Centre Party and EKRE are now proposing an interim government instead of snap elections following a no-confidence vote, ERR reported.

EKRE leader Martin Helme said the government could include as many non-political specialists as possible. Its main purpose, he said, would be to take the country to the next regular elections, without pursuing a broad policy agenda.

The no-confidence motion would pass if all opposition factions and unaffiliated members of parliament supported it.

Lauri Laats, chairman of the Centre Party faction, said the party would try to persuade the Social Democrats and unaffiliated MPs to join the initiative. The aim was to form a government without the Reform Party, he said.

The Social Democrats do not see themselves joining a government coalition before the March elections. Party leader Lauri Läänemets said they would support a no-confidence motion only if Isamaa, the Centre Party and EKRE had a clear plan for a functioning replacement government.

“It is not possible to support simply talking about a no-confidence vote without knowing what happens afterwards, what chaos the country could face if it has no government and a new one cannot be formed,” Läänemets said.

Unaffiliated MPs will discuss the situation on Monday. Tõnis Mölder said the proposal would have no point unless the entire opposition took part.

“If the plan is serious, we are ready to discuss it. If it is not serious and one of the parties does not participate, we will not spend time supporting it,” Mölder said.

Isamaa leader Urmas Reinsalu said the no-confidence motion would be submitted soon, even if it might fail. He said delaying political change would not reflect society’s choices and hopes.

Reinsalu said the opposition would submit the motion in the near future, while Helme said it was a matter of weeks.