Estonian opposition fails to agree on no-confidence motion text

Isamaa, the Centre Party and EKRE have yet to agree on the wording of a no-confidence motion against the prime minister, despite discussing it for several weeks, ERR reports. The opposition parties want to submit the motion soon, but the Social Democrats do not plan to support it.

The leaders of the opposition groups in the Riigikogu, Estonia’s parliament, are due to meet next Monday to work on the text. Each group is preparing its own draft, Centre Party deputy chairman Lauri Laats said.

Isamaa board member Priit Sibul said the parties agreed on the main points and that the remaining differences concerned details. He said the motion would be submitted during October, though he was not certain it would happen next week.

Social Democratic Party leader Lauri Läänemets said his party would support the motion if Isamaa or the Centre Party could present a new, functioning government. He said no such proposal had been made.

If the Social Democrats or MPs outside parliamentary groups do not join the motion, it will fail. EKRE leader Martin Helme said the opposition would submit it next week. He said such motions are meant to respond when political rules have been broken, rather than simply to remove a minister or government.

Reform Party parliamentary group leader Õnne Pillak said the motion had been discussed for a long time without a result, adding that people wanted the country to be governed steadily and to see things improve.