Rapla mayor demands deputy mayor’s replacement in coalition dispute

Rapla Mayor Rain Terras is demanding that Deputy Mayor Egle Heinsar be replaced. Heinsar says cooperation can continue only if Terras apologises, ERR reports.

The governing coalition in Rapla Municipality holds 17 of the 27 council seats: 13 for the Rapla Residents’ Union, three for the Reform Party and one for Isamaa. Isamaa appointed Heinsar deputy mayor, but she left the party in September.

At a coalition meeting on September 23, Terras said Isamaa would have to replace Heinsar for the party to remain in the coalition. Heinsar later wrote on her blog that she saw no way to continue in the coalition with Terras, saying its work had been hampered for a long time and that agreed principles were not being followed.

Heinsar said Terras had not raised concerns about her work with her before calling for her replacement. She has not ruled out reconciliation, but said it would require Terras to acknowledge mistakes and apologise.

Terras said he lacked trust in Heinsar and was dissatisfied with her independent leadership and follow-through on agreements. He said consultations with coalition partners were still under way and it was too early to say whether the dispute would break up the governing alliance.