Läänemets warns Estonia could be left without a state budget

Estonia could be left without next year’s state budget if the minority government fails to compromise with opposition parties, Social Democratic Party leader Lauri Läänemets warned during the budget debate, ERR reported.

The Riigikogu, Estonia’s parliament, continued the budget’s second reading on Tuesday. The Social Democrats and the Isamaa parliamentary group called for the reading to be suspended, saying the governing coalition had not accepted opposition amendments.

A total of 95 amendments were submitted. The government and finance committee put forward one proposal, while the Social Democrats submitted seven. Their proposals included additional funding for the Health Insurance Fund, higher salaries for teachers, rescuers and police officers, and money for additional study places and student allowances. The party also wants 20 million euros allocated to special care services.

The Finance Committee proposed giving the Social Affairs Ministry an additional 7.47 million euros from the government reserve to improve access to special care. Committee chair Annely Akkermann of the Reform Party said the allocation would increase existing funding by 13 percent.

Läänemets said the ministry estimates that special care needs an additional 20 million euros next year. He also said Estonia’s Supreme Court had ruled that the relevant law must be followed.

Isamaa’s proposals included abolishing the car tax and vehicle registration fee and reducing government operating costs. Finance Committee member Aivar Kokk said the party would fix the budget within 100 days after the elections if no agreement could be reached.

Läänemets said the government must take opposition proposals into account and seek compromises. Otherwise, he warned, next year’s budget could fail at its third reading.