Michal says minority government must seek compromises

Estonia’s governing coalition now holds 50 of the 101 seats in parliament, and Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the minority government must continue seeking compromises. Michal made the remarks in a social media post cited by ERR.

Michal, who is also leader of the Reform Party, said the coalition had effectively operated as a minority government for the past year and had managed to pass important decisions for Estonia.

“Estonia now has a minority coalition; it is honest to call it that,” Michal wrote. He said some MPs had moved to the opposition ahead of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, adding that the situation should neither be embellished nor dramatised.

Michal said the government had sought broader support in the Riigikogu, Estonia’s parliament, for each law rather than relying only on coalition votes.

“We will continue doing so: we must seek compromises and cooperate to accomplish what is important for Estonia,” he said, adding that this would not always be easy but that the government had a responsibility to the people of Estonia.

Addressing the opposition, Michal said taking difficult decisions while leading the country was harder than criticising them. He urged opposition parties to accept responsibility if they were prepared to do more than make statements.

Michal said his government would maintain its objectives of keeping Estonia secure, returning the country’s prosperity to growth, protecting the environment, looking to the future, and defending liberal democracy and freedom.

He also recalled that the coalition led by then-Prime Minister Andrus Ansip from 2009 to 2011 had likewise lacked a majority, including during the economic crisis and Estonia’s transition to the euro. Michal said the focus should be on what would happen to Estonia in the future rather than on how many votes each party might receive in the next elections.

Riigikogu members Kalev Stoicescu and Meelis Kiili left Eesti 200 and the Reform Party respectively, reducing the governing coalition to 50 seats. Stoicescu announced his departure on Sunday and Kiili on Monday.