Pärnu council ousts mayor Voltenberg and elects Suursild

Pärnu City Council, the municipal legislature, voted Monday to remove Mayor Kristel Voltenberg and elected Siim Suursild of Isamaa as her successor, ERR reported.

Voltenberg announced at the start of the council meeting that she would resign, but the council proceeded with a no confidence vote. Of the council’s 39 members, 23 voted to remove her.

Under the Local Government Organisation Act, a mayor’s resignation takes effect on the following day. Voltenberg therefore remained mayor when the no confidence motion was considered, and the motion could not be withdrawn.

In an address to the council, Voltenberg said that although her time in office had lasted only 253 days, she had filled it with everything she was able to give Pärnu and its residents.

“I want more dignified conduct and a dignified departure,” she said, adding that she would submit both her resignation and an application to restore her powers as a council member.

Council chair Andrei Korobeinik of the Centre Party said the last time a no confidence motion had been brought against a mayor in Pärnu was more than 20 years ago.

Under the coalition agreement, Isamaa holds the mayor’s office, while the Centre Party retains the council chairmanship. EKRE is the third party in the governing coalition.