Government seeks opposition backing for 2026 budget

Estonia’s minority government hopes to pass the 2026 state budget with support from opposition parties, ERR reported. Opposition lawmakers say the government will struggle to approve the budget without taking their demands into account, while Economy Minister Erkki Keldo said the coalition was prepared to seek their support.

Social Democratic Party leader Lauri Läänemets said disagreements within the coalition were making the budget process difficult. The opposition wants to curb the state’s debt burden, continue investing in healthcare and education, and address problems in special care.

“The coalition must understand that this is no longer the coalition’s budget, but can only be a broad agreement in the Riigikogu,” Läänemets said. “If they do not take this into account, they may make a decision that prevents the budget from being adopted.”

Mihhail Kõlvart said the situation would be resolved by a new coalition formed after either snap elections or regular elections in March.

“If the Riigikogu turns into an election campaign marketplace, where every possible demand is realised at the price of passing the state budget, that is certainly not in the interests of the state or society,” Kõlvart said.

Isamaa leader Urmas Reinsalu said the government should not increase state spending and should instead focus on savings. He called for a cost-based budget that would clearly show how state funds are being spent.

“We must first restore clarity to the management of money,” Reinsalu said. “At present, we do not have that overview.”

Keldo said savings and spending cuts would continue. He said defence spending was the top priority, while the government also needed to protect the economy’s competitiveness and keep the budget within reasonable limits.

“We will certainly seek support from the opposition,” Keldo said, adding that opposition parties had verbally promised to support sound public finances.