Opposition parties call for Estonia’s snap elections

Estonia’s opposition parties Isamaa, the Centre Party and EKRE have called for the Reform Party and Estonia 200 minority government to resign and for snap Riigikogu elections to be held, ERR reported.

In a political statement published on Sunday, Isamaa’s political council proposed that all parliamentary parties and independent lawmakers begin consultations on holding early elections without delay. It said a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Kristen Michal’s government would be an appropriate way to start the process.

“For Estonia to move forward, the Michal government must resign,” Isamaa said, adding that new elections would help restore trust and give voters an opportunity to express their views and set expectations for the future.

The Centre Party also called for snap elections on Saturday, saying the government’s inability to run the country posed a security risk. Party leader Mihhail Kõlvart said a recent National Audit Office report on the defence sector showed what he described as the government’s systemic failure.

Kõlvart said the government had used defence spending to justify unexpected tax increases and a sharply growing budget deficit, while people’s ability to cope financially had deteriorated. He said deficiencies in national defence had now come to light that no country could afford under the current security conditions.

“The entire government must resign and snap elections must be called,” Kõlvart said, arguing that the problems extended beyond the defence sector. He said economic forecasts showed the government had no substantive plan to revive the economy or control public debt, while difficulties were deepening in education, energy and social policy.

EKRE’s leadership decided this week to appeal to all members of parliament to remove the Michal minority government as quickly as possible. In an appeal sent by party leader Martin Helme, EKRE said the government had long lost majority support in society and had now also lost the support of a majority in the Riigikogu.

Helme proposed either forming a temporary government until the elections, excluding the Reform Party and Estonia 200 while involving as many independent experts as possible, or holding snap elections. He said the temporary government should limit itself to guiding the country to the elections and avoid important or long-term decisions.

EKRE said it was prepared to participate constructively in implementing either option in the national interest.