Helme says Social Democrats could back Estonia’s state budget

EKRE leader Martin Helme said the Social Democrats could provide the votes needed to pass the government’s budget, ERR reported. Estonia’s minority government is seeking opposition support in the Riigikogu, the country’s parliament.

Reform Party parliamentary group leader Õnne Pillak said the opposition’s numerical advantage was narrow, at one vote. The coalition is ready to consider opposition proposals, she said, provided they include a source of funding. Pillak added that the government would not restore the tax hump, raise taxes or increase the budget deficit.

Helme said budget critics currently held the advantage, but dissatisfied coalition members might not vote against the budget. It remains unclear how independent MPs and other parties will vote.

Social Democratic Party leader Lauri Läänemets said on Tuesday that his party would not bargain over the budget and would decide how to vote in November or December. Helme said the party could nevertheless support it, adding that the Reform Party was skilled at persuading people and had also approached EKRE.

EKRE will not support the budget, Helme said, arguing that small changes would not make a difference. Independent MP Tõnis Mölder said the budget had a good chance of passing, citing spending cuts and funding for national defence. But he said the government should act to ease the impact of high electricity, heating and petrol prices as winter approaches. If the budget included such relief, he said, he could support it.

Mölder said more substantial decisions would be made after the budget’s first reading, scheduled for mid-October. The Centre Party wants to cut value-added tax on food, with the cost covered by a bank tax. Party leader Mihhail Kõlvart said debate should focus on the budget’s contents rather than vote counts and political manoeuvring.

The state budget must pass three readings in the Riigikogu before it can be adopted.