Estonian opposition parties slam draft state budget, vow to vote against it
Prime Minister Kristen Michal presented next year's state budget to the Riigikogu on Tuesday, drawing sharp criticism from all opposition parties, which promised to vote against it. With the ruling coalition lacking a majority, it must seek support from opposition MPs, fueling mutual suspicion among parties.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal presented the draft state budget for next year to the Riigikogu on Tuesday, September 29. All opposition parties sharply criticized the draft and pledged to vote against it, while simultaneously suspecting each other of secret deals with the ruling coalition.
The Reform Party and Eesti 200 coalition needs support from several opposition MPs to pass the budget, since the ruling parties no longer hold a majority in parliament.
Opposition demands
Centre Party deputy chairman Lauri Laats called for lowering the value-added tax rate on food, which he said would help reduce food prices, as well as cutting fuel excise duties, noting that fuel prices keep rising.
Conservative People's Party (EKRE) chairman Martin Helme said the government would likely have to "buy off" individual MPs or even entire parties, possibly by backing Social Democratic Party projects, to make up for coalition MPs who might refuse to support the budget. He stressed that EKRE would not support the budget under any circumstances.
Isamaa faction member Aivar Kokk claimed that the pattern of recent votes shows a deal has already been struck between the coalition and the Social Democrats, likely involving funding for projects important to the latter. He said Isamaa would not take part in such maneuvers and is demanding cuts to state spending as well as cancellation of the fuel excise increase planned for next May.
Social Democrats deny any deal
Social Democratic Party chairman Lauri Läänemets denied any collusion with the ruling parties. He pointed out that the draft budget includes a 40-million-euro cut to healthcare funding, which the Social Democrats cannot support. He said the way the budget was drafted and presented shows the government does not realize it lacks the necessary majority, that no reserves were left for negotiations with other parties, and that no one had approached the Social Democrats with proposals to discuss — the government may instead be hoping to strike deals with individual MPs over specific investments.
A large group of non-affiliated MPs has formed in the Riigikogu, some of whom may be willing to back the ruling coalition when needed.
