The 51 critical votes

Photo: Liis Treimann

Sessions-free this week, from Monday Riigikogu stands faced with the formidable task of trying to muster the 51 votes needed for initiating implementing procedures legislation for Estonia's contentious gay bill. 

No hurry in a way as, regardless the implementation arrangements, the law enters into force on January 1st while legally faulty. Therefore, main engines and enthusiasts Reform and Soc Dems want all factions to hand them slips of paper on Monday with «yes» names.

Definitely, the EKRE and IRL papers will be mere white sheets though, to Postimees knowledge, the latter features some who would not shrink from signing. Centre faction is unpredictable and actually all parties have granted members free hands.

The technicality takes majority i.e. 51 votes to pass. Some fear failure and the resulting «bad image».

«If 51 fail to come in we’ll be working towards getting them,» said a parliamentarian. «In IRL some would like to follow conscience but have their fingers stuck in drawer so to speak. Yea, intrigues abound.»

As assured to Postimees by justice ministry’s Indrek Niklus, the gay bill enters into force on January 1st with or without application provisions and from that day people are able to enter cohabitation agreements. He did admit there’s be «certain legal and technical issues» as related to the state and third parties such as registry entries.

As also assured by University of Tartu legal faculty lecturer Ene Andresen, the bill will enter into force regardless the technicality and «as cohabitation act enters into force lawgivers are under constitutional obligation to also impose all needed legislation for application.»

By previous Riigikogu, the gay bill was passed 40:38.  As enforced, same and opposite sex couples get rights to officially register cohabitation at notary and specifying assets relations. Also, they may agree regarding issues like maintenance allowance should cohabitation come to its end and the contract be terminated.