Helme: Referendum bill failing would leave Estonia with a minority government

Martin Helme. Photo: Mihkel Maripuu

It is not clear yet whether the first reading of the marriage referendum bill will be concluded and the draft resolution sent to its second reading in the Riigikogu. In favor of scrapping the initiative are the opposition Reform Party and Social Democratic Party (SDE), while at least four coalition MPs from Isamaa (Siim Kiisler, Viktoria Ladõnskaja-Kubits, Üllar Saaremäe and Mihhail Lotman) have voiced reluctance to support the bill. The coalition can bet on just 52 instead of the usual 56 votes.

Siim Kiisler said he believes two-thirds of Isamaa MPs will support the referendum bill. It is also possible that a few centrists might vote against the referendum, such as Imre Sooäär who is the alternate member of newly appointed Minister of Public Administration Anneli Ott. Kiisler does not think so. “The Center Party group has enough control to ensure the first reading passes. They should have at least 51 votes today. But one can never be sure,” he said.

Chairman of the coalition Conservative People’s Party (EKRE) Martin Helme said at the government press conference on Thursday that if something has been agreed in the coalition agreement, it should happen. Helme suggested that support for marriage as included in the election platform of Isamaa should be expressed as support for the referendum. “And now we see there has been a change of heart. The referendum bill failing to secure 51 votes will have consequences,” Martin Helme warned, adding that everyone trying to block the referendum are effectively standing against democracy. Helme also admitted that anti-referendum pressure being put on MPs is considerable and yielding results.

“It is the task of this government to get this referendum done and there is no scenario where we will give it up,” the finance minister said. “If the referendum fails to get 51 votes, we will have a minority government.”

Prime Minister Jüri Ratas (Center) recalled that coalition talks began with EKRE demanding a repeal of the Registered Partnership Act. The marriage referendum was a compromise.

“Jüri Ratas’ ability to compromise is commendable, but he no longer seems to be the de facto prime minister as Martin Helme has much more say in the coalition,” SDE MP Helmen Kütt told Postimees. She said the social democrats are writing up motions to amend in anticipation of the bill reaching its second reading.

Vice President of the Riigikogu Helir-Valdor Seeder (Isamaa) told Postimees that Isamaa will comply with the coalition agreement. “Our MPs will not buckle to pressure, whether from the opposition or from EKRE,” he said, adding that coalition partners were aware of the fact 3.5 Isamaa votes would be lost. “We had previously discussed it,” Seeder said.

The first reading of the referendum bill is scheduled for December 14.