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MPs from the opposition parties Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE), Center Party and Isamaa walked out of the session hall of the parliament in protest late on Monday evening, as they consider the coalition's action to end the filibuster illegal.
The opposition considers that the actions by which the president of the sitting interrupted the submission of interpellations and bills and the presentation of procedural questions by a vote in the chamber and opened the first reading of the bill to cut family allowances are not in accordance with the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, spokespeople for the Center Party group said.
«The opposition parties have offered a number of compromise proposals to restore the normal work of the Riigikogu, but the Reform Party-led coalition has consistently rejected them. In a time of multiple simultaneous crises, reducing the confidence of children and families is unacceptable. In difficult times, we need a reliable and well-thought-out population policy, which is why the government should abandon the plan to cut family allowances,» said Tanel Kiik, chairman of the Center Party group.
Siim Pohlak, deputy chairman of the EKRE group, described the decision of the governing coalition to forcefully force the bills initiated by the government into proceedings as illegal.
«We will decide on our next steps in the coming hours. Among other things, we will consider contacting law enforcement. In any case, the EKRE group will continue to fight to prevent the coalition from cutting family benefits and raising taxes,» Pohlak said.
«Isamaa cannot accept that a law adopted by consensus by political parties in the Riigikogu a few months ago will be repealed in all its parts,» said Helir-Valdor Seeder, chairman of Isamaa. «This is done by the coalition in violation of the rules and laws concerning legislative practice.»