Conservative People's Party Vows to Overturn Cohabitation Act
The Conservative People's Party said the Cohabitation Act, which gives all couples, regardless of sexual orientation the right for legal protection, is ill-conceived and useless, goes against democratic principles and the will of the people.
The party said the current Parliament, which ends its term in less than five months, does not have the legitimacy to pass such important decisions. The Conservative People's party does not currently seat any MPs in the Parliament.
Party deputy chairman Martin Helme said his party is the only political force to insert the clause in its election program, adding that the party is also the only one in Estonia that does not have internal divisions over the question. Its leaders, board, members and supporters are all against the bill, which was signed by President Toomas Hendik Ilves and will enter force in 2016.
IRL has been the most vocal anti-Cohabitation Act party in Parliament, although many high-ranking members such as Eerik-Niiles Kross have spoken out for the law. A poll taken in August showed the vast majority of Center Party members are against, yet the party stayed largely silent on the issue and four MPs from the party voted for the bill.
The Reform Party and the Social Democrats, the coalition government, both voted mostly for, with only a few MPs against or undecided.