ESM Opponents Protest, Demand Public Referendum
One hour before Parliament's extraordinary session on Wednesday to vote on whether to ratify the European Stability Mechanism treaty, some 100 people gathered on Toompea to protest the measure, demanding a public referendum on the issue.
The protest was organized by the activist group Public Referendum for ESM. The group says that MPs are under great pressure from the Cabinet to ratify the agreement.
A week earlier, a group of five ex-Center Party MPs introduced a proposal in Parliament to hold the referendum, saying that the EU amendment would limit Parliament's financial competence, Estonia's sovereignty and the principles of democracy.
“We are convinced that the decision to give up Estonian sovereignty requires a public mandate,” the statement from the MPs then said. “The question whether we are ready to transfer a certain part of our financial independence to Europe should be put to a public referendum.”
