Coalition dodges all-nighter with confidence vote
Parliament was due to debate tax change bills, and a repeat of last week's 14-hour session was predicted, but the Cabinet decided to tie the bills to a vote of confidence against the government.
The move means there will be no filibustering by opposition forces this week and the bills will be debated on June 15 and voted on in three separate votes. If Parliament rejects the bills, the government will resign.
The Center Party was planning a no-confidence vote against the government and had promised to draw out any attempt to pass the tax change bills. The bills, bundled together by the government, seek to increase tax on fuel and on accommodation while decreasing social tax and boosting child benefits.
Opposition parties had already submitted 192 amendment proposals to the bills.
Center Party acting head Kadri Simson said the move to tie the bills with a no-confidence vote is one of convenience. She said it also shows the coalition is not resolute on all the proposed changes and it feared some of its own MPs might vote for one or two of the opposition's ideas.
Simson said one reason her party was planning to try to topple PM Taavi Rõivas was that people were waiting for a grand plan to help the economy grow. “We see games with taxes, one percent here or there, certainly nothing to bring fresh air,” she said.
Simson said EKRE will also vote against the government while the Free Party, the third opposition party, is yet to decide.
Editor: J.M. Laats