Administrative reform bill passes second reading
The government’s administrative reform bill passed its second reading in the Riigikogu on Wednesday. Thanks to repeated filibusters by the Center and Estonian Conservative People’s Party (EKRE), the procedure took over a week to get through.
After the votes on the latest amendments to the bill, the Center Party, EKRE and the Free Party proposed to interrupt the second reading, but didn’t get the necessary support.
Work on the bill will now continue in committee. It will likely make it back to the floor in a few weeks’ time.
Chairman of EKRE’s parliamentary group Martin Helme said to ETV’s “Aktuaalne Kaamera” on Wednesday that they hadn’t expected the filibusters to change the government’s position or the bill.
“We know that the obvious next step is taking the matter to court,” Helme said. He added that they knew of several parishes who intended to do just that.
Despite finishing the administrative reform bill’s second reading, the session continued into the night, as there were still points left on the day’s agenda.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn