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Opposition's motion of no confidence against Kadri Simson fails

Minister of Economic Affairs Kadri Simson, answering questions before the unsuccessful vote of no confidence against her, Jan. 10, 2017.
Minister of Economic Affairs Kadri Simson, answering questions before the unsuccessful vote of no confidence against her, Jan. 10, 2017. Source: (Riigikogu)

A motion of no confidence against Minister of Economic Affairs Kadri Simson (Center) handed in by the Reform Party, the Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE), and the Free Party on Wednesday failed.

Of 94 Riigikogu members present, 44 voted in favor and 49 against. One member abstained.

The opposition's move against Simson followed weeks of media coverage, started by daily Postimees already in December when the paper accused her of having influenced the coalition's policy to the end of directing support payments to the pig farming industry to specific businesses, eventually benefiting her partner, businessman Teet Soorm.

The eventual text of the motion handed in by the Reform Party, EKRE, and the Free Party named subsidies to farmers, Simson's politics concerning public transport, and investments connected to the Estonian section of the Rail Baltica infrastructure project as the opposition's reason for their move against the minister.

Simson categorically rejected the accusations and talked about a campaign against her person.

While attacks on Simson continued leading up to Wednesday's vote, prime minister and Center Party chairman Jüri Ratas said that what was going on was nothing more than the Reform Party's attempt to paint over its own infighting at the beginning of the campaign for the 2019 Riigikogu elections.

Editor: Dario Cavegn

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