Skip to main menu 14.11.24 NEWS ... No matter how unpleasant someone may be or whose justice minister they end up, that country's constitution will protect its citizens from the worst, Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta (Eesti 200) said in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's recent attorney general pick.
14.11.24 NEWS ... Two municipalities in Ida-Viru County, Estonia's easternmost county, are to merge into a single entity in the first redrawing of local government boundaries in Estonia since the reforms of 2017.
14.11.24 NEWS ... Social Democratic Party Chairman Lauri Läänemets believes the best outcome for the coalition negotiations in Narva would be Katri Raik returning as mayor. But, he added, she has only bad options when looking at her available partners.
14.11.24 NEWS ... The Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives (ERK) party organized a protest against tax hikes in front of the Stenbock House in Tallinn.
14.11.24 NEWS ... Estonian MEPs Marina Kaljurand (SDE) and Riho Terras (Isamaa) hope the European commissioner candidates will be confirmed soon, including Kaja Kallas, and will not be delayed further.
14.11.24 NEWS ... The 2025 state budget bill passed its second reading at the Riigikogu on Wednesday.
13.11.24 NEWS ... In an interview on Vikerraadio, MP Jaak Valge (ERK) said that his firing of a starter pistol in Tallinn's Falgi Park on Monday was politically motivated as well, serving as the opening salvo for an anti-tax hike protest he is organizing for Thursday.
13.11.24 NEWS ... Social Democrat Katri Raik has begun negotiations in Narva to regain power in the city. She is speaking to both the Center Party and controversial local independent politician Mihhail Stalnuhhin.
13.11.24 NEWS ... The Center Party's support rose to 14.1 percent, surpassing the Social Democratic Party, which garnered 13.5 percent support, according to the weekly survey commissioned by the Institute for Societal Studies and conducted by Norstat.
12.11.24 NEWS ... Estonian MEPs Urmas Paet (Reform), Riho Terras (Isamaa) and Marina Kaljurand (SDE) all praised the performance of Kaja Kallas during her confirmation hearing before the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday.
12.11.24 NEWS ... In a hearing ahead of her appointment as EU foreign policy chief, former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas addressed global hotspots, with an expected focus on Russia's war in Ukraine. She pledged to consider Africa's unique needs in future relations, advocated for a two-state solution in the Middle East, and urged the U.S. to prioritize defeating Russian aggression to help curb China.
12.11.24 NEWS ... Prime Minister Kristen Michal said on Vikerraadio's "Stuudios on peaminister" program that he personally supports revoking voting rights from stateless individuals. However, he noted that the Social Democrats have been willing to compromise, and other parties should also come together to find common ground so that constitutional amendments can be expedited.
11.11.24 NEWS ... On Monday, November 18, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is set to give a guest lecture at the University of Tartu.
11.11.24 NEWS ... Riigikogu MP and former Estonian Minister of Finance Mart Võrklaev (Reform) has said he was not paid for his part in a promotional clip advertising a Škoda dealership. Võrklaev added that he is willing to consider getting involved in cultural projects in the future.
11.11.24 NEWS ... The Estonian government has committed to completely phasing out the use of oil shale in energy production by 2040 in a decision that has been kept confidential up to now.
10.11.24 NEWS ... The constitutional amendment that would strip Russian and Belarusian citizens of the right to vote in local elections is likely to pass in the Riigikogu and could take effect as soon as next fall's local elections. However, it remains unclear whether stateless persons, or holders of Estonia's alien's (so-called gray) passports will retain their voting rights.
09.11.24 NEWS ... Eesti 200 Chairman Kristina Kallas said the party must make bold decisions to increase the competitiveness of the economy at its board meeting on Saturday in Viljandi.
08.11.24 NEWS ... Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise has urged politicians to honestly analyze all implications and think several steps ahead as the Riigikogu moves to expedite a constitutional amendment which, were it to enter into effect, would strip citizens of third country aggressor states permanently resident in Estonia of their right to vote in local elections.
07.11.24 NEWS ... On January 31, a new documentary following former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves during his last year and a half in office is set to be released in Estonian cinemas. "Rebel With a Bow Tie" is also part of this year's Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF).
06.11.24 NEWS ... The Estonian government coalition has agreed on a draft amendment to the Constitution, which will remove the rights of citizens of aggressor states to vote in local elections, while still allowing holders of grey passports to do so. The opposition Center Party has said it does not support the constitutional amendment. The coalition's draft is also not backed by EKRE.
06.11.24 NEWS ... Tallinn's 2025 city budget talks have now reached the point of hinging on just a few million euros. However, some key disputes between Isamaa and the other coalition parties still remain to be resolved before the budget reaches the city council.
06.11.24 NEWS ... The Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) will not agree to the proposed Constitutional amendment if it preserves the right for non-citizens to vote. According EKRE leader Martin Helme, the coalition has to listen to their input on the draft, as they will need EKRE's votes to amend the Constitution.
06.11.24 NEWS ... Estonia does not need to change its foreign and security policy nor be concerned following Donald Trump's election as U.S. president, as it has already been acting in line with what Trump has sought from European countries, said Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. The minister also expressed doubt that the U.S. would reduce its close ties with Europe after Trump assumes office.
06.11.24 NEWS ... Chairman of the Constitutional Committee Hendrik Terras (E200) said the coalition agreed to amend the constitution to restrict voting rights for Russians and Belarusians. Gray passport holders will still be allowed to vote in local elections.
06.11.24 NEWS ... On Tuesday evening, the board of the Social Democratic Party decided to proceed with a compromise proposal regarding voting rights. The coalition's plan is to initiate a constitutional amendment process to restrict the voting rights of third-country nationals in local government elections, while maintaining the right to vote for stateless persons.
06.11.24 NEWS ... Removing local elections voting rights from Russian citizens resident in Estonia may lead to resentment and dissatisfaction in Narva, but may not have a noticeable impact on election results, politicians in the border town told "Aktuaalne kaamera."
05.11.24 NEWS ... The Riigikogu National Defense Committee has unanimously decided to begin drafting a national defense report initiated by Meelis Kiili (Reform Party), committee member Raimond Kaljulaid (SDE) announced.
05.11.24 NEWS ... Revoking the local government council voting rights of Russian citizens threatens the Center Party's lead in Tallinn, but playing its cards right, the party might even benefit from the change, experts find.
05.11.24 NEWS ... The Political Parties Financing Surveillance Committee (ERJK) has initiated proceedings on political party Parempoolsed over money owed for consultancy work conducted ahead of the European Parliament elections earlier this year.
05.11.24 NEWS ... SDE's chairman reached a compromise with coalition partners Reform and Eesti 200 to support amending the constitution and restricting voting rights, said MP Eduard Odinets. But the party still believes it is wrong to apply a blanket ban on Russians and Belarusians.
05.11.24 NEWS ... Auditor General Janar Holm has stated support for drafting a mock-up budget, based on the expenses of a single ministry, as a way of addressing shortcomings in the annual state budget process and presentation.
05.11.24 NEWS ... The Riigikogu's Anti-Corruption Committee has initiated the process of updating the MPs' code of conduct, targeting expenses , interactions with lobbyists, and behavior in the Riigikogu itself, as the main issues which need addressing.
04.11.24 NEWS ... Tallinn Mayor and Deputy Chair of the Social Democratic Party Jevgeni Ossinovski does not support the amendment to the Estonian Constitution to remove the voting rights of citizens of aggressor states.
04.11.24 NEWS ... With the U.S. presidential elections set to take place on Tuesday, ERR's U.S. correspondent Laura Kalam spoke to voters in Pennsylvania, who are eagerly awaiting the end of a campaign that has gone on for several months.
04.11.24 NEWS ... Last Friday, Tallinn Administrative Court heard an appeal against Estonian Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Piret Hartman's (SDE) decision to dismiss Urmas Kirtsi from his role as director general of the agriculture and food board (PTA) before the official end of his term, said Allar Jõks, the lawyer who is representing Kirtsi.
04.11.24 NEWS ... On Monday, Auditor General Janar Holm presented the National Audit Office's annual report to Riigikogu President Lauri Hussar (Eesti 200), focusing on the state budget and the so-called performance-based budget reform. The National Audit Office highlights that the current budgeting process is artificial, impractical, and that obtaining a clear picture of the state's finances has become even more challenging.
03.11.24 NEWS ... Tallinn's current authorities are working to completely centralize municipal services without a vision of where it might lead, former Mayor Mihhail Kõlvart says in an interview with ERR. Kõlvart confirms he will be running for mayor again at the 2025 local elections.
03.11.24 NEWS ... Conservative People's Party (EKRE) leader Martin Helme announced that he will run in the local elections in Tallinn. According to him, the party's deputy head, Mart Helme, may run in either Tallinn or Pärnu.
03.11.24 NEWS ... Before discussing the construction of a new hospital complex in Lasnamäe, the city and state should first agree on how to integrate hospitals across Tallinn and explore ways to provide improved healthcare services, Prime Minister Kristen Michal told ERR.
02.11.24 NEWS ... Opposition parties on Friday criticized the coalition's draft amendment to restrict voting rights of third-country nationals. There was also little support for granting special exemptions to Ukrainians.
01.11.24 NEWS ... Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Reform) met with his Latvian counterpart Evika Siliņa on Friday. The two prime ministers discussed shared priorities in the EU and NATO, support for Ukraine, progress in Baltic energy and transport projects as well as ways to expand bilateral cooperation.
01.11.24 NEWS ... Former Estonian Prime Minister and European Commissioner Andrus Ansip (Reform) has ruled out running for the role of president in two years' time.
01.11.24 NEWS ... The European Public Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal investigation into former senior Estonian European Commission official Henrik Hololei, French newspaper Libération reported on Thursday.
01.11.24 NEWS ... MP Hendrik Terras (Eesti 200) said that a bill being drawn up will allow for the possibility of concluding an agreement with Ukraine granting Ukrainians living in Estonia the right to vote in local government elections.
01.11.24 NEWS ... Political parties have started to publically discuss their top candidates and party lists for the local election next October.
31.10.24 NEWS ... The plan by Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Piret Hartman (SDE) to cover public transportation's funding shortfall of dozens of millions from the government's reserve next year sounds a bit reckless. It would be more prudent to see clear plans and consider reallocating funds through supplementary budgets, Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi told ERR.
31.10.24 NEWS ... No country in the world has ever boosted economic growth through tax hikes, opposition politicians said Wednesday evening on the "Esimene stuudio" talk show, while criticizing the government's plans.
30.10.24 NEWS ... More than 75,000 Americans gathered in Washington D.C. on Tuesday to hear Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris give her last major speech before next week's elections. Although Harris and Trump are currently tied in the polls, Democrats are hoping that fear of a new Trump term will help Harris make it to the White House.
30.10.24 NEWS ... The biggest coalition party, Reform, saw its support fall over the last week, a new poll by Norstat survey and commissioned by the Institute of Societal Studies shows. Other parties' ratings were stable.
29.10.24 NEWS ... It is probably not possible to change the constitution to withdraw voting rights from Russian and Belarusian citizens before next year's election, Minister of the Interior and Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDE) Lauri Läänemets said on Tuesday. The topic would also become the main issue of the elections, he believes.