Estonia: The Constitutional Committee condemned the proposed amendments that were contrary to Estonia’s independence

NordenBladet — At its extraordinary sitting today, the Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) discussed the proposed amendments to the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu 288 OE. The Committee adopted a Statement which condemns the motions to amend regarding Estonia becoming a part of Russia and surrendering Saaremaa Island to Latvia.

The Statement says: “In their work, the Members of the Riigikogu must proceed from the oath of office of a Member of the Riigikogu and from the Constitution of Estonia. Article 2 of the Constitution provides that the land, territorial waters and airspace of the Estonian state are an inseparable and indivisible whole.

All motions to amend submitted by the Members of the Riigikogu that concern making Estonia a part of Russia and surrendering the island of Saaremaa to Latvia contradict the oath of office of Member of the Riigikogu and the Good Practice of the members of the Parliament, and damage the international reputation of Estonia.

We call on the members of the Riigikogu who submitted these motions to apologise for them. We condemn such activities on behalf of the Constitutional Committee.”

The Statement was supported by Anti Poolamets, Heiki Hepner, Martin Repinski, Marko Šorin (substitute member of Andrei Korobeinik), Tõnis Mölder (substitute member of Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski) and Kalle Grünthal.

Members of the Riigikogu Urmas Kruuse, Ants Laaneots and Jüri Jaanson have withdrawn their motions to amend containing the question “Would it be better to live in the Republic of Estonia if the Republic of Estonia were a part of Russia?”

The Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu will continue preparations for the second reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Holding a Referendum on the Issue of the Definition of Marriage” at its extraordinary sitting at 12 noon on Sunday, 10 January.

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu on holding a Referendum on the issue of the definition of marriage (288 OE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction and the Faction Isamaa, passed its first reading in the Riigikogu on 14 December 2020. The second reading is scheduled for 13 January.

The Bill provides for submitting the following question (other national issue): “Shall marriage remain a union between a man and a woman in Estonia?” to the referendum to be held on 18 April 2021.  By the date for submitting amendments, 9317 motions to amend the Draft Resolution were submitted.

Source: Parliament of Estonia