Estonia: President Karis stresses checks and balances

Estonian President Alar Karis stressed that the state budget must remain under strict parliamentary control, BNS reported. Speaking at the opening of the autumn session of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, Karis said that MPs should not engage in bargaining for budget funds for their supporters, but instead focus on making the most important decisions on public finances. The current situation requires that public spending be assessed more carefully, providing an opportunity to evaluate what the state’s overall role in the economy should be, he noted. As to fears about a crisis of parliamentary rule, Karis insisted that the government’s power must be balanced by the courts, if necessary by defending the rights of the opposition.