Estonia is celebrating the 32nd Independence Restoration Day on 20 August 2023, Estonian World reports. Estonia formally restored its independence on 20 August 1991 during the failed Soviet coup attempt, reconstituting the pre-1940 Estonian state. The first country to recognise Estonia’s reclaimed independence was Iceland. The Estonian War Museum (ESM) has placed a giant Estonian…
Estonia should strengthen cooperation with Taiwan and consider opening a Taiwanese representative office (Taipei Mission) in Tallinn, Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, stated, ERR reports. Speaking after a joint visit by the heads of the foreign affairs committees of Baltic parliaments to Taiwan, Mihkelson noted that…
The state budget control select committee of Estonia’s parliament, the Riigikogu, held an extraordinary session on 8 August 2023 to discuss a controversy over alleged “horse trading” by the Office of the President, ERR reports. Earlier, presidential adviser Toomas Sildam had an informal discussion with Merike Saks, secretary general of the Ministry of Finance, in…
Estonian media reported that the Office of the President has made the promulgation of legislation passed by the parliament, the Riigikogu, contingent on the government agreeing to allocate additional funding, ERR reports. An anonymous minister told Postimees that Peep Jahilo, head of the Office of the President, requested an additional EUR 360,000 of funding from government…
Estonia continues to push for an EU-wide ban on Russian tourists, ERR reports. Andres Siplane, chief sanctions expert at the Foreign Ministry, said that discussions on a wider ban on Russian tourism continued almost every day behind closed doors. He said that Estonia was talking to Georgia about the issue as well. However, it is…
The Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE) has no intention to make any concessions and will continue to obstruct the current coalition government’s work in the parliament, the Riigikogu, in autumn 2023, EKRE chairman Martin Helme stated, ERR reports. Earlier, the coalition suggested that opposition parties withdraw questions and legislative proposals so as not to…
Estonia’s parliament, the Riigikogu, will start processing hundreds of amendments submitted by opposition parties to block legislation if they are not withdrawn, deputy speaker Toomas Kivimägi (Reform) stated, ERR reports. Kivimägi said that he had asked the opposition’s Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE), Estonian Centre Party (Keskerakond), and Fatherland (Isamaa) to withdraw their submissions…
The European Commission’s latest rule of law report urges Estonia to adopt legislation to improve the regulation of political party financing, BNS reports. The report raises concern that there are no transparent and objective rules on the financing of civil society organisations by the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, from the state budget. Also, the report…
Estonian former MP Mihhail Stalnuhhin, who failed to renew his seat in the parliamentary elections in March 2023, says he is leaving politics, ERR reports. He won the most votes (4,578) in the Ida-Virumaa county, but fell short of a personal mandate. Stalnuhhin said that it was his last election. He was expelled from the…
