Estonian parlt opposition to move no-confidence motion against PM on Monday

TALLINN - The Estonian parliament's opposition parties are to move a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Taavi Roivas from the Reform Party today.

The heads of the three opposition groups in the parliament, Kadri Simson, Andres Herkel, and Martin Helme, agreed on Nov. 1 on the contents of the motion of no confidence against Roivas. They have voiced hope that the motion will be joined by multiple deputies from the parliamentary groups of the ruling coalition members Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) and the Social Democratic Party (SDE) following recent remarks by the Reform Party's coalition partners.

"Naming and writing down the sins of the prime minister has taken quite long because we all have our criticisms of Taavi Roivas that we wish to see in the no-confidence motion," the leader of the Centre Party group, Kadri Simson, commented last week. "By now we have finalised the text of the motion among the opposition and our plan is to hand in the motion of no confidence in the prime minister next week. The opposition aims to involve as many members of the Riigikogu as possible in this expression of no confidence and this holds true also for coalition deputies. Today a lot of dissatisfaction with the prime minister can be seen in all three government parties. Roivas has become a symbol of stagnation and the people of Estonia are waiting for a new head of government."

Martin Helme, the chief of the parliamentary group of the Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE), has noted that Estonian residents view Roivas’ job performance as prime minister as subpar.

According to Helme, this has been verified by surveys of Turu-uuringute AS, in which the point score awarded to the work of the prime minister has consistently been lower than the scale’s medium score. "Taavi Roivas has a similarly low rating among the people, the coalition, and the opposition. Inability to make decisions and to lead his own government have taken us to a situation where the prime minister can no longer continue. We demand Roivas to be withdrawn," the EKRE leader said.

Andres Herkel, head of the Free Party, has pointed out that the government’s unsuccessful tax and economic policy has caused considerable stagnation in Estonia. "We can actually describe the government of Taavi Roivas as a government of stagnation, also the parties to whom this refers are admitting it. Sending Juhan Parts to the European Court of Auditors is just one in a long row of mistakes. If we want Estonia to exit this stagnation, we must start with replacing the head of government," Herkel said.