Isamaa leader: In ideal case, Estonian coalition deal could be born next week

  • 2019-03-28
  • BNS/TBT Staff

TALLINN - Helir-Valdor Seeder, chairman of the Isamaa party that is one of the three forces holding talks on forming a coalition government in Estonia, says that in the ideal case the coalition deal could be concluded before next Thursday, when the new parliament is likely to gather for the first time. 

"The signing of the coalition accord will be left for next week. I cannot say for what day exactly, but in the ideal case before next Thursday, which in great probability is the day the Riigikogu will convene," Seeder told public broadcaster ERR.

The Isamaa leader expressed hope that also the names of the persons to fill different key positions will be agreed upon by next Thursday, as it is then that the speaker and deputy speakers of the Riigikogu will be elected.

He said that as things stand now, the topic of persons has not been discussed in the talks, nor would he speculate on whether Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE) MP Henn Poluaas could be given the post of speaker of the parliament.

As regards Wednesday's portion of the coalition negotiations, which ended after midnight, Seeder said that substantial progress was achieved on difficult questions. 

The three parties -- Center Party, EKRE and Isamaa -- have agreed that they will not make the smaller agreements reached between them public before everything has been agreed upon and that the coalition deal will be published only after it is final.