TALLINN - Estonia's Social Democratic Party, a member of the ruling coalition, has said that it will not support the Center Party's drive to have Social Affairs Minister Maret Maripuu removed from office.
The Center Party, which is the largest opposition party, has repeated said that the minister should step down over her failure to ensure that disability payments are made in a timely manner.
Ivari Padar, finance minister in the present coalition government, said at the government press conference onThursday that SDE certainly did not intend to support thevote of no confidence in Maripuu.
"We have a common ruling coalition, which has to bepulled together also in difficult situations," Padar said.
Center Party chairwoman Vilja Savisaar said that the Social Democrats had not denied problemsthat had accumulated in the social sphere. As the socialistshad expressed their critical attitude to the minister'swork, it would be fair if they gave their signatures also tothe vote of censure.
