0 >Copy of the Estonian Constitution at a recent constitutional affairs committee sitting at the Riigikogu. Source: Siim Lõvi /ERR
While many of the over 9,000 proposed amendments to a bill which would give the go-ahead to a referendum on the definition of marriage have been intentionally humorous or even bizarre, one has been attacked, mostly via social media, as in poor taste by the prime minister, foreign minister and other government members, ETV news show Aktuaalne kaamera (AK) reported Saturday.
The amendment proposal, tabled by Reform MPs Urmas Kruuse, Ants Laaneots and Jüri Jaanson, posed the question: Would it be better to live in the Republic of Estonia, if the Republic of Estonia were a part of Russia?
42 photos
Photo: Saturday s constitutional affairs committee meeting, at which Anti Poolamets (EKRE) and Lauri Läänemets (SDE) were returned as committee chair and deputy chair respectively. Author: Ken Mürk/ERR
Despite reports that both may have to leave their posts, the chair and deputy chair of the Riigikogu s constitutional affairs committee have been reelected.
The election, via secret ballot, was triggered by deputy, Lauri Läänemets (SDE) resigning in protest at curbs on MPs speaking time when presenting their amendments to the marriage definition referendum bill.
Läänemets leaving his post would have required the chair, Anti Poolamets (EKRE), who was overseeing the online meeting Friday at which MPs put forward their amendments, to also step, down, under Riigikogu regulations.
0 >Lauri Läänemets (red tie) and Anti Poolamets (to Läänemets immediate left) at a constitutional committee meeting last week. Source: Siim Lõvi /ERR
Saturday sees a secret ballot to elect to the posts of chair and deputy chair of the Riigkogu s constitutional committee, following the resignation of deputy chair Lauri Läänemets (SDE) on Friday, in protest at curbs on MPs floor time in presenting amendment proposals to a bill which would allow a referendum on the definition of marriage to go ahead, ETV news show Aktuaalne kaamera (AK) reported Friday night.
The constitutional affairs committee is chaired by Anti Poolamets (EKRE), who Läänemets and other opposition MPs charged with obstructing the democratic process.