Isamaa proposes to change the law to deprive Russians of the right to vote in local elections News

The opposition Isamaa party is advocating constitutional changes in the Riigikogu through legislative amendments to adjust voting rights for citizens of Russia and Belarus, emphasizing consensus and legal alignment ahead of next year’s local elections.

At the meeting of the Riigikogu on Wednesday, two draft amendments to the Constitution regarding electoral rights are considered in the first reading.

The Isamaa faction is to propose an amendment to the Law on Local Government Council Elections to align it with planned constitutional changes before the 2025 elections.

Isamaa Chief Whip Helir-Waldor Sider said: “The current Law on Local Government Elections specifies two dates that do not correspond to the planned entry into force of the constitutional amendments.”

“They relate to the formation of electoral districts and the number of voters per district necessary to determine the distribution of mandates, in particular no later than 90 days before election day and/or June 1.

“Since the changes to the Constitution can enter into force either at the end of June or at the beginning of July, these dates need to be adjusted,” he added.

Isamaa’s position is that the first reading of both draft constitutional amendments under discussion should be completed on Wednesday, and that the Riigikogu should seek to reach the broadest possible consensus on urgent constitutional changes over the next three months, Sider continued.

“At the same time, it is necessary to amend the Act on Local Government Council Elections to ensure that the will of the Riigikogu and the vast majority of the Estonian public is fulfilled,” Seder concluded.

Amending the Constitution of Estonia, which has not been amended since its adoption in 1991, is one of the ways to deprive the citizens of Russia and Belarus who permanently reside in Estonia of their voting rights.

Currently, these and all other permanent third-country nationals can vote in local elections, but the changing security situation since the last municipal elections in 2021 has put that right under scrutiny – even if it may just be a case of the Kremlin. manipulation of voting by a small part of the entire demographic group in Estonia.

Local elections will be held in October 2025.

—

Follow the news of ERR Facebook and Twitter and never miss an update!