



The Bill that provides for suspension instead of termination of the authority of council members when they are contractually employed in a municipal administrative agency passed the second reading at the sitting today.

The Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Organisation Act (212 SE), initiated by the Constitutional Committee, provides that the authority of a council member is suspended when they are employed on the basis of an employment contract in an administrative agency of the same rural municipality or city. Under the current Act, the authority of a council member is terminated before the end of the term upon their entry into an employment contract with a local government administrative agency. The proposed amendment does not concern officials.

The initiation of the Bill was motivated by an application of the Chancellor of Justice for the Supreme Court to adopt a position. The Supreme Court had found that the current restrictions for employees employed under an employment contract at local government administrative agencies excessively restricted their right to stand as candidates. Consequently, the committee decided to ease the restriction and support the suspension of the authority instead of terminating it.

During the debate, Riho Breivel, Martin Helme, Paul Puustusmaa, Jaak Valge and Henn Põlluaas (all from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party, EKRE) took the floor. At the sitting that started at 10 a.m. today, Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa), Kalle Grünthal (EKRE), Heiki Hepner (Isamaa), Kert Kingo (EKRE), Anti Poolamets (EKRE), Rene Kokk (EKRE), Merry Aart (EKRE), Helle-Moonika Helme (EKRE), Siim Pohlak (EKRE), Ruuben Kaalep (EKRE), Mart Helme (EKRE), Peeter Ernits (EKRE), Uno Kaskpeit (EKRE), Leo Kunnas (EKRE), Oudekki Loone (Centre Party) and Toomas Kivimägi (Reform Party) took the floor.

Isamaa and Estonian Conservative People’s Party Factions moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. 18 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 45 voted against. Thus, the motion was not supported and the second reading of the Bill was concluded.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.


Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
Phone +372 631 6592, +372 510 6179