EKRE scores and promises to back down
15. April 2021, 11:29 AM
EKRE scores and promises to back down
Protest against bill 347 SE at Toompea. PHOTO: Tairo Lutter
The saga of amending the Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Act (NETS) is coming to a close. While head of the opposition Conservative People’s Party (EKRE) Riigikogu group Henn Põlluaas still said that bill 347 SE will be frozen in parliament using obstruction tactics on Monday, the ice had begun to melt by Wednesday evening.
The coalition and EKRE managed to agree on revised phrasing of the draft legislation to satisfy both sides. The compromise saw EKRE chairman Martin Helme promise to withdraw the opposition leader’s host of amendment proposals that would have dragged out proceedings over many months. “We had introduced so many proposals to amend that it would have been impossible to pass the bill in normal procedure. At best, it could have been done by autumn,” Helme explained.
Center MP and chair of the Riigikogu s legal affairs committee Jaanus Karilaid (Center) says that mistakes were made in risk assessments during a recent anti-lockdown protest in Tallinn. At the same time, the MP said public trust in the police remained high, while government communication issues also played their part, as did the spread of misinformation by those hell-bent on fomenting discord.
Appearing on ERR discussion show Otse uudistemajast Wednesday, Kariland said that: Without a doubt, the government should have sent a clearer message that with the bill, we will in fact be improving cooperation between the police and the health board.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas says the recent actions of the police during demonstrations against amendments to an act which would boost the authority s scope to enforce COVID-19 restrictions did not constitute an unreasonable show of force.
Responding to questions at the Riigikogu Wednesday, Kallas said that while demonstrating is legal, the dispersal requirement applies, as it does to all large gatherings, which means the Police and Border Guard (PPA) did not exercise undue force in ensuring restrictions were adhered to.
Several people were detained at Sunday s protest in Vabaduse väljak (Freedom Square) in Tallinn, against the amendments to the Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Act (NETS).
The Conservative People s Party of Estonia (EKRE) is ready to reach compromise on legislation which it has opposed up to now, that party s leader, Martin Helme, says.
The Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Act (NETS) is currently at the Riigkogu ready for its first reading (of three) and subsequent vote. While yesterday it was looking as if the bill – the focal point of recent protests over an interpretation of its intent as being to boost police powers excessively – might be still-born, now Helme says that wording has been found which is suitable both to his parties and to the Reform/Center coalition.
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