Estonia Parliament adopted an amendment to the constitution, as a result of which third -country citizens – from outside the European Union – living in Estonia, will be deprived of the right to vote in local elections. They are mainly Russians and Belarusians.
93 deputies voted for the draft law amending the constitution in a 101-member assembly (Riigikog), seven were against. After voting in the plenary hall there was a thunderous applause – the main Estonian daily “Postimees” recorded.
By the decision of Parliament, the right to vote in local elections will also be lost by persons without any citizenship, i.e. owners of the so -called Gray passports.
Tallinn, EstoniaPeter Hirth/Transit/PAP
Standays have time to apply for an Estonian passport
The next local elections planned in October will be the last in which such people will be able to participate. For adding this exception to the amendment were social democrats, who until mid -March constituted part of the government coalition.
According to the SDE party, this amendment gives stateless time to apply for an Estonian passport. Traditionally in Estonia so -called Gray passports were mainly awarded to former USSR citizens who did not acquire Estonia's citizenship or any other country.
The original draft amendment to the Constitution also assumed the privilege of voting in local elections also residents, having the citizenship of the country belonging to NATObut she was withdrawn from it.
MPs only dealt with the issue of voting law in local elections, because only Estonian citizens could vote in parliamentary elections.
In the 1.36 million inhabitants of Estonia, the Russians, or people with Russian origin, are the largest national minority and constitute about 20 percent. society. The Belarus minority is much less numerous (approx. 1 percent).
Source of the main photo: Peter Hirth/Transit/PAP