Opinion | It turns out that you, Mr. President, signed the law without reading it?!

Alexander Gamazin,
mountains. Narva

Everyone knows how long and violently discussed the amendments to the Constitution of the Estonian Republic, laid down by the opposition party of ISAMA, which deprived the rights of other countries of voting in local (municipal) elections. For months, a variety of options for these changes were discussed. At the same time, the ruling parties nominated (and recalled) their conditions under which they would support the seizure of the only political law of those of our permanent residents who do not have Estonian citizenship. There were procedurally executed amendments to maintain this right among citizens of the European Union and/or countries of NATO members; They proposed to delay the seizure of suffrage from the « serial-disadvantages » … To be honest, even the author of these lines at some point was confused in these fence and amendments to amendments. Well, one famous television and radio host from Tallinn helped me correct the inaccuracy in the already published text …

Even the President of the Republic of Estonia, who, in its status, only checks the laws submitted by the Parliament for the compliance of the Constitution, more than once in his public speeches called for parliamentarians to take the formulations of the bill as balanced as possible. Judging by these speeches, he perfectly understood that each phrase mainly the country’s law affects the fate of hundreds of thousands of Estonia.

And on March 26, 2025, the most important law in the modern history of our state was adopted: the right to vote in the elections to city (volost) meetings remained only among citizens of the Republic of Estonia. That is, without any citizens of Germany, Finland, Ukraine (the latter, by the way, we, according to statistics, permanently residing – more than 15 thousand), “Danes and other different Swedes”, expressed in the syllable of the poet V. Mayakovsky.

For about 10 days, the President of the Republic Alaris weighed – probably with his many advisers and services – the constitutionality of changes in the constitution. 04.04.2025, at 06:27 PM. The first information agencies published a message that Mr. A. Caris proclaimed this parliamentary decision.

Obviously feeling awkward for everyone (previously publicly spoke about the inappropriateness of such a law shortly before the elections, the danger of further splitting of society, etc.), the President of the ER, simultaneously with the signing of a legislative act, issued an appeal. All the same words in it – now already sounding sorry and pointless: the members of the riegikogu “were obliged to previously analyze and think through the possible far -reaching consequences” and that parliamentarians, “probably also thought about how to protect the unity of Estonian society” …

The thought comes to anyone carefully reading these slogans: but you, the respected head of state, also had two weeks allotted by the law to think and weigh, and ultimately understand that 93 member members voted for the segregate breakdown of the constitution, as they see, it was in defense of Estonian society from those who, in their understanding, are not included in this society. Although, once again I remind you, we are talking about 140-150 thousand people who constantly live here. And many of them were even born in Estonia and gave birth to their children on this earth …

But the most amazing in this published “apologetic” note by the President of the ER is the phrase, which must be given completely: “The decision according to which only citizens of Estonia and the countries of the European Union can vote in local elections is undoubtedly legitimate.”

Mr. President, what version of the Law did you study for 10 days, painfully thought and signed? – With the abandonment of voting rights in citizens of 27 countries of the European Union, including Estonia? Or – that dragon version, according to which Latvians, Finns, and Swedes, etc., constantly living with us, lost this right … Yes, in the explanations of the Constitutional Commission the opinion was expressed that the Estonian Republic may have agreements on which each party can guarantee the participation of citizens of the other in the place of their permanent residence. But mainly the law of er about this is not a word!

What after this is the price of your calls to the parliament today, “so that people who are left without the right to vote do not believe that the state wanted to exclude them from public life …”? Firstly, all explanatory notes and speeches at Riigikogu meetings talk about this goal that you named-the exclusion of Russian citizens and Belarus from this part of public life (citizens of all other countries of the world living with us, simply “spilled out of the legislative trough” as a child with foam). Secondly, in what ways, except for the adoption of laws, the parliament will calm all these inhabitants of our country with you, proving that he does not “see a threat to security in each of them,” I quote you again.

Its legal point of view about the March 26 S.G. Parliamentary amendments to the basic law sent to you 02.04.25, I called « Estonia partially becomes an illegal state. » Even if you are so carelessly reacted to the announced legislative act, then what remains to demand from the parliament acting on emotions, ignoring the basic legal principles.

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