The Government of the Republic, led by the Reform Party, throws raw drafts to the Riigikogu without analysis, where the involvement of the opposition and stakeholders is minimal or non-existent, and this has led to a situation where trust not only in the government, but unfortunately also in the state, has shaken many people, the chairman of the Estonian Center Party stated Jüri Ratas in his speech at the party’s council meeting held via the internet.
“The coalition uses roller coaster policy with dull consistency and, among other things, steps towards a uniform income tax favoring the wealthy, painting a picture of Quasimodo who needs to be driven out of town. He won’t, because justice is on his side. Eliminating the tax burden and giving more money to the rich means that even more things remain undone in the country,” said Jüri Ratas. “The Center Party cannot accept such behavior and we have clearly signaled this with our actions and words, as well as with very substantial proposals and willingness to compromise. Unfortunately, no solution has been found. After all, the coalition thinks that the big summer will bring a solution and oblivion. But these decisions are not temporary, but will affect us for a very long time.”
According to Jüri Ratas, the Reform Party approaches mitigating the effects of economic recession and industrial production decline as well as high inflation from the wrong side, betting on cuts, tax increases and the implementation of its most expensive election promise, income tax reform costing approx. 500 million euros. “The Minister of Social Protection, who belongs to the Reform Party, has also publicly admitted that increasing the VAT rate and creating a single income tax-free amount can create a situation where people with lower incomes bear a relatively greater burden, and the financial well-being of pensioners will not improve as a result of these changes. This is an honest assessment by the minister, but it does not prevent a wealthy social group from giving a gift,” stated the deputy chairman of the Riigikogu.
“The prime minister has also been honest,” continued Jüri Ratas. “Not voters, but in their attitude towards the parliament and its democratically elected members – clowns, Putinists, a group influenced by the KGB and Hitler’s Germany. I don’t know how many times the former Prime Minister Andrus Ansip has shouted: “Come to the sky for help!”, but today there is more than enough reason for that. The prime minister has been repeatedly offered the opportunity to apologize and try to achieve constructive cooperation with the parliament. This has not happened and it seems that it is not considered necessary, because big and important changes are simply related to a vote of confidence.”
Jüri Ratas added that the Center Party has presented a number of bills in the Riigikogu that could improve the livelihoods of the elderly and people with lower incomes: an extraordinary pension increase, the continuation of compensation for sick days in its current form, an increase in allowances for the disabled, the equalization of child allowances, a widow’s pension, as well as the introduction of a graduated income tax, which would clearly more European and fairer.
