The Center Party firmly stands against the car tax, which has caused extensive opposition in Estonian society, and therefore the Riigikogu faction has decided to submit hundreds of amendments to organize a parliamentary obstruction and use all legal means to prevent further proceedings of the bill, confirmed Andrei Korobeinik, deputy chairman of the Center Party faction.
“We consider the tax on motor vehicles deeply unfair. In our opinion, such a coalition proposal penalizes vehicle owners disproportionately and does not sufficiently consider the economic circumstances of individuals and companies,” said Andrei Korobeinik. “Due to the government’s failed policy, the Estonian economy is in free fall, the confidence of entrepreneurs is decreasing and people’s livelihoods are deteriorating. Instead of introducing a car tax, the Center Party calls on the government to think about revitalizing the economy and fairer solutions such as a bank tax, which could have a positive impact on the economic environment.”
Andrei Korobeinik added that although the goal of the Center Party faction is to slow down the proceedings of the car tax bill, it is not recommended to stop the work of the Parliament. “However, we see the obstruction as a necessary measure to draw attention to the problems of the car tax bill and prevent its adoption. The car tax harms people living in the countryside and less well-off and families with many children the most. We don’t think it’s fair,” the deputy explained.
According to Andrei Korobeinik, obstruction is recognized in democratic parliamentarism and is often the only tool used to prevent controversial initiatives. “The Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise has also expressed the opinion that parliamentary consensus is important for the functioning of democracy. According to him, in a consensus democracy, it is necessary to try to find the widest possible support for major changes, to develop society step by step and in such a way that there are no sharp confrontations or general popular hatred against one’s country,” said a member of the board of the Center Party.
Andrei Korobeinik explained that the amendments proposed by the faction of the Central Party are aimed not only at slowing down the process of the bill, but also at highlighting alternative solutions that could better serve the interests of the entire society. The central faction is committed to constructive dialogue and the search for a compromise in order to ensure the best possible solutions for the people of Estonia,” he confirmed.
