Key facts
- Estonia's coalition government has lost its parliamentary majority.
- Two MPs, Kalev Stoicescu and Meelis Kiili, have defected from their parties.
- The government now holds 50 out of 101 seats in parliament.
- The next parliamentary election is due by March 2027.
Estonia's coalition government has lost its parliamentary majority following the defection of two of its elected members. Kalev Stoicescu, an MP representing Estonia 200, quit his party on Sunday, while Meelis Kiili announced on Monday that he had left the Reform Party. This leaves Prime Minister Kristen Michal's government with only 50 seats in the 101-seat Riigikogu.
Stoicescu stated that his decision was long-planned and that he had considered leaving politics. He has received offers from other parties but has not yet made a decision, expressing a desire to continue contributing to Estonia's defense, security, and foreign policy. He is reportedly considering joining the non-parliamentary Parempoolsed (Right-wingers) party.
Kiili explained that his departure from the Reform Party was due to diverging views on national defense and security. He will continue in the Riigikogu as an unaffiliated MP. Kiili joined the Reform Party in November 2022, receiving 1,289 votes in the Ida-Viru County.
The departure of these two MPs significantly impacts the dynamics of parliamentary committees, particularly the National Defense Committee, which Stoicescu chairs. The governing coalition previously held a narrow six-member majority on this committee. Estonia is due to hold its next parliamentary election by March 2027.