Estonian PM Resigns Bringing Down Coalition Government
Estonia’s prime minister Jüri Ratas resigned in the early hours of Wednesday, January 13, after corruption allegations involving his left-leaning Centre party related to a €39-million loan to the Porto Franco real estate development in Tallinn were made public the day before. This triggered the resignation of the entire government. President Kersti Kaljulaid gave the Chairman of the Reform Party Kaja Kallas permission to form a government. The Reform Party won the most seats – 34 – at the last election and must now negotiate with other parties to reach the 51-seat mark in the Riigikogu.
No Referendum on Issue of Marriage in Estonia
While there was discussion earlier on January 13 to withdraw the controversial marriage referendum bill, Riigikogu constitutional committee chairman Anti Poolamets decided to put it to a vote later in the evening. Only 29 MPs voted for the referendum bill and 49 voted against, meaning the long-debated and controversial public referendum on the definition of marriage will not take place.
Niguliste Church to Open Tower to Guests Next Year
A new vantage point from which to view Tallinn’s Old Town may be opening as early as next year. An elevator will be installed in the tower of Niguliste Church which will take visitors to an observation platform at a height of 105 meters. The idea to open Niguliste’s tower to visitors has been deliberated since the 1970s.
Maarja Church to Get Tower Next Year
Maarja (St. Mary’s) Church in Tartu, which lost its tower during WWII and functioned as a gymnasium for almost 50 years, will see a new tower built as part of a restoration project due to be completed by the end of the summer. Over €1.3 million has been raised through donations to restore the 179-year-old church, where the first Estonian song festival began in 1869.
