At today’s sitting of the Riigikogu the second reading of the Bill on the Repeal of § 7(3) of the Republic of Estonia Principles of Ownership Act (830 SE), initiated by the Res Publica Faction, was resumed. The Bill concerns the issues related to the restitution of property of the resettlers to Germany. The amendment to the Bill was made by a vote of the Riigikogu, according to which § 1 of the present Act does not provide for the right to submit new statements concerning the restitution or compensation of the illegally expropriated property. According to the motions to amend, the local committees on the restitution or compensation of the illegally expropriated property have nine months beginning from entry into force of the Act for the review of statements concerning the illegally expropriated property. In the course of discussion the factions of the Social Democratic Party and the Estonian Centre Party of the Riigikogu moved to suspend the second reading of the present Bill, but the motion was not supported by the Riigikogu. 45 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 40 members of the Riigikogu against it. On the motion of the Constitutional Committee as the leading committee the second reading of the Bill was concluded.

 

The Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Fight of the Estonian Citizens for the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Estonia (933 OE), submitted by the Government of the Republic, was at the first reading. The Draft Resolution stipulates the group of persons who may be considered as freedom fighters. Pursuant to the Draft Resolution, the freedom fighters are the citizens of the Republic of Estonia, who had offered resistance to the occupations of the Soviet Union and Germany, fighting for the restoration of independence of the Republic of Estonia.The motion made by the Isamaaliit and Res Publica Faction to reject the Bill at the first reading was not supported: 50 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 25 members of the Riigikogu against it. On the motion of the Constitutional Committee as the leading committee the first reading of the Draft Resolution was concluded.

 

Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting, the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Armed Fight of the Estonian Citizens against Military Occupation of the Soviet Union (910 OE), submitted by the Isamaaliit Faction and the Res Publica Faction, was adjourned. The deliberation will be resumed tomorrow, at the sitting beginning at 2 p.m.

 

The Riigikogu Press Service