On Wednesday, the 26th of March, the Estonian Parliament Riigikogu voted in favour of a constitutional amendment that strips third-country nationals of the right to vote in municipal elections, thus preventing Russian and Belarusian citizens from voting in municipal elections. So-called grey passport holders, or stateless persons in Estonia, will still be able to vote in the next municipal elections, but this will be the last time, according to Estonian broadcaster ERR.
The Riigikogu backed the Constitutional Commission’s proposal to urgently amend the Constitution and approved the fast-track procedure to amend the Constitution with the support of 92 out of 101 MEPs, while seven voted against.
In the final vote, the draft law amending the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia was adopted by 93 votes to seven, exceeding the required two-thirds majority of the full Parliament, i.e. at least 68 votes.
The original version of the draft law provided that Estonian citizens, stateless persons and EU/NATO citizens would be allowed to vote in municipal elections. However, the amendment adopted on Wednesday strips third-country nationals living in Estonia and, as from the next elections, stateless persons of the right to vote in municipal elections.
The legislators argue that one year is a perfectly adequate period for non-citizens to apply for Estonian citizenship if they want to vote in the next municipal elections. The amendment also strips NATO citizens of their voting rights.
Consequently, this year Estonian municipal elections will be open to Estonian and EU citizens as well as stateless persons, but from the next municipal elections only Estonian and EU citizens will be eligible to vote.
Another amendment, tabled by 26 MPs, to strip non-EU citizens and stateless persons of their right to vote as from the municipal elections to be held in October this year, did not receive sufficient support.
Under the current legislation, not only Estonian and EU citizens can vote in municipal elections, but also foreigners living in Estonia with a long-term residence permit or permanent residence right, if they are at least 16 years old on the day of the election and have their permanent residence in the respective municipality or city.
The next municipal elections in Estonia will take place on the 19th of October.