Estonia's Riigikogu speaker race heats up ahead of March 26 vote
Elections for the Riigikogu board will take place on March 26, with multiple parties putting forward candidates for key roles. The Reform Party has already backed Eesti 200's Lauri Hussar for speaker, while opposition MP Riina Sikkut will challenge him. Meanwhile, negotiations continue for the deputy speaker positions, with no clear consensus yet among opposition factions.
The Reform Party will nominate Toomas Kivimägi as the coalition's candidate for deputy speaker. They have also promised support for Eesti 200's Lauri Hussar, who may remain as speaker if re-elected. Eesti 200 remains confident in Hussar's chances, despite opposition efforts to unseat him.
The opposition Social Democratic Party (SDE) has chosen Riina Sikkut to run against Hussar. If SDE gains backing from coalition members or other opposition groups, Sikkut could secure the speaker role. However, no unified opposition candidate has emerged for the second deputy speaker position. EKRE will again propose Arvo Aller for second deputy speaker, with Isamaa and the Center Party already pledging their votes. The Center Party has also indicated it would support Aller if EKRE formally submits his nomination. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats may field their own deputy speaker candidate, potentially splitting opposition support further.
The upcoming vote on March 26 will determine whether Hussar retains his position or Sikkut succeeds as speaker. For the deputy roles, Kivimägi and Aller remain the leading coalition-backed names, though opposition moves could still shift the outcome. The final decisions will depend on last-minute alliances and party discipline.
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