The opposition parties do not support next year's state budget. They will vote against it if necessary.
The opposition says that the country can manage perfectly well without a budget until April. They wanted to interrupt the budget debate on Wednesday, but four deputies were absent.
The chairman of the Social Democrats, Lauri Läänemets, says that what happens in the third reading is important. If the coalition does not accept the opposition's amendments, the opposition will vote against the budget.
Läänemets says that the government must make a budget that the parliament supports. If they do not do this, Estonia may be left without a budget. This depends on Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and the Reform Party.
Läänemets wants to give more money to special care. The Finance Committee wants to allocate 7.47 million euros to the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Läänemets says that the coalition may lose more members. If there are fewer than 50, it will be difficult to pass the budget.
Annely Akkermann from the Reform Party says that blocking the budget weakens national defense. The state cannot make purchases without budget funds.
Läänemets calls this rhetoric. He says that decisions can be made with the funds from the previous budget. The government itself creates the problem.
Lauri Laats from the Center Party says that the country can manage without a budget. They will simply take the numbers from last year's budget. The elections are in March, and the new government will make a better budget.
Without a budget, the salary increases for police officers and rescuers will be postponed. Laats says that these can be decided later.
Akkermann says that without a budget, pension increases and other payments cannot be made. This affects many people.
The third reading of the budget is on December 9th. Before that, parties can submit amendment proposals.