The chairman of the Center Party, Mihhail Kõlvart, said that Rein Veidemann has the right to express his opinion. He does not agree with those who want Veidemann to resign from the ERR council.
Kõlvart said that everyone in Estonia can express their opinion on ERR. Everyone also has the right to say which performances are good and which are bad. Veidemann has the same right. He has a lot of experience, and his words carry weight.
Kõlvart noted that Veidemann did not speak in his official capacity but personally. He emphasized that the topic was media coverage, not people's private lives. Kõlvart does not understand why Veidemann’s resignation is being demanded. He said that the Reform Party, which calls itself liberal, should not be doing this.
Kõlvart said that liberalism cannot be selective. Freedom of thought and speech must belong to everyone. He noted that Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasized that everyone has the right to live as they wish. Yet it seems that Veidemann does not have the right to express his opinion.
EKRE and Isamaa politicians supported Kõlvart's position. Varro Vooglaid (EKRE) said that the government parties are pushing members of the ERR council to resign. He said that these parties are interfering in the work of ERR.
Priit Sibul (Isamaa) asked whether there is state television in Estonia. He said that ERR should be independent. Sibul emphasized that he supports freedom of speech, even if he does not agree with others' opinions.
ERR is a public-service media. It is independent of the government.