Estonian President Alar Karis approved constitutional changes, which exclude third countries from the electoral process. This was reported by the ERR news agency.
It is reported that 93 deputies of Riigikogu voted “for”, and the amendment to the Constitution was adopted.
The law initiated by parliament actually closes for tens of thousands of people the opportunity to influence processes at the local level, even if they have lived in the country for many years.
According to the document, the changes will also affect the stateless persons living in the country.
The head of the Baltic state noted that from the next electoral cycle the right of vote is granted exclusively to citizens of Estonia and the countries of the European Union.
According to Karis, Riigikogu decided with very significant consequences, the influence of which should be carefully analyzed in advance.
The president expressed the hope that Riigikogu would make sure that this decision does not damage the inner world of Estonia.
“The constitution should serve as a guarantee of the world, both internal and external. And decisions that seem correct can have unexpected consequences for the whole society,” he said.
The President warned that the restriction of the rights of part of the population could cause alienation and undermine confidence in the state, especially if people begin to feel that their voice does not matter anymore.
“It should not be allowed that the state looked like it wants to exclude these people from society. It should be clear that citizenship remains for them a real and open opportunity,” the president said.
March 26, 2025, the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) adopted an amendment to the Constitution, depriving citizens of third countries, including Russia and Belarus, the right to vote in local elections. Citizenship persons will be able to participate in the upcoming elections in October 2025, but they will lose this right in subsequent elections.
After the amendment adopted, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Mikhal said that decisions influencing the future of the country will not be made by citizens of the aggressors states.
The decision of the parliament caused discussion regarding its influence on the integration and minority rights in Estonia.
According to the Baltic media, about 80 thousand citizens of Russia and 60 thousand stateless persons live in Estonia.
The following municipal elections in Estonia are scheduled for October 19, 2025.