Chairman of the Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu Anti Poolamets (EKRE) has said the second reading of the draft marriage referendum is scheduled for January 11.

Poolamets told ERR on Tuesday that since the opposition has promised to obstruct the bill by submitting thousands of amendments, it may not reach the second reading.

The draft resolution (288 OE) proposes to hold the referendum held on April 18, 2021 with the question "Shall marriage remain a union between a man and a woman in Estonia?", passed its first reading in the Riigikogu on Monday (December 14).

In order for the referendum to be held on that date, the Riigikogu has to pass the draft as a Resolution three months before, by January 18 at the latest.

Leader of the opposition Reform Party Kaja Kallas and leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDE) Indrek Saar on Monday called on the parliament to reject the marriage referendum bill at first reading in the Riigikogu.

Kallas said the planned referendum on marriage is pointless, ridiculous and cruel.

"Generally, we have nothing against referenda. The opinion of the people can be sought in matters of national importance; however, what is being offered to us now is not an issue of national importance," Kallas said, adding that there is no point in polling people about a regulation that already exists.

Spending large amounts of money on holding and campaigning for a referendum in a crisis situation where there is already a lack of funds is pointless, according to Kallas. Read more via ERR