Social Democratic Party (SDE) chair Indrek Saar says that the resignation of Jüri Ratas (Center) as prime minister, which in turn means the end of the current coalition, means those Center MPs opposed to a referendum on the definition of marriage can now vote against it more easily.

Appearing on ETV morning show "Terevisioon" Wednesday morning, Saar said: "A common front we shared with the Reform Party in opposing a socially divisive referendum has been a good job well done. It is now clear that the referendum will not now be held in its current format."

"There are no longer 51 votes (the number required at the 101-seat Riigikogu for a majority – ed.) in favor of the bill. If the Center Party no longer has the motivation to hold on to the prime ministerial position at any cost, then not all their MPs will vote for [the bill] any more," he went on.

Saar added that the proposed referendum, which passed its first bill reading before Christmas but has since foundered ahead of its second reading, will continue to be dogged by legal considerations for a long time going forward.

Saar said: "Coalition members said that what happened at the Constitutional Affairs Committee was illegal, but still voted in favor [of the bill]. I hope it is a lesson that will be nailed to the Riigikogu wall, so that no one ever does that again."