Räik remains Narva's only valid mayor despite new majority electing Tootsi

A June 1st session of Narva city council organized by 16 councillors was declared unofficial. Neither Narva's current leadership, Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa Pakosta, nor the city council secretariat recognized the session's legitimacy.

Katri Räik remains Narva's valid mayor, despite the fact that a new majority in city council elected Aleksei Tootsi as their mayor on June 1st. The session, which 16 councillors organized and conducted themselves, remained unofficial and held no legal force.

Session legitimacy not recognized

Narva's current leadership, Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa Pakosta and the city council secretariat, refused to recognize the legitimacy of this session. This means that the decisions made at the session gave the new majority no power and could not compel Räik to leave office.

The new majority in city council has repeatedly attempted to assert itself, but all attempts have so far failed. The situation in Narva has become politically highly tense, as two groups contest control of the city.

Power struggle continues

So far, the new majority has failed to officially assume power, and Katri Räik continues to perform the duties of mayor. The situation remains unclear and unresolved, as the decisions of the unofficial session have no legal force and do not change the current composition of Narva's city administration.