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As a result of filibustering by the opposition, lawmakers had to handle 121 motions to amend the bill in the second reading. Of these motions four were fully taken account of, spokespeople for the Riigikogu said.

Of the four motions, one had been filed by the constitutional committee, one by the ruling coalition party Social Democrats and two by the opposition Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE).

One of the most important changes made to the original bill gives municipalities having no common border the right to initiate a merger in the first stage if it is known that in the next stage the government will merge with them the municipality situated between them. On the other hand, the requirement was left out of the bill whereby a town must have at least 5,000 residents living in its territory if the town as an administrative unit is to be preserved or restored.

Also the time when the law takes effect was canged to make it step into force pursuant to general procedure, that is, on the tenth day after publication in the Riigi Teataja official gazette.

The second reading was completed when a motion by the Free Party and EKRE groups to discontinue the bill's second reading was dumped in the 101-seat chamber with votes 35 to 47.

The Wednesday sitting of the Riigikogu ended at 2:41 a.m. Among other things, a law enabling a person to simultaneously serve as a member of the national parliament and a municipal council passed its second reading, spokespeople for the Riigikogu said.

Under the Riigikogu house rules, the Wednesday sitting of the Riigikogu continues until all bills and draft resolutions introduced by the government and included in the sitting's agenda have been dealt with, but not for longer than until the beginning of the sitting on Thursday. The Thursday sitting starts at 10 a.m. on Thursday and continues until 1 p.m. the same day, with the possibility to extend it by one hour.