Inquiry Regarding the Activities of Members of the Government Concerning the Raising of Taxes (No. 665)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-01-13 17:23
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 11
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 10m
AI Summaries: 11/11 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu began its agenda with the discussion of a question posed by Riigikogu members Lauri Laats, Andrei Korobeinik, Vladimir Arhipov, and Vadim Belobrovtsev, concerning the actions of the members of the Republic of Estonia’s Government regarding the raising of taxes and fees, focusing particularly on the sharp increase in notary fees. The presenter of the question, Lauri Laats (dCJrTlUxNYA), criticized the government for another “bad surprise,” noting that the 30% increase in notary fees (which will bring an additional 11.5 million euros in revenue to notaries) will negatively impact the economy, creating a snowball effect. He asked whether the Prime Minister was aware of the initiative from the Minister of Justice and whether the government considers this a tax increase.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas responded that the bill on the law on notary fees was submitted to the government on November 17, 2023. She emphasized that state fees and charges are not taxes, but are related to the provision of specific public services, and confirmed that tax peace is valid until 2027. Kallas explained that the purpose of raising notary fees is to ensure the availability of services in regional centers, as the fees have not been changed for a long time. In the subsequent debate, Vadim Belobrovtsev (TqT5YjnBr0U) and Lauri Laats asked whether such a sharp increase is proportional and why the regional accessibility problem is not being solved on a needs basis, but rather a nationwide fee increase is being implemented. The Prime Minister replied that there is a clear connection between fees and the availability of services and suggested that the opposition can make proposals for regionally differentiated fees during the bill's processing.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
Lauri Laats was the most active speaker, raising a question and repeatedly participating in the debate, representing the opposition (left).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The first item of today’s agenda is a request for information regarding the actions taken during the tax increases submitted on November 11th of last year by Members of the Riigikogu Lauri Laats, Andrei Korobeinik, Vladimir Arhipov, and Vadim Belobrovtsev, and colleague Lauri Laats was asked to present it.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats noted that, during the inquiry, the prime minister was asked about a 30% increase in notarial fees, which would yield 11.5 million in additional revenue, and he stressed that such an increase would not be good for the economy and would create a snowball effect.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanked and invited Prime Minister Kristen Michal to come to the Riigikogu's speaking podium to answer the interpellation.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal explained that the intention to sharply increase notary fees is reflected in the bill to amend notary fees, which the government presented on 7 November 2024 and which included the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to ensure the availability of services in the regions; state fees are not taxes and the tax moratorium remains in effect until 2027 and the government does not plan to introduce new taxes.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanked the Prime Minister and informed that the Prime Minister also has questions, and invited Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
In short, the speaker asserts that people would prefer a gradual twenty-year increase in notarial fees over a single 32.4% increase to compensate for it, and asks whether such an increase is proportional, especially in light of tax increases and the introduction of the car tax.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasizes that tax and the state fee are different, and in the discussion the balance must be struck between the availability of notarial services in the regions and the promotion of digital processes, where the requirement for confirmations is minimized as much as possible.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks his colleague Lauri Laatsi.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats noted that in Estonia the number of notaries is 87 and the majority of them work in Harju and Tartu counties; if counties have few clients and some have only one notary, fees rise and turnover may disappear, which negatively affects the economy, and he asks whether a bill could be drafted to solve this problem.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The Prime Minister confirmed that there is a clear link between fees and functioning, and he does not believe that the question is about raising fees only in counties where there are fewer notaries, and if there is a proposal that in rural areas the fee would be higher and in urban areas lower, that proposal can be submitted during the processing of the bill.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks and states that there are no questions, opens the negotiations, closes them, and ends the consideration of today's first agenda item.