Third Reading of the Draft Act on Amendments to the 2024 State Budget Act (389 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-05-29 21:10
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 29
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 41m
AI Summaries: 29/29 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This agenda item addresses the third reading of Draft Act 389 on amending the 2024 State Budget Act. The objective is to make changes to the distribution of budget funds that do not increase the overall volume but enable the minimum salary threshold for teachers to be raised to 1,820 euros, involving the redirection of 9.27 million euros of related funding from the local government support fund. Additionally, the draft act allocates 20 million euros to the endowment capital of the Rural Development Foundation (Maaelu Edendamise Sihtasutus) for the agricultural land capital lease measure. This measure is intended to help businesses improve access to capital and mitigate the consequences arising from the economic crisis. A second amendment permits the Ministry of Defence and its subordinate agencies to transfer defense-related assets and supplies to EU and NATO partner countries within the framework of interstate defense cooperation, specifically including Moldova and Ukraine. The third amendment accelerates the law's entry into force to the day following its publication in the State Gazette (Riigi Teataja), ensuring teachers can implement the salary adjustments before the summer break. The commission reached a consensus decision to move the draft act to the Riigikogu plenary session, conclude the third reading, and hold the final vote; the law was adopted with the required majority of affirmative votes. Discussions during the debate focused on the sustainability of teachers' salary requirements, the readiness of local governments to commit, and the impact of the budget status on the broader educational landscape.
Decisions Made 1
The Riigikogu held the final vote on Draft Act 389: the Act was adopted (with a majority of affirmative votes and no abstentions). Additionally, it was decided to conclude the third reading and proceed to the adoption of the draft act as law.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Tanel Kiik (63JvL6tKBQE), of the Social Democratic Party. He represents the left-wing political line (left) in the Riigikogu and delivered several speeches, including participating at one point in the debate on counter-proposals and justifications, where he emphasized the need for cooperation and sustainable funding within the education sector.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The fourth item on the agenda addresses the third reading of Draft Act 389 on the amendment of the 2024 State Budget Act, and the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Annely Akkermann, is invited to the Riigikogu podium to deliver a presentation.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Riigikogu Finance Committee submitted three amendments to the 2024 State Budget Act: the first directs 44.84 million euros into the state budget and subsequently into the endowment capital of the Rural Development Foundation (Maaelu Edendamise Sihtasutus, MES) for financing the agricultural land capital lease measure (20 million euros specifically for MES); the second adds authorization for the Ministry of Defence to mediate the acquisition of defense equipment in cooperation with Moldova and Ukraine, utilizing EU and NATO funds; and the third stipulates that the law will enter into force the day following its publication in the Riigi Teataja (State Gazette) in order to expedite the raising of teachers' salaries. The committee decided to include the draft bill on the plenary agenda, conclude the third reading, and organize the final vote.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas thanks the server and asks Urmas Reinsalu to pose at least one question.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu thanked Annely for her skillful and thorough presentation and ironically asked why this law must be quickly adopted due to summer vacation when the fiscal year is already halfway through, and the real question lies in evaluating the person responsible for the administrative chaos.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann emphasizes that there is no significant disarray and that the bill has been processed according to best practices: setting deadlines for amendments, drafting the proposals, presenting them to the committee, and allowing time for reflection—and all of this has proceeded at a very exemplary pace.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas calls on Rain Epler.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler criticizes the fact that a significant number of influential draft acts have been handled in contravention of procedural rules. He asks how and when these rules are adhered to and when they are disregarded, and requests an explanation regarding the rationale behind the decisions, particularly those affecting teachers.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The day after publication in the State Gazette, local municipalities will be obligated to raise the monthly salary of teachers by 17 euros for those who have not yet done so. While most have already implemented this increase, the question remains whether their actions stem from trust in the government or a desire to accommodate the teachers.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu asks Annely what information and on what grounds the assertion was made that the majority of local governments have done this, and whether teachers' salaries are lower during that period because of the delay in the law coming into force.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu is called to the stage to begin his address.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann confirms that the draft bill has not been slow-walked like a tortoise, but rather processed at our own pace, and teachers' salaries will not decrease, but will be adjusted no later than June when the law takes effect in those municipalities where this has not yet been done, although some teachers may experience a delay.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The speech was a request to Rain Epler.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She notes that trust in the current government is low, not only in local municipalities, but also among entrepreneurs and many Estonian people.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann points out that some people trust while others don't, and asks what she might be able to say about it.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas thanked the rapporteur and the answers, announced that the questioning period was concluded, opened the debates, and invited Tanel Kiik, representative of the Social Democratic Party faction, to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik supports the state budget amendments aimed at increasing teachers' salaries, but he stresses that 9 million euros is just a drop in the ocean. He argues that a progressive income tax and a national defense tax are necessary to ensure the sustainability of the education system.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invited Vadim Belobrovtsev, the representative of the Centre Party Faction, to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev notes that although the minimum salary threshold is raised by 17 euros, resulting in a theoretical increase of 6.6% (up to 2,184 euros), most teachers will still not actually receive this money because decisions regarding the allocation of the differentiation fund are left to local governments, and school principals make the final call. Furthermore, there is no clear plan to address the teacher shortage and improve the profession's prestige, and the Ministry of Education's response is unclear, which generates distrust.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Jüri Ratas simply made a request, saying only, "Please."
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev stresses that although teachers have been promised improvements in salaries and working conditions, negotiations between school principals and local municipalities have failed to yield the expected results, and the state has continuously shifted the burden of responsibility, which could lead to a new strike this autumn. The government must finally offer genuine solutions—better pay, working conditions, a career model, and collective agreements—not merely a draft bill that increases [salaries] by 17 euros gross.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas called Urmas Reinsalu, the representative of the Isamaa Party faction, to the Riigikogu rostrum, and Reinsalu requested an eight-minute extension.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Isamaa supports the final vote on this bill in order to prevent an even worse situation for teachers, but Urmas Reinsalu criticized the government's priorities and the allocation of funds, the failure to deliver on promises, and the uncertain economic plan, which is detrimental to Estonian education and society as a whole.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker thanks [the previous speaker] and now invites Mart Helme, the representative of the EKRE faction, to take the floor at the Riigikogu rostrum.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme stated that this bill reflects the chaos in Estonian finance and economic management, where funds are diverted elsewhere and fail to help teachers or rural areas, and although the opposition is compelled to support it, he believes it amounts to nothing but hot air.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas thanks [the assembly/previous speaker] and calls upon Tanel Kiik to give his answer, handing him the microphone.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik explains that his statement was supportive, calling the draft bill a small step in the right direction, and is awaiting concrete solutions from other political parties for funding the teachers' salary increase.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas concluded the debates and announced that three amendments concerning Draft Bill 389 had been received from the Finance Committee. These amendments take into account the position of the lead committee, and preparations for the final vote would now commence.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announces the final vote on the government-initiated draft bill amending the 2024 State Budget Act, and asks [members] to take a position and cast their vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Bill 389 has been passed into law; 67 members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, 1 voted against, and there were no abstentions.