The Republic of Estonia's state budget
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, information briefing
Date: 2025-01-15 14:17
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 10m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today, the state budget's transparency and related cooperation problems were discussed at a sitting of the Riigikogu. In the ongoing discussion, the question was raised as to why a fund of 100 million euros for increasing the share capital of Eesti Energia is visible in the budget, when there was no money for it during some previous government periods. The discussion pointed to confusion regarding allocations with the same name and how different ministers and parties understand these allocations. Opinions were presented that the budget must be understandable and traceable for everyone – both parliamentarians and the public – and that clear and readable forms are needed for presenting the state budget.
The coalition and the government emphasized that planned measures will direct the increase of the budget's transparency and usage-based reporting: the 2025 budget will be described in two different formats to simplify tracking, and digital tools will be increased to enable any stakeholder to monitor spending trends. Opinions extended to the point that sometimes noteworthy technical names or expressions (“discovered,” “lottery win,” etc.) arise, but in reality the money remains, and previous years may not reflect the true nature of large transfers.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
Speaker: Prime Minister (5VNfkRwGZMI). Position: Prime Minister. Political leaning: other.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that they would move on to today's second question, which Riigikogu member Lauri Laats will put to the Prime Minister Kristen Michal, and the topic of which is the state budget of the Republic of Estonia.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats today criticized the opacity of the state budget, claiming that the construction of gas-fired power plants worth 100 million euros appeared in the budget unexpectedly, and asked the prime minister how long he can continue to work with incompetent ministers, while Läänemets claims that these ministers had not heard anything about it.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
In summary: 100 million euros have been earmarked to increase Eesti Energia's share capital, and although the previous decision was not taken, it was reintroduced into the budget, and the decision will be made on a business basis by Eesti Energia and approved by the finance minister and ultimately by the government.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and asks Lauri Laats to present a clarifying question.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats notes that ministers from the Social Democrats and Estonia 200 do not understand the budget, highlights Jürgen Ligi's experience, and emphasizes that although the budget is activity-based and the Centre Party has submitted a draft bill, it should be made more transparent and comprehensible so that all ministers and the finance minister can understand it.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the budget should be easier to track, comparable across the years, and digitally accessible. The coalition shares the same view, and the 2025 budget is described in two formats, which improves readability and shows where the money goes, although it does not bring in additional money.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar calls on Vadim Belobrovtsev to present an additional question.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev said that the budget should be cost-based and understandable to everyone, and asked whether the discovery of unspent funds in recent times is normal practice or whether it indicates something wrong in the budgeting process.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized that the budget must be as traceable and as simple as possible, so that the public can compare years and expenditures and see what is right and fair, but money does not disappear anywhere; rather, it is redistributed and cuts are made between priorities, although sometimes headlines like 'discovered' appear, which do not reflect the real situation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, thanked and announced that today's consideration of the second question ends.