Government action
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, information briefing
Date: 2025-01-15 15:09
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 11m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu’s sixth question was addressed to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and concerned the government's actions regarding the right to vote for non-citizens in local elections. The question was posed by Riigikogu member Urmas Reinsalu, who accused the government of cowardice and being held hostage by the Social Democrats, as the coalition has been unable to make a decision to revoke the right to vote from all non-citizens, including stateless persons, even though it would align with Estonia’s security interests and enjoy widespread support in parliament.
Prime Minister Kallas acknowledged that her personal preference would be to revoke the right to vote from all non-citizens, but emphasized that an urgent amendment to the constitution requires broad consensus in parliament, which is lacking due to the Social Democrats’ opposition. Kallas stressed that politically achievable and the most important priority from a security perspective is to prevent citizens of aggressor states (Russia and Belarus) from participating in Estonia's internal affairs. She labelled the broader question (grey passport holders) as "nice to have" and called on the opposition to first support this narrower, but critical, step. Vadim Belobrovtsev also participated in the debate, challenging Reinsalu’s claims of widespread support and referring to criticism from the Chancellor of Justice and lawyers, who do not see a security risk in revoking the right to vote from long-term residents.
Decisions Made 1
Within the scope of the matter under consideration, no official decision was made. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas confirmed the government's priority to terminate the right to vote for citizens of aggressor states, but the broader issue of non-citizen voting could not be resolved due to a lack of consensus.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Urmas Reinsalu, who presented both the original question and a clarifying question to the prime minister. Reinsalu represented the right-wing opposition (Isamaa) and maintained a critical position in the debate, accusing the government of ignoring security interests and political timidity, as they are unable, due to the Social Democrats’ opposition, to make a decision on stripping voting rights from all non-citizens.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Riigikogu member Urmas Reinsalu will today pose the sixth question to Prime Minister Kristen Michal regarding the government's actions.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu urged the government to end the hostage crisis and to make a substantive, security-related decision on revoking the voting rights of non-citizens, emphasizing that broad-based support from Parliament and society and cowardice must not hinder these decisions.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stressed that in order to urgently amend the constitution, broad consensus is needed, and the most important thing is to end the participation in Estonia's affairs by citizens of aggressor states, namely Russia and Belarus.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks and asks Urmas Reinsalu to present a clarifying question.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu emphasizes the security threats Estonia faces due to Russia's influence, notes that ending the voting rights of non-citizens through an amendment to the constitution is necessary, and asks whether the Reform Party intends to lead the work on this matter, citing the lack of coalition dialogue.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stressed that security is not a luxury and that the debate focuses on ending the voting rights of citizens of aggressor states; he said that non-citizens should not have the right to vote, and although he shares this position, the parliament now has enough votes to make a decision, and that decision will be for the members of parliament to decide, because the State Chancellery is not his own, but belongs to the Estonian state.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman thanks and asks Vadim Belobrovtsev to present an additional question.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev noted that amending the constitution will probably require the support of four-fifths, does not believe that Parliament could be held hostage, and pointed to criticism by the Chancellor of Justice and the Union of Jurists of a plan to take away or restrict the right to vote, and asked what people think about their positions.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that in Estonian affairs the citizens of the Estonian state should have a say, compared the process to the transition to Estonian-language education, and added that Parliament could jointly revoke the voting rights of citizens of aggressor states through a constitutional amendment.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked and announced that the discussion of the sixth question, which was dealt with today, would be concluded.