Third Reading of the Draft Motor Vehicle Tax Act (364 UA)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, extraordinary session of the Riigikogu.
Date: 2024-07-29 20:37
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 42
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 39m
AI Summaries: 42/42 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first item on the agenda concerned the third reading of the Motor Vehicle Tax Bill (364 UA). The agenda included negotiations between the parliamentary factions, during which the proponents stated their position regarding the tax reform, and the opponents strongly voiced their counterarguments. During the addresses, the economic impact on ordinary citizens, businesses, and the state budget was highlighted. It was also affirmed that while opposing the car tax is a primary political campaign platform, attention is simultaneously being directed toward subsidies and the accessibility of support measures. Furthermore, questions were raised regarding the legitimacy of implementing tax increases during an economic crisis and their subsequent effect on both the demographic and social levels.
Decisions Made 2
364 UA Final Vote: The draft act on the motor vehicle tax was adopted. 54 members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, 28 voted against, and there were no abstentions. Draft Act 364 UA has been adopted as law.
Convocation of the Extraordinary Session: Thirty minutes after the conclusion of the Riigikogu's extraordinary session, an extraordinary session will commence in the session hall of Toompea Castle. The agenda includes the discussion of the motion of no confidence submitted against the Minister of Infrastructure, Vladimir Svet.
Most Active Speaker
Martin Helme (EKRE) – holds right-wing/conservative views; his ability to command attention surpassed that of other speakers, as he articulated EKRE's strong objection to the car tax and stressed the uncertainty and economic damage caused by the government’s tax policy.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced the first item on the agenda—the third reading of the draft Motor Vehicle Tax Act initiated by the Government of the Republic—noted that discussions would only take place between the parliamentary groups, and invited Martin Helme, a member of the EKRE faction, to the rostrum.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme vows that EKRE will repeal the car tax at the first opportunity, urges people to vote against the measure, and asserts that the tax will be withdrawn in any new government where EKRE is a coalition partner.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks [the previous speaker] and, on behalf of the Isamaa faction, requests that Urmas Reinsalu be called to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar requests three minutes of extra time.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu, speaking on behalf of the Isamaa party, urges members of parliament to vote against the proposed car tax law. He emphasized the resulting uncertainty and the heavy burden placed on both individuals and businesses, demanding instead that the government cut its expenditures, postpone all tax increases until after the next elections, and abolish the car tax entirely.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks [the previous speaker] and invites Andrei Korobeinik to take the floor on behalf of the Center Faction.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrei Korobeinik emphasizes that the car tax is a temporary victory, but the two billion damage done to the state budget and the crisis-time tax increases harm the poorest, reduce economic growth, and will place Estonia last among the Baltic states.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
He/She thanks the assembly and announces that Õnne Pillak will take the floor on behalf of the Reform Party faction.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Õnne Pillak stressed that the purpose of re-debating the bill is to ensure equal treatment for people with disabilities, and although the opposition dislikes the expansion of tax benefits, the decision was made in favor of a broader solution that increases subsidies and reduces the co-payment required for assistive devices, adding a one-time support payment from January to June to mitigate the impact of the motor vehicle tax, and next year the support rates will increase, primarily for working-age individuals with severe and profound disabilities, as well as for others, ensuring that assistive devices are more quickly and readily available.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks whether the audience wants extra time.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Õnne Pillak responds in the affirmative and requests three minutes.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked for three more minutes of extra time.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Õnne Pillak emphasizes that choices must be made under conditions of limited financial resources, and it is right and necessary to increase comprehensive support measures aimed at people with disabilities, because these have been long awaited, and the resulting decisions must be substantive, not merely token gestures.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that there were no further requests to speak, but there was one request for a right of reply, which Andrei Korobeinik would be presenting.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Deputy Chairman of the Finance Committee Andrei Korobeinik made a procedural request and asked for a symbolic nine-second recess before the vote, so that the Reform Party could consider raising the benefit for disabled pensioners from 40.91 euros to 41 euros.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stated that this is a completely inappropriate time for such a proposal, and the current setting is not suitable at all, since we are still only in the negotiation phase and have not yet concluded the negotiations. Furthermore, although the request for a rejoinder was discussed, he cannot consider your position to be a rejoinder. And Mart Helme, you have a question regarding the procedure for conducting the session.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme raises a procedural question, asking what the Rules of Procedure and Internal Order, as well as Estonian legislation, stipulate regarding a situation where the Speaker and the Board of the Riigikogu knowingly introduce a bill that conflicts with the Constitution into this chamber and force its passage, and whether such conduct is punishable or what sanctions it entails.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks his colleague and says that this cannot be considered a procedural question, noting that Andrei Korobeinik is raising a question regarding the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrei Korobeinik asks clearly when exactly he can call for a recess, since he was told there were no requests to speak.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar emphasized that a recess may be requested primarily by the committee chairman, while the deputy chairman may do so only with the chairman's authorization, and faction chairmen may take a recess before important votes, which is consistent with the spirit of the Rules of Procedure Act.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal asks how one can intervene in the unlawful conduct of the presiding officer and what the available remedies are—whether through the Tallinn Administrative Court, by applying penal sanctions, or some third alternative.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked Kalle Grünthal, recommended reading the Constitution and the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, and expressed hope that those documents would provide answers regarding how to appeal in the event of a violation of rights. However, he stated that he could not read the question concerning the procedure for conducting the session and asked Andrei Korobeinik to submit a question on that matter.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrei Korobeinik refers to the rule clearly described in the Yellow Book, asks for its interpretation regarding the completion of the session, and debates whether, in the event of an absence, a recess must be taken to locate the chairman and decide whether to allocate nine seconds.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar stressed that Deputy Speakers are not permitted to call a recess unless the Speaker has granted the authority, and any recess must be requested through a motion to speak; currently, debates are ongoing, and the final vote on the bill has not yet been reached, meaning that Martin Helme's question regarding the conduct of the session is next.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme said that reading and citing the rules of procedure and the constitution is futile, because they are violated here all the time and they do not help us.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar states that this cannot be considered a procedural question because no question was actually asked, and he requests Andrei Korobeinik to pose a question regarding the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker thanks the Chair, notes that he has already requested a response, and asks when the discussions will be deemed concluded—is it when all scheduled speeches have been exhausted, or is there some other indicator for that.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stated that the negotiations would only conclude based on his decision, and currently they are not yet finished. He then asked for Urmas Reinsalu to be given the microphone, as Reinsalu wished to make a rebuttal, even though Reinsalu’s name had not been mentioned during the negotiations.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that, according to the Rules of Procedure Act, as a member of the Riigikogu, he has the right to a two-minute response speech if his name or positions are mentioned.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stated that the rebuttals have concluded, a request for a second rebuttal will not be granted, and only procedural questions remain before the vote.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal is asking for specific legal remedies that the presiding officer of the session can use, through law enforcement agencies, to bring activity that violates the rules of procedure under control.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar said that he did not agree with his colleague's assessment and asked Rain Epler to present a question regarding the procedure for conducting the session.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler raised a procedural question, asking whether the statement, "the negotiations end when I end them," means that the final decision rests with the presiding officer.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar explains that the session chairman concludes the debate when there are no further requests to speak or requests for rebuttal, and this is then announced.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
I had hoped that Indrek Tarand, upon becoming your advisor, would improve the quality of presiding over the Riigikogu sessions, but that quality hasn't materialized yet, so Indrek still needs to put in the work.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar praises Indrek's excellent work and then invites the audience to ask a question.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder emphasizes that pursuant to Section 83, Subsection 2, the chairman or deputy chairman of a permanent committee or faction has the right to request a break of up to ten minutes before the vote, and asks the Board to apply this uniformly and clarify the matter.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked his colleague and posed a question to Urmas Reinsalu regarding the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu is accusing the government majority of lacking legitimacy and public support, and of violating parliamentary procedure. He claims that a bill involving a quarter of a billion euros was adopted within ten "astronomical hours," and that the rule regarding the suspension of the second reading was ignored.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stressed that draft bill 364 UA had been under lengthy consideration and was not a decision made overnight. He announced the conclusion of negotiations and put the Government of the Republic’s initiated draft Motor Vehicle Tax Act (364 UA) to a final vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu adopted Bill 364 UA as an Act, and 30 minutes after the conclusion of the extraordinary session, a new extraordinary session will begin, the agenda of which includes the debate on the motion of no confidence submitted against Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet.