First Reading of the Draft Act amending the Family Benefits Act (329 SE)
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, fourth session, plenary session
Date: 2024-09-11 22:23
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 15
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 18m
AI Summaries: 15/15 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The ninth item on the Riigikogu agenda was the first reading of Draft Law 329, initiated by the EKRE faction, concerning amendments to the Family Benefits Act. The purpose of the draft law is to repeal or abolish Section 4, subsection 11, and to cease the determination and payment of parental benefits to persons residing and working in Estonia on a temporary basis for stay, even if social tax is paid on their behalf. The draft law highlighted the need to achieve desired national demographic goals and reduce costs in the state budget. There was a general debate on the draft law, assessments of its impacts were elaborated upon, and reference was made to concluding provisions and European Union regulations.
The second agenda item, which was planned to conclude the comprehensive debate, was Draft Law 388, initiated by the Estonian Centre Party faction, concerning amendments to the Family Benefits Act; however, at the end of the agenda, it became clear that this draft law was not opened, as the impossibility of debate and the absence of Vadim Belobrovtsev, whose presence was required, prevented the agenda item from being started. The summary of the agenda showed that while initial procedures and debate took place, the final decision was to reject the first reading of Draft Law 329, and the 10th agenda item was not opened.
Decisions Made 2
Reject Bill 329 at the first reading; the bill is dropped from the proceedings. Voting results: 42 members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, 6 against, with no abstentions.
The opening of Agenda Item 10 (Draft 388) did not occur (discussion was impossible due to the absence of Vadim Belobrovtsev, who was in attendance).
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Helle-Moonika Helme (pid WgDOnz_gvIs), a member of the Riigikogu representing the EKRE faction. She represents the right-wing political spectrum (right-wing/right). She was the key speaker regarding the agenda items, and her involvement reflected the EKRE faction's active contribution to this discussion.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Today, the ninth item on the agenda proceeds: the first reading of Bill 329 on the amendment of the Family Benefits Act, initiated by the EKRE faction, for the presentation of which Riigikogu member Helle-Moonika Helme has been invited.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The proposal is to amend the Family Benefits Act such that Section 4, subsection 11 is repealed, and the payment of parental benefit is terminated for persons residing and working in Estonia on the basis of temporary stay. The purpose of this measure is to reduce state budget expenditures, address the demographic crisis, and prevent the abuse of parental benefit by arrivals from third countries.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the presenter and invited Siim Pohlak to answer the questions.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak asks whether other European countries have had negative experiences related to overly generous social benefits provided to immigrants and migrants, and requests examples of the consequences these benefits have had for individuals originating from third countries.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
In her presentation, Helle-Moonika Helme stresses that the generous social benefits offered by the Nordic countries, particularly in Sweden and Finland, direct immigration and lead to demographic imbalance. She argues that the first step toward saving state money and sending a clear signal would be to amend the Family Benefits Act so that the support is intended only for citizens.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar addressed Martin Helme with a request.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that immigration is a major cost for Western societies and a mechanism for wealth redistribution that pushes down labor prices and benefits big businesses. He argues that this reduces the income of the working population and the nation-state, and is unfair to Estonians, particularly when it is encouraged via social benefits.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme emphasizes that immigrants working for lower wages in the labor market threaten the sustainability of the Estonian state and the Estonian people, and this is being linked to the draft amendment of the Family Benefits Act as the first step taken to protect the future of the country.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Karmen Joller to speak.
Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Karmen Joller questions what problems we are actually solving, citing 2022 data from the Statistical Office. This data shows that immigrants are primarily from Ukraine (67%), with only about 2,800 people coming from third countries. Furthermore, since not all of these individuals are women of childbearing age, the issue may not be as significant as it is being made out to be.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme emphasizes that it depends on the viewpoint, and the bill is the first step toward seeing the long-term effects that await us, because initially small figures can grow larger over time, although reality is often different.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speaker thanks the presenter, announces that there are no questions, and asks Karmen Joller, a member of the Riigikogu Social Affairs Committee, to introduce the discussion that took place here at the Riigikogu rostrum.
Karmen Joller
AI Summary
The Social Affairs Committee discussed the draft bill concerning the content of the approximately 100-day parental benefit designated for persons with a temporary basis for stay, and its connection to health insurance and EU requirements. The Committee decided to reject the draft bill and include it on the plenary session agenda for December 19, appointing Õnne Pillak as the representative of the lead committee. The first and second proposals were consensual, and 8 members of parliament voted in favor of the proposal to reject the third proposal, with 2 voting against.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker declared the debate closed and put the leading committee’s proposal to reject Bill 329 at the first reading to a vote before the Riigikogu.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The proposal received 42 votes in favor, 6 against, and there were no abstentions; Bill 329 was rejected and is dropped from the proceedings, and Bill 388, which proposes amendments to the Family Benefits Act and was scheduled as the next item on the agenda, cannot be opened for debate because Riigikogu member Vadim Belobrovtsev is absent.