First Reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu "On the Development of Measures for Increasing the Birth Rate" (208 OE)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting.
Date: 2024-09-16 21:44
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 55
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 1m
AI Summaries: 55/55 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The second item on the agenda at the Riigikogu session concerned the first reading debate of Draft Resolution 208 of the Riigikogu, "On the Development of Measures for Increasing the Birth Rate," submitted by the faction of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia. The objective of the draft resolution is to compile a national package of measures aimed at boosting the birth rate and reasonably addressing the long-term effects of demographic trends, based on recent indicators and population forecasts provided by Statistics Estonia. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session with several parliamentarians, who highlighted both the causes of the declining birth rate and various policy guidelines for effective action: the impact of family benefits and tax studies, the suitability of the family and living environment, and the role of immigration in shaping the population structure. Various arguments were heard, and the necessity for long-term, consistent support for families and the enhancement of social trust was underscored. The discussion concluded with the understanding that population sustainability and the preservation of the Estonian language and culture are critically important for the long-term development of the state.
Decisions Made 3
A proposal was submitted to include the draft bill on the plenary session agenda and hold the final vote on October 10, 2023; consensus composition. (collegial decision)
Appoint Õnne Pillak as the representative to the Steering Committee; consensus composition. (Collegiate decision)
Bill 208 has been rejected; the result of the final vote: 14 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstentions. (Collegial decision.)
Most Active Speaker
The most active representative was a member of the Riigikogu, whose ID is a1RqRq2rgr4. At the time, he/she represented the EKRE parliamentary group, and therefore his/her political alignment placed him/her within the school of right-wing (rightist) parties. His/Her role was primarily leading the substantive discussion of the draft legislation and presenting the faction’s positions, which was reflected in multiple responses and comments made both in the chamber and displayed on screen.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that they had reached the second item on the agenda and requested Evelin Poolamets to present the EKRE faction’s draft resolution, "On the Development of Measures to Increase the Birth Rate," for its first reading.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets submitted a bill aimed at increasing the birth rate, emphasizing that long-term family policy measures are crucial. This is because Estonia's birth rate is historically low, the population is declining, and the combined effects of urbanization and migration exacerbate the demographic threat to the preservation of the language and culture.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The presenter is given a big thank you, the audience has questions, and Martin Helme is invited to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that Estonia is facing a demographic crisis, which the government has caused by reducing child benefits, family allowances, and other forms of support, and by closing small schools. He suggests this sends the message, "don't have children." He further adds that there is an ideological and mocking attitude toward motherhood. He concludes that if the Riigikogu does not address the government today, it will, in his words, say something about the nature of our chamber.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asserts that the current government has slashed family benefits, eliminated the income tax exemption for the second child, and imposed restrictions on parental allowances. She stresses that the Estonian state cannot endure without children, but she doesn't know how to convey this message to the government.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Riina Solman to come up to the stage and speak.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman criticizes the rhetoric of Social Protection Minister Riisalo regarding taking away health insurance from mothers, noting that this would send a negative signal to mothers and could impact the birth rate.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Poolamets said that women and motherhood are disparaged and staying at home is frowned upon, which is why motherhood must be valued and women's self-confidence increased, as motherhood is important both for the individual and for the state.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
I see that, as a nation, we are moving toward a turning point—a point of no return. Given the aging population and the large contingent of people outside the fertile age bracket, the total Estonian population is reaching a proportion where our national vitality is no longer guaranteed. Is this kind of statistic actually available and published, and if so, is it accessible?
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Mart Helme to take the floor.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
We are at a critical juncture regarding the demographic crisis. If we pay attention to it now, we still have a chance to change things; otherwise, we will be condemned to extinction.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Kert Kingo to take the floor.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo criticizes the latest liberal governments for their hostile attitude towards children and families, citing cuts to child benefits, reductions in funding for hobby education, and the plan to introduce a social tax levied on children. She also asks whether such tax-related decisions affect the birth rate, and if so, how.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets stresses that we must encourage families, especially large families, and promote favorable taxation, rather than raising taxes on children or criticizing mothers who raise children at home.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak criticizes the Reform Party for pursuing neo-communist policies and asks what examples or quick steps should be implemented in Estonia to support the growth of the birth rate, citing Hungary as an example.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker calls upon Siim Pohlak to take the floor.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets explains that the priorities in EKRE's plans include restoring family benefits to their previous value, lowering income tax based on the number of children, and supporting young families—especially students—through student loan repayment or reduction. She also emphasizes the need to change societal attitudes towards women and issues related to childbirth, while criticizing the stances taken by Kaja Kallas’s government and Siim Kallas regarding large families.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Vice-Chair asks that Rene Kokk be invited to speak.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk points out that the attitude of recent governments toward Estonian families, coupled with the unstable legal framework, is causing significant uncertainty among young people regarding family planning. This, in turn, is forcing many to either leave Estonia or put off starting a family entirely.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Poolamets stresses that women seek security and clarity when planning a family. The discrepancies between the state’s promises and the actual implementation create uncertainty, which in turn fuels the increase in youth emigration.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The server called Anti Poolamets.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
I have been a high school teacher for about ten years and I see how students’ climate anxiety, coupled with the panic from the government and the left-wing media, affects the psychology of young people. LGBT and trans propaganda seems to amplify this effect, raising the question of whether this, combined with financial factors, is impacting the birth rate.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets claims that young people are very susceptible to propaganda, especially climate hysteria, and although they worry about global warming, many articles appear in the press that portray the birth of a child as selfish and create the impression that having a child is detrimental to the climate and the future.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
After thanking the rapporteur, it was explained that regarding the draft decision, there would be one question for each rapporteur (two questions altogether), and the committee report would be delivered by Madis Timpson, the Chairman of the Social Affairs Committee.
Madis Timpson
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Timpson noted that the discussion in the Social Affairs Committee addressed the causes of the declining birth rate and national measures, including the updating of family benefits, increasing family and child-friendliness, and the impact of mental and general well-being on young people and families. Furthermore, it was decided to place the draft bill on the plenary session agenda and organize the final vote on October 10, 2023, appointing Õnne Pillak as the representative for the leading committee.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Deputy Chairman thanked the presenter and said that Riina Solman would ask the questions.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman emphasizes that the preservation of the Estonian nation-state and its people is paramount, and that similar solutions from other countries are not applicable here. She then asks how controlled migration could solve the low birth rate crisis and what the political party dimension of such a solution would be.
Madis Timpson
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Timpson stated that he responded to two questions: the first was a recommendation, and he was not presenting a personal or party-political opinion, but rather presented the matter being debated in the committee, and tried to do so to the best of his ability.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Unfortunately, the content of the speech text has not been provided; only the name Varro Vooglaid is present.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He points out that the coalition is tossing the opposition's bill into the garbage and questions whether, given the demographic crisis, there were rational, convincing reasons presented at the committee meeting not to support the package of measures aimed at boosting the birth rate.
Madis Timpson
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Timpson thanks the listeners.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vooglaid asks if you can support him, while simultaneously pointing out that the microphone is turned off.
Madis Timpson
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He stated that the level of support for the proposal would only become clear later, and he presented the views that were discussed in the committee and recorded in the minutes, but he did not wish to express a personal opinion at this time, as this was not the appropriate venue.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller invited Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asks whether the idea of increasing goodwill, which was discussed in the committee, was a collective opinion or merely his personal addition, and how this aligns with Signe Riisalo’s assertion that “others go to work, but stay-at-home mothers sit at home and should take on the obligation of paying social tax.” He also questions what impact this might have on mothers’ sense of security and families’ willingness to have children.
Madis Timpson
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Timpson stated that he was not presenting any of his own ideas here, but was merely reflecting what had been said in the committee, which was conveyed by the representative of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller calls upon Mart Helme to speak.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme asks what will become of Estonia as the state of Estonians if this bill, which ensures Estonians retain the opportunity to govern their own country, is scrapped, and he points to the growing power of foreigners in local municipalities.
Madis Timpson
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She emphasizes that in presenting the bill, he/she is not offering personal viewpoints, but rather reflecting what was discussed in the committee, and has done so to the best of his/her ability.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concluded the questions, offered his thanks, and noted that Rain Epler would, in the interim, raise a procedural question.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The rapporteur debated whether the law on work and internal procedure permitted a rapporteur representing the commission to express a personal viewpoint, and whether the restriction originated in the law or in directives from the party leadership.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
According to Arvo Aller, the speaker was not a member of the Riigikogu at the time and therefore did not fully reflect the committee's work, but reading the minutes is his duty, and updating the minutes is important, a point which was also confirmed by Helle-Moonika Helme, speaking on a point of procedure.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme stressed that, regarding this specific draft decision, the second question is simply being tossed out and cannot generate any debate, even though she would like to discuss it, and that the rapporteur should clearly state that the matter was not discussed in the committee.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller explains the procedural nuances, confirms the accuracy of the minutes, and announces that the speeches have been delivered and discussions may begin, after which Riina Solman of the Isamaa faction is given the floor.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman criticizes Social Protection Minister Riisalo’s intention to terminate health insurance coverage for mothers raising children at home, starting in 2026, calling it "the art of signaling that generates class antagonism" and an attack on women's freedom of choice and families' traditional lifestyle preferences.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The topic of Arvo Aller's speech was three minutes of extra time.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman emphasizes the preservation of Estonian identity, the protection of the language and culture as the main provision of the Constitution, and, against the backdrop of the population crisis and low birth rate, the need to strengthen demographic policy and ensure the transition to Estonian-language education, while simultaneously calling on the embassies not to throw the draft bill into the trash.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speech was delivered by Helle-Moonika Helme on behalf of EKRE.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme stated that their faction submitted a bill to the Riigikogu aimed at creating an environment for increasing the birth rate in Estonia. However, she noted that this bill will be thrown in the trash, and the government will continue implementing cuts to family benefits and reducing parental allowance, while also sending a signal through negative media coverage that there is no need to have children.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller requests three minutes of additional time.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme asserts that the demographic situation and the national body are facing a death blow originating from three sources—migration (the replacement of the population), aging, and the emigration of youth—and accuses the government of facilitating these processes. She calls upon the state to act, criticizing the policies of the Reform Party.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Call says your time has come.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
According to Helle-Moonika Helme, the nation's true wealth comes from the growth of its people, not from taxes; she argues that a long-term perspective requires investing in children and families to become truly rich, and she calls on everyone to support the bill.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller closed the debate, noting that no amendments had been submitted, and put the EKRE faction's draft Resolution 208 of the Riigikogu, "On the Development of Measures to Increase the Birth Rate," to the final vote.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Bill 208 was rejected. Fourteen members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, and there were no votes against or abstentions.