First Reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu "Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic to Annul the Decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Regarding the Closure of the Consulate General of the Republic of Estonia in New York" (328 OE)
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 4th session, plenary session
Date: 2024-09-23 19:07
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 31
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 38m
AI Summaries: 31/31 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The second item on the agenda addressed the EKRE faction's draft Riigikogu resolution 328, which aimed to overturn the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' decision regarding the closure of the Estonian Consulate General in New York. Colleague Anti Poolametsa was assigned to the Riigikogu podium to deliver the report. The first section highlighted a letter from Estonian associations in the USA, which stressed the Consulate General's role not merely in document management, but as a crucial hub for developing economic relations, fostering startup entrepreneurship and the technology sector, and maintaining vital cultural ties and cooperation. The appeal underscored the Consulate General's historical role and symbolic significance—the New York Consulate General has served as a guardian of continuity and a developer of cooperation networks, facilitating connections with investors and partners across the United States. The second section focused on the government's position, namely the alleged cost savings and the capacity of existing embassies and honorary consuls to cover the functions of the Consulate General. The debate largely split within the coalition: while some considered it vital to maintain a strong diplomatic presence in the USA, others stressed the financial arguments and the symbolic impact associated with the consulate's role. Ultimately, the decision on the draft resolution was made without consensus, and the Riigikogu voted on the motion to reject it—the draft failed to secure the necessary votes and was consequently rejected.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 328 failed to secure the necessary number of votes for a decision; it was rejected and will no longer be subject to scrutiny in the scope originally adopted.
Most Active Speaker
The most active participant was rYwMQ2pj_ac (Anti Poolamets), a representative of the EKRE faction in the Riigikogu. He belongs to the right-wing faction of the Conservative People's Party (EKRE).
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Draft Bill No. 328, submitted by the EKRE faction, asks the Riigikogu to revoke the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' decision regarding the closure of the Estonian Consulate General in New York, and Anti Poolamets has been appointed as the rapporteur.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets stressed that the closure of the Consulate General in New York would be detrimental, and the consulate needs to be restored, given its significant role in preserving economic relations, culture, and Estonian continuity in the U.S.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi expresses his thanks and opens the floor for questions, addressing Vladimir Arhipov.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov notes that the closure of the New York Consulate General is a strange decision, but he emphasizes that maintaining the consulate strengthens Estonian diplomacy and economic interests, allows for a continued presence in an important market, and promotes business, cultural, and investment cooperation. Moreover, the claim that it is costly does not hold true, as 9 million was donated by someone.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the audience.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She asks the audience what the reason might be.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets stresses that even though there was talk of financial savings and the embassy's autonomy, the Consulate General must not be closed, because its dismantling undermines moral and social capital, national traditions, and the consistent network of expatriate Estonians.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Martin Helme to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that the draft bill is reaching the chamber too late and that the closure of the consulate general is unjustified. Although the government has no intention of reversing its decisions, he demands its reopening and asks what steps would be necessary for it to ever be opened.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets believes that the Consulate General could return after a new Riigikogu, a new Foreign Affairs Committee, and a new government, because the positions of the coalition and the opposition align in rare agreement—with the exception of Eesti 200 and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs—which offers hope. However, he simultaneously stresses that closing down a functioning symbol and an entity that performs practical work would be senseless, and that other solutions for cost savings should be found in order to preserve this important diplomatic representation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invites Lauri Laats to perform.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Speaker Lauri Laats notes that New York is a financial mecca, and during an economic downturn, many actions are taken that run contrary to the desire to capture new markets. Furthermore, the example of the business relations developer who was laid off at the Estonian embassy in China demonstrates a pattern that requires this topic to be explored further.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets emphasizes that Estonia should utilize the diaspora and develop business networks through Estonian houses abroad, thereby strengthening Estonia’s interests globally, in addition to the role played by consulates.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev said that the Center Party faction did not support the closure of the Consulate General and demands the restoration of the situation prior to the decision, stressing that we must have representation in Washington and New York because the USA is our biggest ally, and this sends a clear signal to our allies.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He expressed his gratitude.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev is asking if they should announce that they no longer wish to maintain the Consulate General in New York, as it is too costly for them.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets argues that closing the consulate general would send the wrong signal and would be a major blow to Estonians linked to the US, as well as to Estonia more broadly, because it would eliminate a powerful symbol and a historical bond, causing considerable disappointment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called Ants Frosch forward.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ants Frosch thanks the server and remarks that the calculation for savings was not justified, and the resulting damage is greater because it is tied to a symbol. He then asks whether there has been a shift in the Foreign Minister’s way of thinking—one that could be compared to the period of the Fronde described in Dumas’s The Three Musketeers, the era of the spice merchants.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets criticizes the minister, stating that he is unable to adequately assess the topic despite being a history student who has not yet finished his studies. He then contrasts this with the era of Lennart Meri, which was marked by broad erudition, warning that they have been replaced by "spice merchants."
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Riina Solman to the stage.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman asks how to restore cooperation and rapport between the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, so that the committee is better informed about the Minister's activities and its views are taken into consideration, particularly regarding the recent UN vote on the Israel-Palestine question.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets emphasizes that there are contradictions within the coalition, but the need to clearly discuss major issues is important. He criticizes the charade and the stubborn minister, and abandons hope, while welcoming foreign Estonian organizations, that it might succeed someday.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks [the assembly] and announces that there are no questions, and invites Luisa Rõivas, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, to the Riigikogu rostrum to present the lead committee’s positions and decisions.
Luisa Rõivas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Luisa Rõivas describes the procedure for the bill submitted by the EKRE faction in the Riigikogu: 50 amendments submitted for the purpose of obstruction were withdrawn, the bill received linguistic and technical regulatory corrections, and the new text was submitted for the first reading along with the lead committee's explanatory memorandum. The lead committee made consensus procedural decisions on January 23, 2024, followed by the Foreign Affairs Committee's proposal for the final vote on February 7. However, the agenda of March 13 once again caused the impossibility of debate, and on March 21, it was removed from the agenda at the proposal of the initiators. And now we are here, hoping to bring this matter to a conclusion.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked [the previous speaker] and called upon Vladimir Arhipov to ask one question.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov notes that the austerity policy endangers those sectors that absolutely should not be cut—extracurricular education, pension indexation, and even the closure of the consulate general—and questions whether the resulting savings outweigh these positive factors that are crucial for the people of Estonia.
Luisa Rõivas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Luisa Rõivas said that the decision was consensual, and there were no dissenting votes against it in the Foreign Affairs Committee. She appreciates the work of the New York consulate and regrets that the decision was only discussed late.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that the negotiations had been opened and were now closed, that no amendments had been submitted, and that the board’s proposal was to proceed with the final vote on Draft Bill 328. During this vote, the Riigikogu decision proposed by the EKRE faction to annul the Government of the Republic’s decision regarding the closure of the Estonian Consulate General in New York will be put to a vote. He then asked everyone to take a position and cast their vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Thirteen members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, with zero votes against and zero abstentions. As a result, Bill 328 failed to secure the necessary support and was therefore rejected.