Inquiry regarding the promotion of family and large families (no. 667)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-01-20 17:46
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 71
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 37m
AI Summaries: 71/71 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu discussed a question regarding the promotion of family and large families, presented by Jaak Valge, Ants Frosch, Henn Põlluaas, and Leo Kunnas. The representative of the questioners, Jaak Valge, highlighted the critical situation of Estonia’s birth rate (falling below 10,000) and emphasized that the state has not organized a single direct campaign to support traditional families and large families, while focusing on other social themes. Valge argued that the most children are born in traditional families and that they are also the happiest there, and that the state should send a clear message valuing large families to reduce uncertainty.
Health Minister Riina Sikkut responded that the Ministry of Social Affairs does not organize campaigns itself, but does so through strategic partners (such as the Association of Large Families of Estonia), who implement activities supporting family values and parenting programs. The Minister emphasized that the government supports having children in general, focusing on economic security, education, and healthcare, and listed several support measures (such as flexibility in parental benefits, an increase in single-parent support). The opposition (including Helir-Valdor Seeder, Urmas Reinsalu, and Rain Epler) sharply criticized the government, calling the demographic situation a catastrophe and accusing them of cutting support for large families, raising taxes (vehicle tax), and undermining security. The opposition demanded that the government reverse decisions damaging family policy and create a stable, cross-governmental demographic policy. Minister Sikkut acknowledged the harmfulness of reversing political decisions, but defended the government's policy of targeted support and evidence-based approach.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
The representative of the landowners, Jaak Valge (nyBcZM7ODqU), was the most active speaker, presenting the inquiry, a clarifying question, and a critical concluding remark regarding the government's inaction on resolving the demographic crisis. His position is right-wing.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair announces that the first item on the agenda is the interpellation submitted last year on 11 November by four Riigikogu members—Jaak Valge, Ants Froschi, Henn Põlluaas, and Leo Kunnas—concerning the promotion of families and large families, and asks Jaak Valge to present the draft bill at the Riigikogu rostrum.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge notes in his presentation that fertility in Estonia has declined and that people would like to have more children than they have, and he calls on the state to focus on supporting natural families and high fertility, because previous campaigns have emphasized differences, not the importance of family and childbirth.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks and asks that Health Minister Riina Sikkut respond to the interpellation from the Riigikogu's rostrum.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut said that the Ministry of Social Affairs does not organize or fund campaigns to promote natural families and large families, but they are carried out through partners (for example, the Estonian Union of Large Families, the Union for Child Protection, and the Institute for Health Development), and in the next period we will continue in the same direction, with new rounds of calls for proposals to be announced, while emphasizing the importance of health and vaccination and the need for pregnancy monitoring, in order to ensure a long and healthy life.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked the minister, said that he had questions, and asked Riina Solman to take the floor.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Esteemed Speaker of the Riigikogu, I thank you and would like to point out that children's mental health falls within the remit of the Minister of Social Protection, but funding for rural children's hobby clubs has been withdrawn—last year there was €101,000 for this, which was not enough for everyone—and although cooperation with the neighboring minister is good, please consider restoring this funding.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut pointed out that the support for rural children's extracurricular education is regionally differentiated and has decreased, and therefore the support must be sustainably strengthened in the name of equal opportunities, and although regional support is the right step, a compensation mechanism must be in place, and the same goals can be achieved also by other means.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, asks Tõnis Lukas to take the floor.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
They emphasized the importance of large families and that children are the future, and that the values of family and marriage must not be forgotten, criticized negative campaigns and the remarks that emerged in discussions about the school curriculum which diminish the role of family and parents, and asked how to deal with such campaigns and whether state funding for these organizations should be restricted.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Health Minister Riina Sikkut stated that the state does not directly fund a negative campaign, the curriculum must reflect reality and various family models, and the family is a family, and the upbringing of all children must be protected and supported.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks to invite Vadim Belobrovtsev onto the stage.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev emphasizes that the demographic trend points toward the extinction of the people, because the number of deaths exceeds the number of births by about 6,000, and immigration does not help enough, and asks what would be needed to make the situation positive.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasized that more children should be born, but to do that it is necessary to provide appropriate support to different families and ensure that all children are born healthy and acquire a good education and proficiency in the Estonian language.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asked Jaak Valget to come up onto the stage.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge emphasized that we should value biological families, because that is where the most children are born, where people are the happiest, and where depression occurs the least; he criticized the linking of awareness campaign topics, and asked whether the ministry can really choose its own social partners and come up with campaign themes that different partners could compete for.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut said that strategic partners are chosen from strong organizations, and the Estonian Association for Families with Many Children is a good example of this, because they organize conferences that support family values and have the freedom to decide on topics, but creating an environment that supports raising children and, through it, developing health, communication, and resilience skills is a common priority, which over the years may be slightly adjusted in the messaging, but from this a strong whole emerges.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar turns to Ants Frosch and asks him for something.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ants Frosch thanked the leader and the minister and said that if a contest were held for the title of the most empathetic minister in Michal's government, you would have a good chance of winning; he added that you are legally a mother of many children, and a campaign for a large-family policy always requires a figurehead in the government as well, and he asked how you would phrase your slogan as a mother and as a minister.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut said that for large-scale campaigns the messages should be striking and thought-provoking, and she would trust the work to professionals, because previous campaigns have been nicely worded and stood out in the cityscape.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar requests that Leo Kunnas be invited onto the stage.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas declares the demographic situation a catastrophe and asks how the government's handling of it is evaluated on a five-point scale.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasizes that economic growth, exports and wage growth give society a sense of security and are important for the sustainability of the social safety net and the long-term financing of healthcare, but during an economic downturn the implementation of these insurance measures is considerably more difficult.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar invites Hele Everaust to speak.
Hele Everaus
AI Summary
He emphasizes that important results are not produced through campaigns, but through long-term and ongoing daily work and the building of trust, which was done during Andrus Ansip's time, and urges others to follow this approach.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut stressed that awareness and campaigns to ensure the availability of parenting programs are important, but to increase birth rates, in addition to this, a strong supportive environment and the reduction of educational barriers are needed, including extending compulsory schooling up to age 18.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman asked Mart Maastikut to come on stage.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Maastik emphasizes that learning to be a good parent primarily comes from experience and role models, and the state must create a sense of security by avoiding providing support and its abrupt withdrawal, because otherwise young families will not feel secure.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasized that in today’s schools more emphasis is placed on communication, teamwork, and conflict-resolution skills, and that strong early school education and parental education create a sense of security, but for it to endure national support and consensus are necessary; otherwise political reversals will cause harm.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker, Lauri Hussar, thanked Hele Everaus and said that in a parliamentary inquiry, each Riigikogu member may submit only one question, therefore he could not give the floor for a second question and then turned to Rain Epler.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler criticizes today's school and societal debates, notes a deterioration in outcomes according to statistics, and calls on the state to act in line with normal and traditional family values.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut asks what this question is.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, asks Rain Epler to phrase this question very briefly so that the presenter can answer.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler poses the question of whether one can say that things are done better than in school, when statistics show that the results have not improved.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speaker thanks and presents a petition to the minister.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut said that Estonia has improved the health of infants and children and early diagnosis, and although fertility has declined, for the sake of the population's sustainability it is necessary to continue both promoting fertility and healthcare, as well as supporting families and creating a nurturing growth environment for all family models.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks you very much and asks Helir-Valdor Seeder to speak.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder emphasizes the seriousness of the demographic situation as a catastrophe, notes the absence of demographic topics in the coalition agreement, and criticizes the government's cuts in family and demographic policy, finally asking what their positive demographic policy is.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut said that the summer government agreement is lean, focuses on the economy and security, but also includes health and population and mental health topics and better targeting of subsidies, for example the establishment of a cap on parental benefits and the introduction of temporary disability benefits for higher incomes, and emphasizes regional policy and reducing educational inequality, so that children would have a better development environment and the birth rate would increase.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked the minister, said that there were no more questions, opened negotiations, and asked the representative of the inquirers, Jaak Valge, to return to the floor of the Riigikogu.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Summary: Jaak Valge claims that although the minister is empathetic, he has also shown cunning, and Estonia needs a state initiative to increase the natural number of families and children, because the government has reduced support for large families, refused to index family benefits and to cancel student loans for students who have had a child, and the parliamentary inquiry has not yielded a substantive solution.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speaker thanks the audience and then invites his colleague Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev points out that Estonia's demographic situation is deteriorating and the birth rate is falling, and behind this are three main factors: the family's economic security, a sense of security, and the fear of war and its dangers, all of which affect childbearing.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
They are asking for three more minutes.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev stresses that the state must seriously help families and maintain a policy that encourages childbearing, because cuts to taxes and subsidies and the demographic crisis show that the government has not supported children sufficiently, and it is time to put the Population Commission to work efficiently and take effective steps.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks and now invites his colleague Helir-Valdor Seeder to the podium.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder claims that for Estonia the record-low birth rate is a question of the country's survival and the number one problem that must be honestly acknowledged and solutions sought, because the coalition agreement does not address this issue and tax policy and the economic situation affect family fertility.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks for three more minutes.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder asserts that the government's demographic and family policy has created insecurity, and that the reduction of support for large families and changes to indexation, as well as housing and car tax decisions, should not have happened, and he calls for reversing these steps, presenting the reversal of these changes as a positive program.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar thanks and now asks that his colleague Rain Epler step up to the podium.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler criticizes the government's tax policy, which burdens large families—especially due to the removal of the income tax exemption and inflation—and calls for a return to normal and realistic policy, setting aside the woke culture.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair thanks and now invites his colleague Tõnis Lukas to speak from the Riigikogu's podium.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that Estonia's continuity depends on a mental and physical growth environment, where having children and starting a family are important parts of self-realization, and that the state must ensure a sense of security, a strong education system, and a sustainable economy so that young people dare to form families.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and now asks that the floor be given to his colleague Mart Maastik.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Maastik emphasizes that Estonia's sustainability and the persistence of the Estonian people depend on the existence of a family model in which the mother plays an important and sacred role and the father is present, and it criticizes contemporary multicultural and two-parent family models and calls on the state and schools to strengthen the traditional family model.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked for three more minutes.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The landscape emphasizes that when the state is prepared for a wartime situation and must invest in national defense, it must simultaneously care for supporting the population's childbearing and families, because without the people there is no defense, and although 5% of the budget could go to national defense, cutting child benefits must not hinder the future; members of the Riigikogu must intervene and propose alternatives if some party finds that child benefits are not necessary.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanked and said that Urmas Reinsalu had already held negotiations with the minister, but now asked him to carry out the negotiations in the Riigikogu's Speaker's Chair.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that the government is hypocritical if it does not intend to promote large families and family-friendliness, while cancelling previous decisions to improve the welfare of families (support for large families, the child tax exemption and the spouses’ tax relief) and taking away health insurance from a stay-at-home mother, which undermines the sense of security for families and the optimism of young people, and calls for joint, sensible, forward-looking action.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, requests three minutes of extra time.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that the current government is taking away the sense of security about the future for both entrepreneurs and families, and that bad decisions will be reversed; for example, the car tax will be canceled in the future.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Next, Hele Everaus will speak.
Hele Everaus
AI Summary
In her lecture, Hele Everaus urges the state and leaders at all levels to love the Estonian people and to undertake long-term, prevention-based healthcare work, focusing on early health check-ups and improvements in vaccination.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller thanked and announced that there are no more speaking requests, and invited Madam Minister to participate in the negotiations.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasized three main directions: improving the ability of families and children to cope through larger parental benefits and support measures, and the implementation of evidence-based policy; ensuring the consistency of decisions and preventing reversals; and improving the ability of victims of intimate partner violence and of single parents to cope.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chair Arvo Aller thanked and said that during the negotiations Urmas Reinsalu's name was mentioned, and he asked Urmas Reinsalu on the spot to give a response.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that with bad policy voters should not have any legal expectations, and the planned selective changes to parental allowances and family benefits, and the decisions to come by 2027, will create uncertainty for young families, citing as an example a mother from a large family whose car tax is 845 euros per year, and he stressed that families themselves know how to arrange their lives, and that not only is the parenting program the sole solution.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
They conclude their speech, saying that two minutes are up, and they thank the audience.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that people's lives should not be made complicated.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller thanks Reinsalu, states that the minister cannot answer at the moment, mentions Rain Epler during the negotiations, and gives him two minutes to speak right away.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler acknowledged that the government has done many bad things and promises to reverse them before the elections, presenting a clear and feasible plan and avoiding controversial promises about taxes.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chair announced the closure of the negotiations; a response has been given to the inquiry, and the agenda item has been dealt with.