Prime Minister Kaja Kallas's political statement regarding the submission of the draft law on the 2025 state budget.
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary session
Date: 2024-09-26 13:15
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 25
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 8m
AI Summaries: 25/25 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first agenda item concerned the submission of the draft law on the 2025 state budget and the subsequent negotiations between factions. First, there was a political statement by the Prime Minister, emphasizing the country's security, increasing defense capabilities, and the requirement attached to the state budget to revitalize the economy and reduce bureaucracy. One of the central themes proposed was a security tax and the financing of a broader security system, linked to both defense sector needs and internal security investments. Also highlighted were planned major investments in infrastructure, energy, and IT sectors, as well as plans to improve overall state governance. The second agenda item consisted of statements and criticism regarding the budget from representatives of the factions, where the discussion devolved into increasingly complex divisions over taxation and the allocation of expenditures, and where no final decisions were reached.
Decisions Made 1
No final decisions were adopted. Various factions presented alternative proposals (including Isamaa’s comprehensive alternative budget) and criticism of the government’s austerity and tax policies, but a final agreement or budget amendments were not confirmed in this session.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Urmas Reinsalu from the Isamaa faction. He represented a right-wing political approach, and his interventions were characterized by consistent participation and the presentation of specific criticisms and alternative proposals. He is the leader of the Isamaa faction, so his role is on the right wing, and his presence and the intensity of his speeches reflected active participation in the discussions of the agenda item.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The first item on the agenda concerns the political statement by Prime Minister Kristen Michal regarding the submission of the 2025 State Budget Bill. The statement will last up to 20 minutes, during which time no questions will be asked. This will be followed by discussions involving representatives of the parliamentary factions, and if necessary, an additional address by the Prime Minister will follow.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The 2025 state budget puts the assurance of stability and security first, increasing defense and internal security expenditures and implementing a temporary security tax, all while making necessary cuts and investments to get the nation's finances in order and boost both economic growth and state efficiency.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller opened the discussions, gave the floor to the representatives of the factions, and first invited Urmas Reinsalu, the representative of the Isamaa faction, to speak. He requested additional time and was granted three extra minutes.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu accuses the government of presenting a deceitful and illogical budget that increases taxes, worsens people's livelihoods, and damages the economic outlook. He is therefore presenting Isamaa's comprehensive alternative budget, which focuses on tax stability, expenditure cuts, and reducing bureaucracy.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Vice-Chairman thanked [the previous speaker] and announced that Priit Lomp would speak next, on behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction.
Priit Lomp
AI Summary
He is asking for three minutes of extra time.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speaker requests three additional minutes.
Priit Lomp
AI Summary
Priit Lomp stated that the Social Democrats are satisfied with the draft budget, highlighting investments aimed at stimulating the economy, creating regional jobs, strengthening healthcare, energy efficiency, and energy security, and ensuring the stability of pensions and taxes. He also criticized the absence of the conservative wing in the Riigikogu, while affirming their commitment to continue working for the people.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Next, Martin Helme of EKRE took the floor and requested three additional minutes.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that the current budget is a budget of continuous borrowing, which will lead to new tax changes and the deepening impoverishment of the economy and the people, and he accuses the Reform Party of destroying the Estonian economy through the green transition, energy policy, and tax policy.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller announced that Toomas Uibo of the Estonia 200 faction is requesting three additional minutes.
Toomas Uibo
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Toomas Uibo stresses that, in order to guarantee economic competitiveness, the Estonian economy must be reoriented over the coming decades towards high value-added activities, while simultaneously reducing bureaucracy and the nation's debt issues, increasing major investments, and strengthening both security and the development of the digital state.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Õnne Pillak represents the Reform Party faction.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Õnne Pillak stresses that Estonia has learned from past crises and must, as part of a long-term plan, increase defense spending, strengthen civil society, revitalize the economy, and establish sustainable public finances in order to resist Russian aggression and keep the country and its people secure.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The talk mentions adding three minutes.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Õnne Pillak stressed that the country must be protected and the economy grown using a balanced budget: the state's debt burden will not be increased, approximately 1.4 billion euros in savings will be achieved over the next few years, including a 10% cut at the ministry level. Pensions and support for vulnerable groups will increase, the ceiling for parental benefits will be lowered, but parents will be allowed to work during the parental benefit period without any reduction.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Next, Lauri Laats will speak on behalf of the Center Party faction, and he is requesting three additional minutes.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats claims that today's budget punishes people and the middle class, increases consumption taxes and other levies, and accuses the coalition of following the policies of the Reform Party, while simultaneously emphasizing potential negative consequences such as the abolition of health insurance for mothers and the extension of the temporary security tax.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The list of speakers for the factions has concluded, and the Prime Minister is asked to say a few words.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stressed that Estonia needs to get its affairs in order and that difficult decisions must be made to secure both defense and the economy. He confirmed that defense expenditures are permanently above 2% (exceeding 3% in 2023) and criticized Isamaa's plans for large-scale borrowing, dismantling the pension pillar, and failing to utilize the funds allocated for Rail Baltic and CO2.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller said that Urmas Reinsalu has been granted the opportunity for a response speech following the mention of Isamaa.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu accused the Prime Minister of the government delaying the rapid procurement of the Commander of the Defence Forces' proposal for a year, noting that the delay had increased the cost of the procurement. He then highlighted Isamaa's four-year budget plan, which would allow for responsible expenditure management without raising taxes, warning that tax increases would otherwise shrink the economy and state budget revenues.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The central message of the address is "Your time!", emphasizing that it is your turn to act.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu stressed that the promises made over the past three years must be translated into action, because the discrepancy between words and deeds undermines trust and creates uncertainty in society.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller announced that the discussions had concluded and today's agenda was exhausted, and the session ended, with him wishing everyone a pleasant weekend.