Draft law amending the Criminal Code (452 SE) – First Reading

Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary session

Date: 2024-10-08 13:51

Total Speeches: 14

Membership: 15

Agenda Duration: 22m

AI Summaries: 14/14 Speeches (100.0%)

Analysis: Structured Analysis

Politicians Speaking Time

Politicians

Analysis

Summary

The third agenda item concerned the draft Penal Code Amendment Act 452 for its first reading, initiated by Member of the Riigikogu Kalle Grünthal. The draft's purpose was to criminalize knowingly false statements made by ministers before the Riigikogu, referring to deeper inter-branch oversight and government accountability. Its arguments highlighted that misinformation can mislead lawmaking, and flawed information can lead to the enactment of legislation based on falsehoods; therefore, a clear and punitive mechanism is needed to regulate gifts to the Riigikogu. Comparisons were also made with the criminal law of the United States, and the issues of parliamentary privilege and the integrity of lawmaking in the Riigikogu chamber were discussed.

Decisions Made 2
Collective Decision

The steering committee submitted a bill to reject it in the first reading; the vote result: 51 in favor, 2 against, 1 abstention; out of procedure.

Collective Decision

The Riigikogu confirmed the final version of the decision: to reject bill 452 at first reading and to remove it from the procedure.

Most Active Speaker
Kalle Grünthal
Kalle Grünthal

Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed

The most active speaker at this session was a member of the Riigikogu, identified by the code UZO6xIIvIiQ; he spoke repeatedly in several sections, representing a critical and analytical perspective and referring to draft public discussion bill 452. His official political role in the context of this session appears to be that of a member whose words had a noticeable impact on the discussion; his position in the Estonian political spectrum is estimated to be other (there is no clear left- or right-wing orientation for further development).

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
13:51:44
AI Summary

The third item on the agenda is the first reading of Bill 452, the draft act on amendments to the Penal Code, initiated by Riigikogu member Kalle Grünthal.

Kalle Grünthal
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
13:52:12
AI Summary

Grünthal introduced a draft bill aimed at criminalizing ministers who knowingly provide false testimony in the Riigikogu. He argued that misinformation damages the legislative process and the interests of the entire Estonian nation, necessitating the imposition of severe sanctions against such actions.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
14:01:49
AI Summary

He thanks the audience.

Kalle Grünthal
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
14:01:50
AI Summary

Kalle Grünthal says that he sees that some are.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
14:01:51
AI Summary

Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi offers his thanks and presents a request to Aleksandr Tšaplõgin.

Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
14:01:53
AI Summary

Aleksandr Tšaplõgin said that he supported the bill, but thought it would be rejected today, and asked why.

Kalle Grünthal
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
14:02:03
AI Summary

Kalle Grünthal expresses his personal opinion that the coalition currently in power is trying to implement dishonest globalist policies and is lying to the public to hold onto power in the Riigikogu and the government, and to gain potential material benefits as a result.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
14:03:30
AI Summary

Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Mart Võrklaev to speak.

Mart Võrklaev
Mart Võrklaev
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioon
14:03:32
AI Summary

Mart Võrklaev asserts that, due to tax increases and the expansion of the tax-free minimum, people will ultimately have more net money—for example, a teacher whose salary is 2,100 euros will retain approximately 1,200 to 1,300 euros more annually.

Kalle Grünthal
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
14:04:40
AI Summary

Grünthal asserts that he has not lied, highlights the distortion of the Reform Party's statements, and brings up an example from an old Jürgen Ligi campaign text about not raising taxes. He then asks whether Ligi was foolish back then or is foolish now, and how it is possible to treat two contradictory facts as a guiding motto.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
14:06:07
AI Summary

Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi announced that there were no questions, and colleague Valdo Randpere, a member of the Legal Affairs Committee, will present the positions, discussion, and decisions of the leading committee.

Valdo Randpere
Valdo Randpere
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioon
14:06:18
AI Summary

Valdo Randpere stated that the draft bill was complete rubbish, the committee decided to reject it during the first reading, and the government did not support it.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
14:10:19
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced that the debates would be opened and closed, and he then put to a vote the lead committee’s proposal to reject Draft Bill 452 during the first reading.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
14:14:12
AI Summary

The proposal received support (51 votes in favor, 2 against, 1 abstention), but Draft Bill 452 was rejected and the proceedings were terminated.