Constant reorganizations
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-10-09 16:36
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 12
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 11m
AI Summaries: 12/12 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu’s questions concerned ongoing reorganizations and the combining of ministries, directed at Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. The questioner, Riigikogu member Mart Maastik, raised a historical tendency whereby each government establishes new ministries with new names and contents, referring to the creation of hyper-ministries, including the Ministry of Climate, and in later years, the creation of three new ministries under the leadership of the Ministers of Justice, Infrastructure, and Economy and Industry. He asked whether artificially consolidating fields and changing ministers’ perspectives and party interests is sensible and sufficiently well-considered.
The Prime Minister responded that changes arise from necessity and keeping pace with the times: the state needs to be modernized and planning and development activities need to be accelerated. It was explained that the new composition of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, and the core areas included, are aimed at simplifying investments, accelerating permit processing, and creating better access for entrepreneurs. It was also explained that cooperation and the review of fields led by ministers do not depend solely on changes in job titles, but focus on specific objectives such as competitiveness and a more efficient public sector.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made at the session. The discussion focused on the reasons and considerations surrounding the reorganizations, and no decisions were adopted.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Mart Maastik (member of the Riigikogu). He posed several additional questions and clarifications, directing the discussion regarding details and impact. The hormonal role as a Member of Parliament isn’t readily identifiable as a left- or right-wing position; appearances generally remain focused and reflect a party position as an approach of “enduring with contemporary changes” (in the area in question, involving the handling of issues requiring more attention and control).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Member of the Riigikogu Mart Maastik is submitting the ninth question to Prime Minister Kristen Michal concerning continuous reorganizations.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speaker expresses great thanks and notes that Mr. Vooglaid had his hand raised and should be given the floor first.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar told Mart Maastik that he had the right to ask a question and requested that he do so.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Maastik criticizes the ongoing, artificial consolidation of ministries—citing the Ministry of Climate and the subsequent establishment of three new ministries based on specific policy sectors—and asks whether this is truly reasonable, or merely done to satisfy the personal preferences of ministers or the interests of their political parties.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the state government's reorganizations have been carried out to speed up planning processes, reduce permits, and simplify investments, so that Estonia can be more modern and competitive, and these changes are necessary if we want to keep up in the contemporary world.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offered his thanks and called upon Mart Maastik to ask a clarifying question.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik expressed concern over how the merging of various fields into ministries and the creation of three new ministries would affect employees and the state budget. He pointed to the rushed formation of the Ministry of Climate, which cost over two million euros, and questioned whether an estimate of the new expenses had been prepared.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the government is a large operation and that cooperation between sectors must be increased, things must be looked at with a fresh perspective, and necessary changes must be made—even if they are not always one hundred percent successful—so that the public sector is more efficient and the budget is more sustainable, and the figures can be verified later.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Thank you. There are no supplementary questions from the other members of the Riigikogu; Mart Maastik is also requested to ask a supplementary question.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik points out that while sometimes you have to try things out and the results only become clear later, the Nordica case demonstrates a clear lack of accountability. He then questions where the cost savings are supposed to come from, given that the Ministry of Economic Affairs has been split between three separate ministries and digital affairs have been assigned to the Ministry of Justice.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that decisions in the management of state enterprises are made by the council, and the state fulfills the role of the owner, and that a fresh-eyed review must cut bureaucracy and resource costs in order to be successful, competitive, and achieve a lower tax burden.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks [everyone] and announces that the consideration of the ninth question has concluded.