Third reading of the bill (457 SE) amending the Act on the Government of the Republic and amending other acts in consequence thereof (restructuring the State Real Estate Enterprise into the State Real Estate and Land Administration).

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

Date: 2024-11-19 12:01

Total Speeches: 12

Membership: 15

Agenda Duration: 17m

AI Summaries: 12/12 Speeches (100.0%)

Analysis: Structured Analysis

Politicians Speaking Time

Politicians

Analysis

Summary

The Riigikogu passed the draft law amending the Law on the Republic's Government and related laws, amending the draft law (reorganizing the State Real Estate Enterprise into the State Real Estate and Land Enterprise) through its 457th reading and final vote. Supporters of the draft (SDE, Eesti 200) emphasized that the establishment of the State Real Estate and Land Enterprise (MaRu) is necessary to consolidate fragmented spatial data, enhance planning competence, and create a better living environment throughout Estonia, serving as an important regional political tool for local governments. Madis Kallas stressed that this is a merging of existing forces, not the creation of a new agency.

Criticism was voiced by Isamaa and EKRE. Mart Maastik (Isamaa) drew attention to an amendment proposal that eliminates the ministry's obligation to hear individuals whose opinions were not taken into account when drafting a general plan, seeing this as a restriction of citizens' rights in order to shorten the planning process. Arvo Aller (EKRE) opposed bringing a new "mammoth agency" under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, finding that this removes important regional policy influence tools from the regional minister. Igor Taro (Eesti 200) refuted the counterarguments, explaining that the elimination of the obligation to be heard is a formal change, and emphasized synergy and a reduction in bureaucracy. In the final vote, the draft was adopted as law.

Decisions Made 1
Collective Decision

The bill titled "Act amending the Act of the Government of the Republic and amending other acts related thereto (Restructuring the State Real Estate Enterprise into the State Real Estate and Land Administration)" (No. 457) was adopted as a law with 59 votes in favor (12 against, 1 abstention).

Most Active Speaker
Madis Kallas
Madis Kallas

Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed

The most active speaker was Madis Kallas (Social Democratic Party faction), who supported the bill and explained the need for the establishment of the State Real Estate Register in the context of better utilization of regional policy and data. His position was left-leaning.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
12:01:27
AI Summary

In the speech it is announced that the first item on today’s agenda is the third reading of Bill No. 457, which concerns amending the Government of the Republic Act and, accordingly, amending other laws (the reorganization of the Land Board into the Land and Spatial Administration), and negotiations will be opened on behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction by Madis Kallas.

Madis Kallas
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
12:02:04
AI Summary

Madis Kallas said that the creation of the Land and Spatial Authority does not create a new agency, but unites existing forces and data to better valorize land and space resources, improve the living environment, and involve all 79 municipalities for unified and transparent regional planning.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
12:07:05
AI Summary

He thanks and informs that Mart Maastik represents the Isamaa faction and requests the floor.

Mart Maastik
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
12:07:16
AI Summary

Mart Maastik notes that although the creation of the Estonian Land Board is not inherently bad, amendments to the bill may remove the obligation to listen and to exercise oversight, thereby shortening the planning process at the expense of citizens’ rights, and he criticizes the renaming to Maa-amet as an unnecessary cost and recommends preserving the name.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
12:09:17
AI Summary

This speech expresses great gratitude, and on behalf of the EKRE faction, Arvo Aller offers a prayer.

Arvo Aller
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
12:09:29
AI Summary

Arvo Aller said that the creation of the Land and Space Agency and the transfer of planning and land improvement under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications would create a mammoth ministry, whose role in land and regional policy is very limited and which would deprive the regional and agricultural ministers of their levers of influence, and therefore EKRE cannot approve the bill.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
12:11:11
AI Summary

Igor Taro, appearing on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction, thanks the listeners and makes a request.

Igor Taro
12:11:24
AI Summary

Igor Taro emphasized that Eesti 200 supports the bill and the creation of the Land and Spatial Administration, because it reduces duplication and bureaucracy and concentrates the sector's operations in a single efficient institution, and although the debate heard several objections, in his view they have been refuted, and he invites everyone to vote for the bill.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
12:15:07
AI Summary

The vice-chair thanks and declares the negotiations concluded, and Kalle Grünthal presents a question to the chair of the session.

Kalle Grünthal
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
12:15:11
AI Summary

Grünthal noted that at the third reading only factions may occur, but the large share of unaffiliated members excludes about a quarter from the debate, and if these unaffiliated formed their own faction and registered it, an opportunity would arise for the remaining to speak.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
12:15:53
AI Summary

Toomas Kivimägi refutes the claim that parliamentary factions have been left out of the debate, emphasizes the possibility to speak, and guides the preparations for the final vote on Bill 457, noting that its adoption requires a majority of the Estonian Parliament's membership and asking colleagues to take a position.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
12:19:26
AI Summary

The Riigikogu passed Bill 457 into law: 59 voted in favour, 12 against, and 1 abstained.