Amendment of the Constitution
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 4th sitting, press briefing.
Date: 2024-11-20 15:49
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 4
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 5m
AI Summaries: 4/4 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The present agenda item focused on the question of amending the constitution and the potential implementation of restrictions on local government council elections and the rationale behind it. The questioner, Member of the Riigikogu Varro Vooglaid, posed a critical and detailed interrogative statement to Prime Minister Kristen Michal: the reasons and sources upon which the restrictions should primarily be considered, and what they, based on examples, see as lacking in previous analyses. In addition, international contexts and democratic election contexts, including examples of the 2024 Russian presidential election participation by Russian citizens residing in Estonia, were brought up to illustrate how action should be taken in cases of factual and analytical shortcomings.
In the second part, two speakers addressed the matter. In a flowing debate, Vooglaid expressed criticism regarding the use and devaluation of the "security map" and demanded that the sources and analyses justifying the restriction of voting rights be clearly presented. Prime Minister Michal responded, emphasizing the importance of the state's sovereignty and the security theme, and stated that citizens of aggressor states should not participate in Estonia's internal affairs. At the end of the discussion, it was clarified that today’s session agenda does not allow for further questions, and the session will continue with a full plenary session at a later time, citing the need to continue the information session and further work on the topics of the state's security and the foundations of democracy.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Varro Vooglaid (pid ehjpLK1FIak). He presented a long and thorough question and offered argumentative interpretations on security issues, largely representing a right-wing/posturing position in the debate. (Position: right-wing/legalistic context.)
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
A member of the Riigikogu, Varro Vooglaid, poses the tenth question to Prime Minister Kristen Michal, and the topic is the amendment of the Constitution.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid criticizes the hollow and devaluing use of the security card, argues that there is no fact or argument about the threat to the Pühtitsa Monastery’s canonical ties, and asks the prime minister where these analyses come from and why the right to elect local government councils should be restricted, adding as background the figures on the participation of Russian citizens living in Estonia in the Russian presidential elections.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
I'm sorry that we have a difference of opinion, and I want to emphasize that the show organized by Russia is not an election, and the citizens of aggressor states should not have a say in Estonia's internal affairs, because Russia's aggressive policy and the war in Ukraine threaten Estonia and NATO security.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Since two minutes have been allotted for questions and three minutes for answers, we cannot take any more questions today, the information hour will be concluded, and at two o'clock the Riigikogu plenary session will continue, thanking the government members and all Riigikogu members for their active participation.