Draft law amending the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia (527 SE) – first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-11-20 20:16
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 195
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 3h 11m
AI Summaries: 195/195 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first reading of the draft law to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, bill 527. The bill was presented by 28 members of the Riigikogu and its purpose is to amend the right to vote in the elections of local government councils for citizens and persons of an aggressor state, and for those lacking citizenship, and to potentially extend similar rights to citizens of third countries in accordance with the conclusion and ratification of bilateral agreements. The general discussion focused on security, the impact of the state's silence, the rule of law, and the ability to find a broad consensus between the two different bills – 527 and 536. It was noted that amending the Constitution is not final, but a decision-making process that requires thorough consideration and clarification of possible risk assessments and the scope of explanatory documents.
The second time, discussions focused on how to regulate the right to vote, what action could be taken, and how to avoid establishing uncertain or speculative concepts in the Constitution. Ultimately, the question arose as to whether and to what extent bill 527, together with bill 536, should proceed, and which form – alone or together – would provide the best legal certainty and democratic quality.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 527 was rejected in the first reading and the procedure was terminated. The voting result: 54 in favor, 24 against, 0 abstentions.
Most Active Speaker
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu discusses, within the ninth item on the agenda, the draft law on the amendment of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia No. 527, which has been initiated by several Riigikogu members, and this is the bill’s first reading, with Helir-Valdor Seeder presenting.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder proposed that Draft Bill No. 527 would ban voting rights in local government council elections for citizens of an aggressor state and stateless persons, and would allow participation by citizens of third countries only on the basis of a ratified treaty concerning reciprocal voting rights, emphasizing the need to find broad-based consensus and the need to merge the two draft bills, while also discussing issues of legal certainty and security.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks for five more minutes.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder criticized the special clause written into the constitutional amendment, said that it creates confusion and is cunningly added there, and stressed that the law must be carefully developed and the registries and information technology made technically ready, and called on the coalition to support both draft amendments and to continue the proceedings in good faith.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanked the presenter and informed that the audience had many questions, and the first questioner was Aleksandr Chaplygin.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin emphasizes that the main argument for depriving Russian citizens and non-citizens of the right to vote is security, but highlights the views of former KAPO director Arnold Sinisalu and the Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise that the security issue has nothing to do with this draft, and asks whether he is more competent than they are.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Seeder emphasizes that citizens of the aggressor state should not participate in local elections, because it is a security issue, and that a bill restricting the voting rights of stateless persons could motivate them to acquire Estonian citizenship, which requires language study and knowledge of the law and increases the state's cohesion and security.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman invited Vadim Belobrovtsev onto the stage.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev claims that a large portion of eligible voters do not vote, and those who vote may be disappointed and become alienated from the Estonian state, and he highlights the holders of gray passports — people born and raised in Estonia, who work, pay taxes, loyal residents — and asks how they would react to being seen as a security threat.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder is optimistic that amendments to the constitution and other laws could motivate some stateless individuals, including former citizens of the Soviet Union, to obtain Estonian citizenship, but he stresses that the decision must have a legal basis in public law and not merely be a matter of sentiment, and although the state has over the last 30 years sought to promote naturalisation, this option has not been available to everyone.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Tõnis Mölder to speak.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He praised the bill very highly — extremely good and sympathetic — and supported its deliberation, hoping to find, in a longer process, a reasonable compromise and good wording for both this and the preceding bill, and at the same time he posed the question whether depriving certain people of the right to vote and delaying its implementation in the 2025 local elections could provoke counter-reactions and what the risks of implementation are.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that in the process of amending the Constitution there are real risks of overrunning the timetable, lack of legality and quality, and non-compliance with procedural rules, and if these issues are addressed and a common ground is found, the amendments can be enacted, but at the same time the current legal framework must be changed today because some election-related procedures begin on June 1.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov warns that about 130,000 people who stay away from accepting local decisions may threaten the country, and in this context he sees the possibility of the Centre Party coming to power in Tallinn.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar asks Vladimir Arhipov to come onto the stage.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speech emphasizes that now is your time.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
This speech asks what the head of the municipality should say to regional residents who experience discrimination and exclusion from social life as second-class people.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Although there is no perfect solution, weighing the impacts and risks and taking into account Estonia's security and cohesion, one must enact a constitutional amendment that is not aimed at a single target group, but includes Russian citizens, stateless persons, and citizens of third countries, and at the same time also raises questions of justice.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asked Ants Froschi to come onto the stage.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They supported the joint processing of bills 536 and 527 and pointed out that the former head of the Estonian Security Police is evidently of the same mind on a sensitive issue as the official position, and asked whether the public statements of high-ranking security officials should be restricted by a certain cooling-off period.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder emphasizes that in a democratic country there should be no cooling-off period for expressing opinions, because it is a matter of thought and freedom of speech, although the problem exists and in some countries restrictions are seen for people with backgrounds in security and in high-ranking positions, and this is also a cultural issue.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks Margit Sutrop to come.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop thanks the audience for the insightful and balanced presentation, notes that a list of stateless persons does not create a new eligible voting group, because they are currently foreigners with long-term residence rights or permanent residence rights, and asks how they can together find a compromise and jointly cast their vote for this historic decision.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that the voting rights of stateless persons in local elections are currently at a level below statutory law, and enshrining this in the Constitution would be disproportionate, and as a compromise, the two draft bills should be merged so that the registration provision and the delegation of treaties concluded with third countries would be left out of the Constitution, and the right to vote would be limited to Estonian citizens, avoiding differentiation between European Union and NATO member states.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and asks Jaak Valge to take the floor.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge supported the draft, noting that there is no draft in the proceedings whose electorate would consist solely of citizens of the Republic of Estonia; he affixed his signature and asked which part of the 536 SE draft, i.e., the 61-member Riigikogu draft, would be best to merge with the present 26-member draft.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
He said that in elections for local government councils, eligible voters should be only citizens of the Republic of Estonia, and this would be left to a constitutional amendment and would be the best—short, clear, and legally clean variant.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair asks Mart Helme to take the floor.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme claimed that the coalition's draft bill creates legal confusion, because it writes into the constitution that some odd groups obtain a constitutionally guaranteed right to vote, while the bill he submitted is clear and establishes the right to vote only for citizens of the Republic of Estonia, and he asked which is more understandable and more comprehensible to voters — creating confusion or a simple, unambiguous solution.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that, although his sympathy naturally lies with the draft initiated by 28 members of the Riigikogu, for both drafts one part would need to be abandoned: in the draft initiated by 61 members of the Riigikogu, the provision regulating the registration of the electoral lists of stateless persons and of foreign nationals who have the right to vote should be omitted, and in our draft this provision regarding the conclusion of bilateral treaties with third countries should be dropped, so that we can have a high-quality bill.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks Aleksandr Tšaplõgin to take the floor.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They criticize the plan to deprive Russian citizens and non-citizens in Estonia of the right to vote, arguing that it is a collective punishment and asking whether it conforms to the principles of democracy and the rule of law.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that the bill must not be based on a declaration of intent for the temporary suspension of voting rights, and the right to vote should be allocated only on the basis of Estonian citizenship, not targeting specific countries or individuals, and the solution must be simple, implementable, and in keeping with the rule of law.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and asks Tõnis Mölder to take the floor.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They thanked and expressed optimism, and asked how sincere and real the will is in the discussions about amending the constitution, aside from the lively political game. They emphasized the need for broad consensus and asked whether in the future it would be possible to reach an agreement on the two draft bills and whether everyone has a genuine desire to do so.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that through rose-colored glasses he sees willingness and optimism, but the real picture is realistic: the coalition's lack of involvement and the Constitutional Committee's decision narrow the common ground, and the Isamaa faction will vote for the coalition bill only if the final result guarantees the right to vote in local elections only for Estonian citizens; otherwise, further options will be discussed during the proceedings.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar turned to Ants Froschi and said, "Please."
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ants Frosch noted that two draft bills had been merged, and the part of our draft dealing with the voting rights of the citizens of states had been removed, and he asked whether Estonia should be an active participant in reciprocity or a passive one, waiting for a proposal.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder noted that the provision in question is based on a desire for compromise, i.e., on the assumption that it is not the best option, and it would have given Estonian citizens living abroad the right to elect local government councils. However, its entry into force and the interest of third countries depend on the parliament's will and on the progression of the bill's proceedings, which at present is speculation and has not yet reached its first reading.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar asks that something be given to Poolamets.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets criticizes the government's draft for its ambiguous wording and especially the labeling of non-citizens, warning that this gives the impression of an immature state without a clear notion of citizenship and without clear limits on rights, and could in the future bring about threats, such as border-crossing entries.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Seeder said that with regard to the second bill, it is not a government bill but a bill initiated by 61 members of the Riigikogu, and that he generally agrees that for both bills the scope should be limited to Estonian citizens, but in his view the most confusing is the provision on the registration requirement.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar summons Martin Helme to appear.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme said that the discussion is very good and productive, and the bills are in the legislative process, and in terms of the content of his bill it is better, but he wants to help the public understand the mechanism of bilateral agreements and which countries could be the subject of discussion, in order to avoid confusion, for example whether this would mean Ukrainians’ right to vote or a hidden catch.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that, as a compromise, the option to preserve the right of citizens of allied states to have a say in Estonia's local governments would be kept open, thereby avoiding criticism that we would limit their involvement.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speech was opened with a brief prayer inviting Andres Metsoja to perform.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The rapporteur Andres Metsoja criticizes that the procedure for amending the constitution has become sport-like, that the draft by 61 MPs got off to a false start, and that the opposition was not involved at the initial stage, and asks why this is so and that it must not be a game.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that he may not be the most accurate interpreter, and the initiators can better explain why they limited themselves to coalition MPs and why broader involvement was left undecided, but the order of processing their two draft bills does not have substantive significance, and they are ready to process both of them together at the first reading, dispelling fears that the opposition would not support them.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairperson invited Helle-Moonika Helme onto the stage.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helme claims that restricting the right to vote to only Estonian citizens would be necessary so that citizens of aggressor states, such as Russia and Belarus, would not be able to vote in local elections, and he accuses the signatories of the Social Democrats and other draft bills of pursuing the interests of stateless people, which, in his view, threatens Estonia's security.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder urged members of the Riigikogu to grant a completely free mandate in order to achieve the best solution — the right to vote would belong only to Estonian citizens and stateless persons.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar thanks and asks Siim Pohlak to take the floor.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak stated that Estonia's national dignity requires that the decision-makers are Estonian citizens, and criticized the government's plan to strip grey-pass holders of the right to vote, calling on people to uphold national dignity and to support a bill according to which in the future only Estonian citizens will be able to vote.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder noted that this is an initiative by 61 members of the Riigikogu, not a government bill, and called on Riigikogu members to rise above day-to-day politics and vote in favor of a solution to the constitutional amendment issue that best serves Estonia's interests, emphasizing that this is a very serious and rarely taken step for the country's future.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, asked Kert Kingo to speak.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
In his speech, Kert Kingo pointed out that the bill presented by EKRE and Isamaa would grant voting and decision-making rights only to Estonian citizens to stateless persons, and he asked at the same time how such a regime is organized in Latvia and Lithuania and whether there the right is reserved for citizens only or also for those who do not want to take the citizenship of their country of residence and the loyalty oath.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder stressed that Estonia's experience in migration and citizenship issues is different from Latvia's experience and it is not reasonable to compare them directly, although the draft provides voting rights for third-country nationals under the relevant agreements, and the current situation, where there are about 130,000 Russian citizens and stateless persons, is not clear, transparent or understandable.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks Martin Helme.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme criticizes the coalition's crude and rushed solution, under which it is planned to elevate the voting rights of non-citizens to a constitutional level, which he regards as problematic in comparison with the issue of voting rights for Russian and Belarusian citizens, and notes that the opposition does not dare to vote merely for fear of being labeled, and asks the leader of the Isamaa faction for his view.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that the bill is like a Brezhnev package, combining two things – depriving Russian citizens, i.e., citizens of the aggressor state, of the right to vote, and the registration of voting rights for stateless persons – and these should be treated separately, because it is not good form; he hopes for the voice of reason and for the bill to be amended during the proceedings, which coalition MPs are currently discussing jointly and trying to revise.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked Heljo Pikhof to come.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof emphasizes that, compared with Latvia, there have been different situations in Estonia and Latvia in the past; she criticizes in the draft bill's explanatory memorandum that only three countries are mentioned and asks to list seven more countries; she highlights the existence of arguments for and against in the comparative analysis and asks whether the issue could be resolved at the level of some other law rather than by amending the constitution.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that for a constitutional amendment the most appropriate thing is to compare with the Latvian situation both in the context of 1992 and today, and between the two readings to perform a comparative analysis, involve experts, and attempt to merge the two draft bills, because they are small, but very important changes.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Andres Metsoja to speak.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Andres Metsoja stressed that a constitutional amendment must be very concrete, not abstract, because abstract wording leaves room for interpretation and can lead the Riigikogu's work in the wrong direction; therefore concreteness in the processing of draft bills 527 and 536 is essential.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that the ambiguous delegation of both draft bills is not a good solution and should be clarified during the course of the proceedings, and he stressed the importance of a thorough discussion of the explanatory memorandum and the feedback from experts, so that it would be understandable to citizens and to future generations.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller emphasized that the draft aims for those to be elected to be predominantly citizens of the Republic of Estonia, but EU citizens can be added later; he criticized the Social Democrats' rhetoric and the lack of comparative analysis, and asked whether adding EU citizens would make the draft better, the same, or worse.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks Arvo Aller to speak.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that for a good culture of lawmaking it is important that the explanatory memorandum would contain an analysis and that draft bills would be supplemented during the proceedings, and although adding the voting rights of European Union citizens to the constitution is not necessary, since it derives from the Lisbon Treaty and EU law, it could be considered in the interests of compromise, but he does not see any real need for it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar called on Rene Kokk to deliver a speech.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk expresses hope that coalition MPs will find their backbone and understand how audacious it is to add voting rights for stateless people to the constitution, and he draws attention to the fact that there are over 62,000 such people, many of whom have Russian citizenship and move freely within the European Union and in Russia, while asking what this optimism is actually based on with regard to the second draft.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Seeder claims that the loyalty of all third-country nationals must be taken into account, and if they threaten Estonia, they must not be granted the right to vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar invited Jaak Valge to speak.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge asks why previous integration projections did not come true, and whether the fault lay in left-wing assimilation concepts, or whether successful assimilation is truly impossible under mass immigration conditions.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The presentation notes that Estonia has made mistakes in integration and in promoting Estonian-language education, and motivation alone has not been enough; therefore it is time to apply a certain degree of legal coercion and to correct these mistakes at the present time.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairperson thanks and invites Varro Vooglaid to take the floor.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid said that although he agrees with the voting rights of citizens of the Republic of Estonia, he fears possible security risks of the draft bill and calls for a serious security-risk analysis to be carried out before the second reading, so that, as members of the Riigikogu, it would be clear what the bill's backing would actually entail.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Although there is no perfect and completely safe solution, and both options carry their own risks, in my view the positive effects are certainly greater; however, between the two readings of the constitutional amendment procedure, additional risk assessments must be carried out, because analyses by security agencies indicate risks concerning the voting rights of Russian citizens and stateless persons.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that, prior to the replacement of the meeting chair, the issue of the procedure for conducting the meeting would be discussed.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They stressed that when amending the constitution there must definitely be an impact assessment, and we must not allow it to proceed in such a way that someone makes one amendment and then the next one comes along, with a paragraph being changed to the next, and so on.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar says that he cannot read it right now.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
I am a hundred percent in agreement with Varro Vooglaid's analysis of security risks, and I believe that we should do it, and Mr. Seeder is also in agreement with it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stresses that the topic is not a procedural matter of conducting the meeting, but rather a stance that could be voiced in negotiations.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ants Frosch notes that an answer to his question was given via the supervisor's speech.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and draws attention to the questions, inviting Urmas Reinsalu to answer.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that Parliament has adopted the model proposed by Isamaa over several years, and he wants the presenter to provide a thorough overview of the turning-point moments, the hostage-crisis context, and the background of coalition negotiations in the summer of 2022, half a year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that although the question of amending the constitution has been a years-long debate and the coalition has had red lines, two draft bills have emerged, and he hopes that coalition members understand the interests of national defense and will vote accordingly.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the participants, praised their thorough knowledge and good preparation, and invited them to listen to the leading committee's discussion and the decisions taken, which are presented by the chairman of the Riigikogu Constitutional Committee, Hendrik Johannes Terras.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
The Commission discussed the draft and noted that its discussion overlaps with that of the previous draft; the voting rights of permanent residents and the issue of grey-passport holders were considered, and it was concluded that the discussion must be legal, not based on sentiment; a thorough approach based on the treaty was considered, and the draft was decided to be rejected, planning to meet with the Latvian Constitutional Committee.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chair thanks, says that there are also a few questions, and asks Rain Epler to come and answer.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asked what the committee's main argument for rejecting the draft was, and asked to open a discussion from that angle, pointing out that his party has publicly stressed that only Estonian citizens can vote in elections in Estonia.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras said that he does not support the continuation of voting rights for grey passport holders; in the committee, seven members supported its rejection and three were against, and in his view the current approach is better than the previous one, but to avoid confusion one of them should be kept for further proceedings.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi asks Siim Pohlaku to come and speak.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak, in his capacity as chair of the Constitutional Committee, asks whether national dignity is important, and which variant he prefers: that only Estonian citizens should be able to vote in elections, or in favor of the semi-soft variant.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras stressed the importance of national dignity, supported that those with a gray passport may not vote, and noted that 87 MPs support a ban on the voting rights of citizens of aggressor states, but the gray-passport issue divides opinions and the procedure is lengthy, to consult experts and move to the second reading.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
A plea is addressed to Heljo Pikhof in the speech.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof asks the chair of the Constitutional Committee whether a comparative analysis with pro and con arguments must accompany a constitutional amendment, how the changes could affect national security and the risks of removing voting rights from a group of people, and whether the committee plans to hear experts within the next three months and whether the experts' opinion will be decisive in making the decision.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Hendrik Johannes Terras noted that security agencies' threat assessments are accessible to all members of the Riigikogu, but preparing a comparative analysis of the draft is difficult because most of the information is classified, and compliance with the final recommendation depends on its content, and the decision is made in the Grand Hall at the next stage of the proceedings or based on the information provided.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, invites Urmas Reinsalu to speak.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that the two bills cannot be separated, and the coalition’s initial text, which could have found strong support in Parliament, was changed at the last moment by adding the voting rights of stateless persons, turning it into a hostage crisis, and he turned to Hendrik Johannes, asking whether, together, it is possible to release the Parliament from this hostage crisis and not move at the same pace as the Social Democrats’ withdrawal logic.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Thanks for that question, Urmas — I’m not sure whether this is the final version of the draft that was just approved, because one ministry and one legal and analytical department have pointed to some weak points, and therefore in the committee, where all Riigikogu factions are represented, the final wording must be reviewed so that it can receive the broadest possible support in the final vote, and I will certainly strive for that.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invites Arvo Aller onto the stage.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
According to Arvo Aller, the commission discussed two constitutional amendment proposals in parallel. The initiators were ready to negotiate the second item and, if necessary, withdraw it, if the agreement would restore the right to vote with a majority of 51 votes, but he did not hear that the coalition had taken this into account, and therefore he asked why the opportunity to terminate the first reading was not used and why both draft amendments were advanced equally in order to find the best option.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Hendrik Johannes Terras said that the record should be presented regarding the negotiations. He assumed that the coalition members on the commission had made it known, he took that into account, and he cannot speak about others because the final vote on the draft has not yet taken place. In the commission, each member made a decision according to the information that was distributed, and what happens next will be decided by the grand hall.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech contains a plea to invite Mart Maastikut to perform.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Maastik asks why there isn't an attempt to find common ground regarding the second bill presented by your coalition, considering that about 87 MPs are ready for it, and why not try the cooperation of the remaining factions and MPs to pass this law.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras notes that the amendment concerns the idea of removing the voting rights of citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus, not the backing of 86 deputies, and calls all parties to find broad-based common ground and to secure majority support within three months, considering possible solutions or the opinion of a constitutional law expert.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Varro Vooglaid to take the floor.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid asks for confirmation whether analyses conducted by security authorities state that preserving the right to elect local government councils in its current form constitutes a security threat, and that restricting it would not constitute a security threat, and additionally requests clarification and privately transmitted information about these analyses.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
He referred to the same hazard analysis to which Mr. Seeder referred, and said that if anyone describes it the way you are describing it now, that would not be true, and he is not sure whether he did it, and he promises to talk about it later.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asked Helle-Moonika Helme to take the floor.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme claims that the commission treated the draft bills 536 and 527 differently—leaving one in committee and the other for debate—although both carried the idea of taking away the voting rights of citizens of aggressor states, and she asks who wanted to treat them differently and whether that isn’t a political maneuver.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This speech is simply an expression of gratitude.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme asks whether anyone has been voted out of the proceedings.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
In the commission, the topic was discussed, and both pro and con arguments were presented; the minutes are accessible to everyone, and one of the arguments was that the restriction affects 70,000 people instead of 130,000, which is an important parameter.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, turned to Kalle Grünthal and asked him to come.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal asks why the Commission used the ultima ratio principle, even though there were other possible options.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The content of the speech is the question of why the ultima ratio principle was used.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
He simply says that he can't hear.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, asks to raise a point of order.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
They apologize and explain that they have a hearing impairment, and that with noise it is hard for them to understand.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
They ask for the microphone to be returned to Kalle Grünthal, so that Kalle can ask the same question.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal simply says "Okay," showing that he agrees.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
They briefly expressed thanks.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal asks why the Commission used the ultima ratio principle, even though there are escape routes available.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
They thank and apologize, saying that they are not familiar with the principle of Ultima Radio.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Kalle Grünthal to pose the second question.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal respectfully appeals to the Chairman of the Constitutional Committee and explains that "ultima ratio" means the last resort.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Hendrik Johannes Terras mentions 'ultima ratio' and adds that he heard the word 'radio'.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal emphasizes that when speaking from the pulpit about amending the Constitution, the chair of the Constitution Committee should know the basics, and asks why he doesn't know.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Hendrik Johannes Terras thanks you for the clarification and honestly admits that he misheard and thought they were talking about Ultima Radio and that it is some radio program.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He thanks you very much and asks you to invite Aivar Kokk to perform.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk said that we should learn from the experiences gained in Moldova and Georgia, discuss whether non-citizens should vote, referred to influence operations and to the neighbors' hundreds of millions in investments, and asked why the Commission does not support the opposition's proposed bill and is doing the work half-heartedly.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras said that the discussion focused on security risks and the Moldova and Georgia cases, and as an important argument was raised that citizens of the Russian Federation are loyal to Russia, but people with a grey passport have the Republic of Estonia written on their passport and therefore belong to us, and the final decision on whether to support the bill in the chamber depends on each committee member’s belief.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Kert Kingo to take the stage.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo asks the esteemed chairperson why the committee rejected this particularly good draft bill and whether the reason is that the draft bill does not grant voting rights to holders of the gray passport and therefore does not support the continuation of their voting rights.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
They said that they have already answered this question several times and cannot speak on behalf of all the members of the commission, because the members vote according to the discussion and their own consciences.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is merely a prayer addressed to Aivar Kokk.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk asks why the coalition does not allow the first reading of both bills to be completed, emphasizes accountability to the chair of the committee, and proposes merging these bills to take the best parts from them.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
They supported the idea of uniting them, emphasizing that in the committee and in the plenary hall every member has their own voice, and the decision is based on the information shared during the discussion, and we will see during this session how decisions are made in the plenary hall.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Mart Maastikut to take the floor.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The landscape asks how one should relate to compromises made in the name of the coalition and to going against one's conscience, when the proposed constitutional amendment could remain in force for a long time and restrict the right to vote to only citizens of the Republic of Estonia.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
He stressed that statesmanship does not consist solely in the voting rights of Estonian citizens, but also in shaping the voting rights of European Union citizens and of allies, in accordance with the treaties, and that it is important to find common ground and do what is feasible.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asked Rene Kokk to come and speak.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras confirmed that it must be done properly, noting that two draft bills are in the first reading stage (one completed, the other still in progress) and that involvement must be expanded, and amendment proposals can be submitted until January 20, after which, within a couple of months, a final decision will be made.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi, vice-chairman, thanked and said that there were no more questions, and Kert Kingo posed a question to the chair about the rules for conducting the session.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo expresses confusion and concern about the fact that the committee's rapporteur provides only an overview of the discussion and does not reveal the substance of the debate or the justification for the decisions, and asks whether the publication of the minutes would mean a new political culture.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi said that the topic has received sufficient and due attention, that the initiators’ presenter has thoroughly introduced the topic, that there have been many questions, and that this is a draft law to amend the Constitution, which is being discussed for the second time.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme thanks for taking the floor and admits that she did not want to lift a paw at all.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
They emphasize that a particular action is not mandatory.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme criticized the committee rapporteur's response and stressed that the public must know what the members of the committee said and how they voted on this draft during its consideration.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked a colleague, asked for clarification regarding who voted in the final vote and regarding the coalition's conduct, noted that he had not been on the Constitutional Committee and cannot adequately assess the rapporteur's account, emphasized that the Riigikogu's work must be efficient and that changes to the Constitution must be treated thoroughly, and finally addressed Kert Kingo's last procedural question.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo criticized the chairman of the Constitutional Committee's conduct, arguing that he does not provide an overview of the committee's discussions or the decisions made, and gives the impression that there is a lack of clarity between the chairman's leadership duties and those of the committee.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi said that Hendrik Johannes Terras would be able to handle the leadership of the committee well, noting that the minutes of the Constitutional Committee meeting are accessible to everyone and that, if necessary, one can see the exact words, and emphasized that the discussion should focus on the core issues, not on reading the minutes aloud.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They ask for more time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This speech concerns an eight-minute period.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets begins his speech, saying that first he would like to address the topic of non-citizens, and there is a buzz in the hall.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi asked to leave the room so that the Riigikogu session could take place and Mr. Poolamets could have his messages heard.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets argues that adding non-citizens' voting rights to the constitution is a matter of national security and the dignity of citizenship, which must be resolved through cross-party cooperation and thorough negotiations, because the voting rights of non-citizens are an extremely rare privilege in the world and must not be used as a signal to the Estonian state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
They expressed gratitude.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets said that there had been bold actions in the country, and now we too are worthy. Thank you.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that the committee had decided to shelve the draft (7 in favor, 3 against, 0 abstentions), and invited Raimond Kaljulaid to speak on behalf of the Social Democratic faction.
Raimond Kaljulaid
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Raimond Kaljulaid accuses Isamaa and EKRE of holding the Riigikogu hostage with his own draft bills, which, according to him, violate the Constitution and the voting rights in local government elections, and stresses that the Social Democrats' coalition draft bill is in line with Isamaa's program, also referring to historical attempts to change Tallinn's election laws.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi confirms that it is possible to get three more minutes.
Raimond Kaljulaid
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Raimond Kaljulaid claims that changing Tallinn's election rules and increasing the size of the city council were aimed at improving the Centre Party's results, and although the path of legal nihilism proposed by Isamaa might initially seem suitable, the actual outcome would probably be the opposite, and the Social Democrats do not want that.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Madis Timpson thanks from the bottom of his heart and represents the Reformierakonna faction.
Madis Timpson
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Timpson thanked and praised the Isamaa party for their bill, but stressed the need for a single constitutional amendment bill, and the Reformierakond faction supported the Constitutional Committee's proposal to reject this bill at its first reading.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi gave Urmas Reinsalu eight minutes of extra time on behalf of the Isamaa faction.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Isamaa submitted a draft constitutional amendment to restrict the right to vote in local elections to Estonian citizens, to seek substance and common ground with the coalition, and to request that the proceedings continue and not extend the right to vote to stateless persons, emphasizing that national interests and the Estonian legal order require a clear decision at this time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the listeners.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu calls for using the allotted time, Isamaa contributes to the work and ends this debate.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech contained only words of thanks.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
He emphasized that dealing with day-to-day political agreements to keep the governing coalition together is too serious a matter.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi recommended that you first listen to the factions' speeches, because Isamaa may be mentioned several times in the following speeches, and then there will be one rebuttal speech to everyone.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev asks for three more minutes and then to add something as well.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asked for three more minutes at the outset.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev spoke out against the draft bill, which would deprive long-term residents of the right to vote solely on the basis of their passport, seeing it as a risk to democracy and security, and calling on people to uphold the Constitution and social cohesion.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi announced that the factions no longer wish to take the floor, and we will move on to reply speeches; the first to register a reply speech on behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction was Raimond Kaljulaid.
Raimond Kaljulaid
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Raimond Kaljulaid rejected the accusation that the Social Democrats were dragging their feet, and said that, in fact, it had been Isamaa who had been dragging its feet, while the coalition had quickly drafted a proper constitutional amendment bill that meets all the requirements.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
On behalf of the Isamaa faction, a response speech is submitted, which will be delivered by Helir-Valdor Seeder.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder thanks his young colleague for his energetic speech, reminds us that the discussion of history is not final and the process is long, that we have submitted a draft bill twice, and emphasizes that in 1939–1940 the independence of the Estonian state was being sown mainly in the minds of the Social Democrats, and that he does not want history to repeat itself.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
At the outset of the speech, great thanks are expressed, and on behalf of the EKRE faction, Anti Poolamets is asked to deliver a reply speech.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets urged the Social Democrats to stand up for the voting rights of non-citizens in principle and, if necessary, to leave the coalition in order to bring this to the constitutional level and to stand up for the holders of the gray passport to the very end.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi ended the negotiations, noting that only factions participate and that on behalf of a faction only one person may speak, praised Helir-Valdor Seeder's rebuttal, and promised to find a solution, posing two questions to the chair, with Seeder speaking first.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder noted that under the rules of procedure, a draft bill by 61 MPs can only be joined through the merging of bills, and a representative of the Reform Party urged the members and stated that they could support the processing of both draft bills, because otherwise it would not be possible.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi confirmed that this was a procedural matter and that it is no longer possible to join with the initiators.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu emphasizes that the dynamics of the session are based on law and dialogue, and Parliament must now decide quickly and clearly on the continuation of Isamaa's bills initiated after Russia's aggression — the confiscation of weapons from Russian citizens and the restriction of voting rights in local elections — because two and a half years of debate have brought a turning point, and the follow-up work must be carried out more quickly.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi confirmed that the initiative would finally be written into law, recalled the goal from two years ago and promised to address two questions, and noted that although a debate may arise, an effort will be made to maintain balance by addressing the question of the rules for holding the session.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev pointed out that the procedural question related to conducting the meeting actually turned out not to be a procedural question, because Urmas Reinsalu was given eight minutes and forty seconds, and the discussion was not actually a procedural question, but to present his ideas.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi explained that he adheres to politeness, does not push anyone out, and if time runs over, he first says “Thank you!”, and that the raising of the black hand does not reveal the content of the question before the speaker, and he added that the steering committee wishes to shelve the draft bill 527 at the first reading and asked Lauri Laats to begin preparations for a vote.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats announced that the Centre Party faction wants a ten-minute recess before the vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speaker understands the listeners' hesitation and announces a ten-minute break.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Dear colleagues, the recess has ended and we will resume the meeting; the lead committee has proposed to reject Bill 527 on its first reading, and I will put this proposal to a vote — please take a position and vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
54 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of this proposal, 24 were against, 0 abstained, and Draft Bill 527 has been rejected and withdrawn from the proceedings.