Values-based policy
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2024-12-04 14:31
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 17
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 13m
AI Summaries: 17/17 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The discussion of the third question focused on value-based policy and the question of the course of Estonian foreign policy and general security concerns. Member of the Riigikogu Riina Solman posed a question to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, asking whether the government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs had changed their foreign policy course and whether the prevailing values had risen to a new level in connection with events in the Middle East and the situation in Israel, and UN votes. A recurring theme was Estonia's journey in the context of relations with the USA and Great Britain, and whether Estonia's involvement and interpretation of statements might affect the safety of Estonia's Jewish community and general security interests.
In the second part, the discussion continued on the topic of the state's ownership role and the attitude of the management of Eesti Energia; the questions focused on the transparency of fuel transactions, a potential criminal investigation, and the roles of the Prosecutor's Office and the Environmental Agency. Thirdly, the health effects of wind turbines came onto the agenda – infrasound and low-frequency noise lacking modern standards, and why wind farms are being built before certain safety requirements are met. The session ended with procedural questions and a discussion between the chair and the questioners, in which the importance of unity and respect in debate was emphasized. In summary, it was an overview of value-based policy and the state's actions, the ultimate result of which was not to adopt specific decisions, but to find a promise to convey feedback with conclusions and references.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Riina Solman (right). She raised fresh questions and led the discussion during the third question, and her role was primarily representing a questioning position in the Riigikogu.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Riina Solman, a member of the Riigikogu, poses the third question to Prime Minister Kristen Michal on the topic of value-based policy.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman asks whether the Estonian government and the foreign minister have changed their foreign policy course and the existing values in connection with events in the Middle East and in Israel, and whether this has been reflected in UN votes in 2023 and 2024, and whether such a direction threatens the security of our Jewish community and Estonia's security.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal answered that yes, we admit it, and that the answer regarding changing the current values is no.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, presents a clarifying question to Riina Solman.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman asks how the government’s value-based policy fits with the state threatening to criminally investigate Eesti Energia’s executives in connection with derivative transactions, while the finance minister, as the owner’s representative and the general meeting, deny responsibility for these transactions.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that in the case of Eesti Energia there have been mistakes in meeting environmental requirements and in the transmission of information, which must be thoroughly reviewed and corrected, the responsibility clearly identified, and the Public Prosecutor's Office together with the Environmental Agency will decide whether to initiate proceedings, while the state-owned company can continue its work.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks and announces that an extra question will come from the window-side row and asks Kalle Grünthal to present the question.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal emphasizes that value-based policy must focus on people's health, points out that in Estonia there are no standards for regulating infrasonic and low-frequency noise produced by wind turbines, and studies show these health risks, and he asks why wind turbines are being built without these standards.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the answers exist, and promised to send written references and a more detailed overview of the noise level standards for all artificial objects.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Lauri Hussar thanks and asks the prime minister.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, ends today’s discussion of the third question and, before moving on to the fourth question, asks Riina Solman to raise her hand and pose a question related to the procedure for conducting the meeting.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman complained that the Riigikogu’s rules of procedure hinder her, and she asked for one extra minute to clarify why Estonia has changed its foreign policy course, and noted that the prime minister answered only with a yes- or no-word, referring to ERR’s AK news, where it was said that Eesti Energia’s former leaders were threatened with a criminal investigation by a state representative, Rainer Vakra.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stressed the importance of respectful conduct throughout the chamber, and that one must not interrupt during the questions asked by either the questioners or the respondents; he explained the difference between yes/no questions (kas-küsimused, yes/no) and open-ended questions, and he affirmed that security topics may still be raised in the discussion, and that the factions also have the opportunity to pose questions.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal raised the question of why infrasound safety is not yet clear and the documents are being worked on at the Ministry of Climate, while wind farms are already being erected before the final determination of safety requirements.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, explained that the rules of the information hour and his role do not allow him to predefine how ministers will respond on the topics, and as long as the questions, answers and ministers stay on topic, the chair cannot intervene in the discussion; he noted that we have 11 questions and that using excessive procedural time reduces the number of those asking questions, and he asked Kalle Grünthal to submit one more procedural question for the next round.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The chair of the meeting must ensure that the respondent answers the question posed by the questioner, and if the respondent deviates from it, the chair has the right to grant the minister additional time to answer.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked a colleague, but added that RKKTS has not defined the situation in such a form, and as long as the ministers stay on topic, the chair of the meeting will not intervene.