Suffrage
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2024-12-04 15:33
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 11m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today's session focused on the topic of suffrage, specifically the question of granting voting rights to holders of a grey passport in local elections and the associated security and integration issues. The question, presented by Riigikogu member Vadim Belobrovtsev to Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets, also addressed the impact of coalition agreements and the planned constitutional amendments, and to what extent and for whom these amendments should actually apply. Discussions related to the topic also included assessments from the Security Police and Protection Police, and the government's compromise, which remains a coalition agreement and attempts to balance security and democratic right. The debate ended with a general consensus, or rather a lack of decisions, and concluded by emphasizing that every discussion is important as a minimum requirement, and that agreements within the coalition are still in the process.
Decisions Made 1
No final legislation or decisions were made; the session focused on questions and answers, where coalition agreements and security assessments affirmed the necessity of a corresponding border and compromises, but the deciding changes could not yet be adopted.
Most Active Speaker
The most active politician has been Vadim Belobrovtsev, a member of the Riigikogu; alongside him, a significant role has been played in the discussion concerning questions related to suffrage and security. His position card is “other” (lacking a specific party label or having been withheld), but he has noticeably played a leading role and posed overview and clarifying questions that directed the debate.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
A member of the Riigikogu, Vadim Belobrovtsev, asks Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets about voting rights.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev asks the interior minister whether he truly sees Isamaa's alleged interference in elections and the exclusion of one voter group as a threat to Estonia's security, and emphasizes that although the Social Democrats do not support it, they are nevertheless part of it.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Lauri Läänemets stresses that the government agreement concerns not only a large number of people but as many as 150,000 people; gray-passport holders may not be barred from voting in local elections; that the compromise is better for security reasons than taking away the rights of 150,000 people; and that gray-passport holders do not automatically have citizenship and should not be labeled as a group; if someone poses a direct security threat, there are Estonian laws for that.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman thanked and asked Vadim Belobrovtsev to pose a clarifying question.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
To reassure about the certainty that gray-passport holders retain the right to vote in local elections, a direct question is posed as to whether this principle will endure and whether the Social Democratic Party will vote against if the constitution is hastily amended to strip gray-passport holders of their voting rights.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
In the Riigikogu, Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that he would not make any more promises, stressed the Social Democrats’ position that those involved in security issues or Putin‑leaning, as well as Russian or Belarusian citizens, should not participate in local elections, and stated that regarding the voting rights of grey-passport holders the coalition agreement remains in force and there is no plan for a compromise in this regard.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and asks Vladimir Arhipov to present an additional question.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov asks whether disenfranchised people still belong to that society we must integrate into and for whose sake we stand as a united fist against the enemy, or what is this society that you call on us to be together in?
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets emphasizes that social integration is a security issue, and as a compromise, participation in local elections should be restricted for non-citizens—primarily those who are Putin-loyal or do not acknowledge the independence of the Republic of Estonia—and questions of integration fall within the purview of the Minister of Culture.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Many thanks to all colleagues: to conclude today’s eighth question, the ministers have answered at least twice, and the questions have been well distributed among the government members.