Draft law amending the Act on the Status of a Member of the Riigikogu (545 SE) - first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th sitting, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-12-09 17:13
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 12
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 19m
AI Summaries: 12/12 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Draft law 545 for amending the Act on the Status of a Member of the Riigikogu was discussed at first reading. The initiators of the draft are Lauri Hussar (Speaker of the Riigikogu), Toomas Kivimägi, Arvo Aller, and representatives of the factions—Eesti 200, the Social Democratic Party, the Reform Party, and EKRE. The purpose is to reduce state costs associated with reimbursing expenses for the work of a Member of the Riigikogu, by setting a limit at 25% of the official salary. The justification given was the need for cost savings in the public sector and to demonstrate solidarity with society in the context of difficult times. It was acknowledged that the change will maintain the Riigikogu’s working capacity and constitutional functions and will enable the state to save approximately 400,000 euros per year.
The second paragraph described the technical and political background of the draft: collaboration between four factions and plans for further steps, including ideas for differentiation based on place of residence and improving the transparency of government representation expenses. The main focus of the discussion was the actual costs of expense reimbursements and their distribution, the deadline for submitting amendments, and the impact of the draft on the structure of the state budget. In addition, the repair fund and residual amounts reverting to the state budget were considered, as well as avoiding questions from the floor to the presenter to ensure the greatest possible agreement to promote solidarity. Finally, the conclusion of the first reading and the deadline for submitting amendments were set for December 11th at 4:00 PM, taking into account that the law must come into force on January 1st.
Decisions Made 1
The proposal by the Steering Committee to conclude the first reading of bill 545 was approved. Additionally, the deadline for submitting amendments was set for December 11th at 16:00, so that the bill would come into force at the beginning of the new year.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker has been Member of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar (Chairman of the Riigikogu, Reform Party). Position: right-wing (clearly right-leaning political orientation). Hussar led the discussion on the first reading, introduced amendments, and emphasized solidarity and the importance of fiscal savings in the state budget. His participation in the discussion was noticeably greater than that of the other representatives.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu proceeds to today’s agenda and the first reading of Draft Law No. 545 on amendments to the Act on the Status of a Member of the Riigikogu will be held, initiated by Riigikogu members Lauri Hussar, Toomas Kivimägi and Arvo Alleri, and by the Eesti 200 faction, the Social Democratic Party faction, the Reform Party faction and the Conservative People's Party of Estonia faction, and the honorable Lauri Hussar is asked to present the report.
Lauri Hussar
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Lauri Hussar presented a draft bill to reduce the cap on reimbursements for work-related expenses of Riigikogu members, under which the cap would drop to 25%, and with which the state could save approximately 400,000 euros per year, while the ability to work and the fulfillment of constitutional duties would be preserved, and this is a sign of solidarity.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanks everyone and asks Mario Kadastik to take the floor.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They ask whether this cut is actually a cut to the renovation fund, because most Riigikogu members do not use expense allowances and the surplus goes to the renovation fund, and whether, in this form, it is really possible to achieve savings.
Lauri Hussar
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Lauri Hussar said that this year will bring a substantial amount to the Estonian Parliament's budget for renovating the building, and that due to the tight financial situation the remaining balance of the Estonian Parliament members' travel allowances was returned to the state budget, and once the bill comes into force next year it will bring a clear saving and improve the structural balance of the state budget.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks and says that there are no questions, and asks the chairman of the Constitutional Committee, Hendrik Johannes Terras, to present the discussion and the positions.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
The committee that discussed the Riigikogu’s expense reimbursements stressed that, with a 2.2 million euro budget, about 600,000 of the annual expense reimbursements amount will remain unused, and the largest expense categories are travel costs and representation and reception costs, and it was decided to end the first reading and to set the deadline for amendments at 11 December at 17:15, so that the new regime would take effect on 1 January next year with the coming year’s savings.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi proclaims the start of negotiations on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction; Lauri Laats requests extra time, and eight minutes are granted.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
This speech notes that today’s draft bill is a small step in the right direction, but incomplete and in need of a holistic approach, which would tie Riigikogu members’ salaries and expense allowances to the work performed and would increase the transparency of the government’s representational costs, and the Centre Party faction has submitted to it additional draft bills and amendments, which are hoped to be adopted in Thursday’s proceedings.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks you and represents the Eesti 200 faction at Marek Reinaas's request.
Marek Reinaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Marek Reinaas said that the reduction of travel allowances is a sign of solidarity and a necessary step during the state’s tight budgetary conditions; although Eesti 200 would have liked to reduce it by half, the four-faction agreement is to reduce it by one sixth, and he invites all members of the Riigikogu to vote in favor of this bill, emphasizing the importance of the elder-council format in promoting cooperation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Thank you very much; I am closing the negotiations: the first reading of Draft Bill 545 has been completed, and the deadline for submitting amendments is December 11 at 16:00 (not 17:15 as the chair of the committee mentioned); we have completed the consideration of the first item on the agenda.