Third reading of the draft law on the 2025 state budget (513 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary session
Date: 2024-12-11 17:42
Total Speeches: 169
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 2h 56m
AI Summaries: 169/169 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The fifth agenda item concerned the 513rd third reading of the draft State Budget Act for 2025 initiated by the Government of the Republic. A presentation was given by the Chairman of the Riigikogu Finance Committee, Annely Akkermann; the discussion focused on the main financial data, the budget structure, and the financing of state security and social mechanisms. The budget revenues are €17.7 billion and the expenditures are €18.2 billion, investments grew by 9.4%, and the tax burden as a percentage of GDP is 35.8%. Economic growth is projected at a nominal 6–7% and, with the support of external funding and loans, the state plans to add significant resources for both the defense industry and infrastructure. Another important topic was the increase in the state's defense expenditure (9.3%), the needs of NATO and security prominents, and the corresponding tax and financial policy, including a plan to partially add security taxes. In addition, emphasis was placed on the continuation of aid to Ukraine and the overall growth of social expenditures (7.6%), which constitutes a significant portion of the state's expenditure distribution. Several amendments were submitted during the committee's work, including proposals from the Centre Party and Isamaa faction, but they were not adopted because they did not meet the formal requirements of the paragraph and the law. Finally, it was decided to put the draft to a final vote of the plenary session; before the vote, several substantive and procedural issues were discussed and a multi-part amendment was jointly prepared with clarification between the Ministry of Finance and the ministries. The final vote on the draft led to the adoption of the law.
Decisions Made 1
The proposal to interrupt the third reading, presented by the Centre Party faction, was rejected by the Finance Committee's position (voting result: 29 in favor, 56 against). Subsequently, bill 513 was put to a final vote; 56 voted in favor, 29 against; there were no abstentions. Bill 513 was passed as a law.
Most Active Speaker
Annely Akkermann – Chairman of the Estonian Parliament’s Finance Committee; position: right-wing (right-leaning), leading figure in budget discussions and presentations.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The fifth item on the agenda will address the third reading of the draft 2025 State Budget Act No. 513, and the presentation will be delivered by Annely Akkermann, the chair of the Riigikogu Finance Committee.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They apologized and said that they have to go back to their chair for a moment, because a few sticky notes fell off.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
They noted that time is running and this is a moment of silence.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann's speech at the third reading confirmed the 2025 state budget, whose revenues are 17.7 billion euros, expenditures 18.2 billion (investments 0.9 billion), tax burden 35.8% of GDP, and stressed the strengthening of national defense and security, the continuation of aid to Ukraine, growth in social and educational expenditures, and the avoidance of an additional increase in the alcohol tax, as well as the preparation of the 2026 budget.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller notes that the participants are completely on time and they have questions, and asks Aleksandr Chaplygin to present them.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They ask whether increasing the tax burden by 0.7% next year will bring 900 million euros in additional revenue, and whether tax increases really increase budget expenditures, because due to inflation companies may reduce production and people may buy less, and tax revenues may halve.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He said that tax increases could reduce tax revenue, as the alcohol excise tax increase showed a few years ago, when people drove to Latvia because of the taxes, but current forecasts anticipate tax revenue collection and expect nominal economic growth and lower inflation, which could bring real economic growth by the end of the year.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller turned to Vladimir Arhipov and asked him.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov raised the issue that the state sold Operail together with the infrastructure for 19 million, asking whether this amount had already been provided for in the budget and where it would be allocated, and whether the money could be directed to increasing the salaries of employees of Eesti Raudtee and Elron.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann said that in the 2025 budget she did not notice that this sales revenue had been accounted for there, she does not know the details of the transaction, and perhaps it will be received as early as 2024, so she still owes an answer.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Lauri Laats to come on stage.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats thanked the chair of the meeting and noted that the Centre Party faction's amendment proposals did not pass, brought up Lauri Läänemetsa's bank tax comment that had been cited in Postimees, and asked whether the audience shared the same position and whether next year people's livelihoods would improve or worsen, as some analysts have noted.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann says that a bank tax does not justify itself, because banks' profits largely come from the pockets of Estonian borrowers, and the tax would harm domestic and rapidly developing banks, although she views the development of the economy and taxation as generally positive, and emphasizes that there are also other values.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller offered a brief prayer, addressing Alexander Chaplygin.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They claim that Scandinavian banks take Estonia's profits out of the country and do not lend to companies, and ask why the budget was drawn up based on a questionable forecast of economic growth that experts and entrepreneurs do not believe.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann explains that the budget is prepared on the basis of the Ministry of Finance's forecasts: the spring forecast sets the general directions, the summer economic forecast clarifies the current year's outlook, and there is no better source of data than these forecasts, therefore politicians must not add revenue to the forecast or reduce it from it, but revenue must be planned on the basis of the economic forecast.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Vladimir Arhipov to speak.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov said that he cannot vote for the law because it originates from a tax relief and worsens people's situation; the draft Waste Act will bring two new taxes and an increase in existing pollution costs by up to 300%, therefore the tax rally will continue and he does not support it, while asking at the same time how this law will affect the Estonian economy and what measures for stimulating the economy the budget foresees.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann notes that the growth of the tax burden as a share of GDP is 0.7%, which raises the question whether this is an upturn, and explains that the budget includes a billion in additional taxes, which are financed with 1.7 billion from external funds and 0.7 billion as a loan, and directing the money back into state expenditures highlights the inflation debate and the question of whether economic growth is brought about by the budget, namely nominally or in real terms, and whether CPI-related costs could trigger a spiral.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Andrei Korobeinik to speak.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrei Korobeinik thanked the chair of the meeting and asked Annely how much the state will raise taxes next year (whether more than or less than five percent), and how this relates to the tax environment's predetermined nature and whether the state's behavior in this regard remains predictable.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann said that the tax burden has risen and many increases are associated with inflation, citing the alcohol excise tax as an example, which has lagged behind the cost of living, and cheap vodka costs the equivalent of a minimum wage, significantly more than ten years ago, so some tax increases are a catch-up to inflation, not a sprint.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Lauri Laatsi to come onto the stage.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats notes that although EURIBOR is falling and this brings relief, it will not spur economic growth, and according to experts, there may be a tax increase next year, and for many people the ability to make ends meet will deteriorate, which raises the question of whether life will improve or poverty will spread.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
He called on the listeners to act, saying that their time had come.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
One last question: is the tax burden so important that we lose it in 2026 and then raise it again.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
That was a very short speech that expressed only gratitude.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speech discussed which different taxes accompany its abolition.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann notes that in the budget for next year the most negative thing is that the tax shield was not removed, because if it had been removed the picture would be different, but a decline in interest rates would support economic growth, and she agrees with Raul Eamets' assertion that removing the tax shield would have meant a very large tax cut for the coming year, but this has been postponed and that is a pity.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker raised the question of why banks enjoy 18% advance income tax reliefs, while companies and individuals are taxed at 22% and the 14% taxation of dividends has been abolished.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asked Anastassia Kovalenko-Kolvart to come and speak.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann says that the banks’ upfront 18% income tax is not a subsidy, because they pay the income immediately and can deduct it before dividends are withdrawn, whereas other companies for years have used undistributed profits and unpaid income tax to grow businesses, which is the cornerstone of Estonia’s business competitiveness and makes the tax system very simple.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asked Aleksei Jevgrafovi to take the floor.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
According to Aleksei Jevgrafov, tax increases reduce consumption and the sales and profits of companies, and they may reduce investments, salaries, or services, and exporting companies may start looking for regions with lower tax burdens, which harms the country's economy and the number of jobs, and he asks why this path and this tax race were chosen?
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann notes that a 0.7 percentage-point tax increase is not an exceptional rally, and although next year one billion euros more will be collected from taxes, 2.5 times as much money will be directed into the economy. However, the economy is always emotional and the numbers do not describe the whole picture.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
During the speech, Andrei Korobeinik is asked to come onto the stage.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrei Korobeinik notes that the "tax rally" is not the best name, and the government's tax policy more closely resembles a tax orgy, and asks why the 8% tax relief for banks remained, even though the changes to the advance tax and to corporate income tax and profit tax took effect.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The central message of the speech is 'Your time' — now it's your turn to act.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann criticizes the dividend tax relief, particularly the 14% relief, and says that it encourages living off dividends instead of a salary, and she has not found any justification for this provision.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Lauri Laats asked the chair of the session a question.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasized procedural clarity and asked whether the promise to eliminate the tax wedge is the root cause of tax increases, and how the bank tax and base interest rates affect banks' return on equity and loan interest rates, and he awaited colleagues' opinion that the reading of the meeting minutes and the budget could proceed.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller thanked the questioner for the question, noting that the procedure was different and that he cannot say what the rapporteur thinks, and that the discussions remained with the committee; he asked Helle-Moonika Helme to take the floor.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme claims that Kaja Kallas signed a unilateral and unconditional cooperation agreement between Estonia and Ukraine, the obligation of which is to provide annually 0.25% of GDP (about 100 million euros) to Ukraine for ten years, and she calls for withdrawing from this agreement and setting priorities, because the state needs money for internal priorities, such as preserving the Vana-Vigala school, especially in the context of the currently increased aid.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speech emphasizes that now is your time to act and to seize your opportunities.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme asks whether a billion will be spent over ten years to meet the needs of the Estonian people.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Akkermann notes that aid to Ukraine needs to be discussed at a separate plenary session, because the state budget ties tens of thousands of jobs and does not allow funding piecemeal, and although aiding Ukraine and the Estonian Vocational Education Center cannot be compared in terms of scale, this topic must be discussed thoroughly.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Aleksei Yevgrafov to take the floor.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They emphasize that due to large or sudden tax increases there is uncertainty in the economy and investments may slow down, and they ask whether the state budget and the latest tax increases promote attracting Ida-Viru County companies or have the opposite effect.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann said that Estonia's competitiveness is being maintained by tracking data from other countries based on COFOG expenditure classifications and the tax systems of OECD member countries, and by comparing the tax level, which stands at 35.8% and is among the EU's lower third; and although tax reforms are never good, an effort is being made to keep a competitive tax system and an investment-attracting environment for foreign and international companies.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This speech is simply a plea to invite Kalle Grünthal to perform.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal compares driving a car with ruling a country and states that, just as in a car the driving methods are more important than the details, so too in governance — if the basic principles of taxation and economists' advice are ignored, Estonia's economy will end up in the ditch.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Estonia's economy isn't in the ditch; exports are growing and the economy is picking up, and we are climbing out of the ditch.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Evelin Poolametsa to speak.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets emphasizes that the loan is taken mainly for the costs of weapons, ammunition, and internal security, and asks whether the total cost of this loan and the security tax will go to defending Ukraine or to our own defense.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The report explains how defense spending is assessed according to different methods (COFOG, NATO and the Ministry of Defence budget). It ranges from about €1.4–1.7 billion and accounts for 3.3–3.5% of GDP, and shows that, instead of the allowed 2%, 3.5% is kept, which creates a significant difference and depends on the methodology and timing.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller invites Helle-Moonika Helme onto the stage.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They emphasize that assisting Ukraine should be part of a broader discussion, and 100 million euros of taxpayers' money could stay in Estonia and be used for the benefit of the Estonian people, for example by preserving rural schools and avoiding doctor visit fees and VAT increases.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
"Your time!" indicates that it is now your turn to act.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The money would stay in Estonia and boost our economy — that would be sensible.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann praises Kaja Kallas's excellent work in consolidating European and NATO unity for the defense of Ukraine, and regards naming her as the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy as a great recognition for Estonia, noting at the same time that Estonia's economy is small and, therefore, it is important that others contribute as much as we do.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller asks Kert Kingo to come.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo said that Estonia has given Ukraine 542 million euros in military aid, 100 million euros per year, has participated in Ukraine's reconstruction and in securing its energy supply, and donated 400,000 euros to Ukraine's energy-support fund, but criticized the government, which claims a budget deficit and burdens citizens with cuts to taxes and family benefits, emphasizing that the state's primary duty is to defend its people and its country.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann emphasizes that Estonia will receive 1.7 billion euros in foreign aid and will help Ukraine, being proud of it and reminding that about 60% of GDP will be spent on Ukraine's defense, and that this is not a burden, because we have the capacity to receive even larger foreign aid.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal claimed that the Estonian economy is in the ditch, and asked Annely Akkermann whether she agrees with this and whether she shares Peeter Tali's assertion that the Estonian people have never lived as well as they do now.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks that Kalle Grünthal take the floor.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann confirms that even her 94-year-old grandmother, who spent the last years in the restored Republic of Estonia, said that Estonia has never been as well as it is now, and her grandmother also taught her that one should not offend anyone.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Kalle Grünthal submitted a question to the chair of the meeting.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal asks whether one agrees with Peeter Tali's claim that people in Estonia have never lived so well, and asks the presenter to answer his question, not his grandmother's opinion.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
This speech is nothing more than an example of approval, and it lacks a clear message.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller apologized to the presenter and said that if the next answer can be linked to the answer given to Kalle Grünthal, he couldn't say whether the presenter answered in his own words or whether his answer came through the words of his ancestors, and he asked Helir-Valdor Seeder.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder raises the issue that taxes in Estonia are rising to record-high levels and that the budget lacks a clear aim and priority, and he asks exactly how much funding for public transport subsidies was found for the coming year and on which line in the budget it is reflected, since clarity was promised for the third reading.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann notes that she did not notice any amendments to the draft bill, discusses budget priorities (an increase in defense spending and the growth of social spending and pensions), and concludes that Estonia has never lived as well as it does now.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invited Siim Pohlak to speak.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak emphasizes that although some say that life in Estonia has been better in the past, a large portion of people in recent years have lived harder and more expensively, and there are greater economic concerns ahead because of the budget and tax increases.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The presentation emphasizes that a person's well-being is highly individual, and although pensions and salaries have risen and in the countryside people have hobbies and gardens, this does not apply to everyone – how each person arranges their life determines whether things go well or badly.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Lauri Laats posed a question to the chair of the meeting.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats poses a critical question: does the statement "The Estonian people live better than ever before" reflect reality, and how does this affect those who have nothing to eat, and will the economy improve in the near future.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller noted that the procedure has gone too far again, and the presenter expressed his opinion; part of it has certainly been discussed in the committee. He noted that personal experiences have been brought up here before as well, and he invited Kert King to speak.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo presented criticism, asking whether Estonia has ever lived as well as it does now, what those living in poverty feel, and where the 1.7 billion in foreign aid went, noting that poverty is growing and aid is not reaching people.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann emphasizes that the budget reflects the use of 1.7 billion in external funds and that social expenditures are rising faster than general expenditures (3.8% vs 7.6%), and that although some are doing well, others are not, because every person is unique with their own problems, income, health, mood, and support system.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is a short request to invite Siim Pohlak to perform.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak asks the chair of the Finance Committee whether the lives of Estonian people are better than ever before or not, and what he would recommend to those who are not faring well at the moment, and how they can improve their ability to cope.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
As the chair of the Finance Committee, I see that social spending in the budget is rising by 7.6%, and through them those in need are supported, with almost half of the tax revenue going to social expenditures.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is a short plea to give Aivar Kokk the floor.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk highlighted a contradiction: although the growth of social expenditures causes difficulties for people, a Social Democrat minister is seeking 46 million euros in additional funding for public transport, while the state budget foresees 6 million euros in cuts to that funding.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speech emphasizes that now is your time to act.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
We discussed it while preparing for the second reading; I don't have any additional information about it, and I think the answer came from the minister himself.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller asks Urmas Reinsalu to speak.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that next year there will be a tax increase in the Reform Party's tax year exceeding one billion euros, and the actual saving in government administration costs compared to 2024 will not materialize; the budget for defense-specific equipment will be cut by 96 million euros, and he asks how large the real impact of tax increases and price increases is on the real income of a person earning an average wage and on the real income of a pensioner receiving the average pension.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Depending on consumption patterns, the impact of taxes and foreign aid on each person varies greatly, because the rise in alcohol and tobacco excise duties and in value-added tax affects everyone, but some people do not consume these goods, and although a billion in taxes is collected from the economy, an additional 2.5 billion in foreign aid and loans is added to it.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Aivar Kokk onto the stage.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk asks how much these ten taxes actually affect the average-wage earner and the person on below-average pensions, and whether they explain the claim that Estonia is, after Denmark, the European Union country with the highest food prices.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He emphasizes that taxes account for about 0.7% of GDP (roughly 1 billion euros) and are divided among ten taxes, spreading across different types of housing and consumer behavior, and he does not attempt to predict an individual's behavior or place anyone under a very heavy burden.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller invited Urmas Reinsalu to speak.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu says that tax policy hits the lowest-income people hardest, including families with children, the elderly, and residents of rural areas, and he demands a concrete explanation of how much net income of the lowest-income brackets is lost due to indirect taxes.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann said that in the budget document for the third reading this revenue line is missing; she does not remember it and does not have it with her, and probably Aivar Kokk will bring it up in his speech.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speech begins with inviting Evelin Poolametsa onto the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asked the chair of the meeting a question about how much in subsidies is planned to be paid to renewable energy producers next year, referring to the roughly 75.6 million euros paid last year (2023).
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He apologized and said that he didn't have an answer off the top of his head.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chair, Arvo Aller, closes the questions and notes that Helir-Valdor Seedri is presenting a question to the chair of the session, and thanks the presenter.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder highlighted a situation in which the presenter delegated the answer to Urmas Reinsalu's question to Aivar Kokk and promised that Kokk would answer in his own speech, and, as the chair, asked how to resolve this and whether Kokk has authorization for it.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller explains that the previous speaker did not set the speaking order, but only knew that Aivar Kokk is a member of the Finance Committee and has information, and if you have Urmas Reinsalu's speech, he can cover it there, but you must clarify this with the presenter.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu notes a paradoxical situation in which tax hikes are being reduced for the coming year, but there are no concrete examples of the impact on net income and an analysis, and he points out that Aivar Kokk knows the answer.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is simply a thank-you note.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu asks who to turn to for answers during the three budget readings and what the real impacts are on people's ability to make ends meet and on their incomes across different population groups.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller said that the materials have been distributed equally to everyone, no one yet knows the answers, and during the debate it will be necessary to clarify where these numbers are located.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart pointed out that the chair of the Finance Committee proposed that one committee member could ask questions in his speech and obtain answers to them, and that the committee could, right now, formulate a decision by which Aivar Kokk would represent the Finance Committee in negotiations and would obtain answers to those questions.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The report emphasizes that appointing a representative of the Finance Committee is the committee's own initiative, and the chair cannot arrange this separately; if the committee comes up with an idea, they may express it here, and the committee's representative may give a speech.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasized that the participation of committee members is important for the negotiations, and proposed that the chair call an extraordinary session and designate as the spokesperson either Aivar Kokk or Andrei Korobeinik.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
At the third reading, only factions will be able to participate in the negotiations; committees will no longer be able to participate. Since representatives of the committees were allowed to participate in the second reading, the proposal is, unfortunately, off the table.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that at the third reading the representatives of the committee may not speak here, and although he had a quick consultation with the chairman of the Finance Committee, he could not authorize Aivar Kokk and must leave it to his own knowledge.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman opens the inter-faction negotiations and announces that the first to speak will be Andrei Korobeinik on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
In a presentation, Andrei Korobeinik criticizes the state budget as an inequitable tax package that does not improve security and lowers the living standards of pensioners and the middle class, and calls for cutting government spending and reducing the number of civil servants in order to save the Estonian economy.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asked for three more minutes.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
In a speech, Andrei Korobeinik accuses the government of tax administration that favors banks and burdens pensioners, mothers who work from home, and people living in the countryside, and he calls voters in the next elections to remember the mandate given and to improve the situation.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
On behalf of the Isamaa faction, three minutes of extra time were requested, and it was asked whether you need PowerPoint.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu claims that the Estonian government's tax increases are a “Black Tax Wednesday,” during which ten national tax increases will be implemented next year, and their total amount will exceed one billion euros, which will increase inflation and erode people’s purchasing power, and Isamaa will vote against them, offering an alternative budget that focuses on economic growth, people’s livelihoods, and the realization of defense needs.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speech calls for action, saying that now is your time.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Isamaa promises that if they take over running the state and assume responsibility, the car tax will be abolished and the policy of tax increases will be rolled back.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
They express gratitude.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
We give our word here that people would address these tax increases, including the car tax.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speaker asserts that there is no more time to add.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
A temporary tax is discussed in Urmas Reinsalu's speech.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller ends his speech, saying that time is up, and thanks the audience.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu says that he understands it, but he focuses on their questions.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speech was just a word of thanks.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that questions would remain in the air, and the time to provide answers and to take responsibility would come for the government coalition.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller expresses understanding and gratitude.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
This entire package of decisions has a significant impact.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller thanks everyone who participated in the negotiations.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that he understands and thanks.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller posed a procedural question to Helir-Valdor Seeder as to why the matter had taken so long.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Seeder asked whether it would be possible for Riigikogu members to obtain the visual aid material presented from Urmas Reinsalu's podium, and whether the board could arrange its duplication for all members.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Thanks for the question. Procedurally, we will not reproduce this anywhere. If you wish, you can obtain it electronically, and next to speak will be Marek Reinaas from the Eesti 200 faction.
Marek Reinaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Speaking about the budget to be adopted for the coming year, it is said that it aims to find a balance between security, economic growth and people's ability to cope, investing in both security and the economy, increasing state revenues and reducing costs, but in the long run there are funding problems in social welfare systems, health care and pensions, and therefore we should turn to Eesti 200 ideas, such as a zero-based budget and a personal state.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asked for three more minutes.
Marek Reinaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Marek Reinaas emphasizes the importance of implementing needs-based subsidies and the ideas of a personal state, and states that without doing these the Estonian state budget cannot be put in order and tax increases are unacceptable to anyone, and that structural reforms of health care and the social system along with them would help prevent taxes in the future — Eesti 200 supported the adoption of this budget.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Priit Lomp represents the Social Democratic Party's faction and asks for three more minutes.
Priit Lomp
AI Summary
Priit Lomp said that the 2025 state budget is a political compromise that will increase defense and security, invest in the creation of regional jobs and in the construction of Rail Baltica, promote the insulation of apartment buildings and the green transition and energy affordability, while trying to protect pensions and secure healthcare, and invites the opposition to take greater responsibility and vote in favor of the budget.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller announced that, on behalf of the Reform Party faction, Maris Lauri is requesting three additional minutes.
Maris Lauri
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
According to Maris Lauri, the 2025 budget is a three-party compromise, whose core is strengthening security and aid to Ukraine, stimulating economic growth, and supporting the vulnerable, including increases in defence spending, reforms reducing bureaucracy, and funding for infrastructure and Estonian-language education, and it balances tax increases with unavoidable spending cuts and smarter spending, and emphasizes prudent use of debt rather than covering current expenditures.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller thanks and informs that Siim Pohlak presents a question to the chair of the session.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak asks whether there is a mechanism to respond to lies told from the podium, and whether a person must provide evidence and be held accountable, or whether critics can simply be labeled as Russian lackeys without accountability.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speaker emphasizes that during negotiations there is always an opportunity to offer a counter-speech, and Urmas Reinsalu is invited to deliver a counter-speech, asking whether he recognized himself and whether he was in Jüri Ratas's first government.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that delays in national defense spending and in weapon and ammunition procurement, and the consolidated cost reductions of the 2024–2027 plans, together with a twenty-year rise in energy prices, burden consumers, and the coalition cannot show how much tax increases actually reduce people's salaries or pensions.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller gives Lauri Laats the floor, thanks him, and asks in what context he was mentioned.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
As the opposition, I emphasize that the Centre Party faction in Estonia fulfills the role of constructive opposition, but the given budget is harmful to the state, society, and entrepreneurs, because tax increases and new taxes reduce the wealth of people and businesses, and according to analysts' assessments it will not bring anything good next year, therefore we do not support the budget.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chair thanks and presents to the chair of the meeting a procedural question.
Maris Lauri
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Maris Lauri raises the question of how to resolve a situation in which a committee member does not forward materials made available in the committee to their fellow faction members, and the resulting misunderstandings, referring to the detailed allocations and their effects.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Siim Pohlak participates in negotiations on behalf of the EKRE faction, and the committee's representative shares with the faction information about whether he submitted it.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak claims that the budget put forward by the coalition is bad and burdens the middle class with tax increases and additional work, and that the state's goals such as the continuation of Rail Baltica, the climate transition, and large-scale immigration are wrong, which is why it is necessary to cut government spending and corruption in order to protect businesses and preserve jobs.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks for three more minutes.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak claims that the goals of the government parties are increasingly out of touch with reality; the new Rail Baltica route is being pushed forward against the backdrop of unknown costs and funding; climate targets for 2040 do not pose a problem; and the economy freezes due to government actions; the coalition rides roughshod over people and entrepreneurs across Estonia; and the budget is exceptionally poor, which is why he calls on the reasonable and conscientious people present in the chamber to vote against this budget.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks and declares the negotiations closed, directing attention to the review of Amendment Proposal 513 17, where the first amendment is taken into account in full and several of the following amendments are not subject to a vote in accordance with the provisions of the RKKTS, and at the end Siim Pohlak's question about the procedure for conducting the session is presented.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak asks the chair to give a clear overview of what these good substantive proposals are, which are referred to as not being up for a vote, and exactly what EKRE proposed, for example freezing the funding of Rail Baltica, and what items were actually left out.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, explained that in accordance with Section 120, paragraph 5 of the Home and Work Order Act, the amendments submitted by the Centre Party faction, numbers 6–17, will not be put to a vote, and the amendments to bill 513 have been reviewed, and before the final vote there are still procedural questions, to which Urmas Reinsalu raised his hand.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu criticizes that Isamaa's amendment proposals were left on the table, and that the state budget bill can be initiated only by the government, and he condemns the curtailment of the leadership's and the coalition's rights vis-à-vis the opposition, and calls for considering legal remedies in the context of the Supreme Court's ruling.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stressed that one must acquaint oneself with the 2025 state budget explanatory memorandum and the Finance Committee's justifications, and that the Centre Party faction's proposal to suspend the third reading puts to a vote the suspension before the final vote, in the part where Helir-Valdor Seeder submitted a procedural question.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder expresses concern about the consolidation of procedural amendment proposals and their accessibility, and asks what rights Members of the Riigikogu and factions have to submit their own amendment proposals or independent bills if they do not align with the initiator's wishes.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar explained, based on the explanatory memorandum, why many amendment proposals did not reach the plenary vote: they concern the State Budget Act (amendment No. 1), increase costs without specifying precise funding sources (Nos. 2–6), or seek approval of the State Budget Strategy (No. 8), and according to §120 of the RKKTS their submission was not permitted — about which Urmas Reinsalu asked a procedural question relating to the sitting's procedure.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu accuses the government coalition of taking away from the opposition the tools to express its positions, of rushing the proceedings, and of pushing through a one-billion-euro tax increase, which, in his view, is of poor quality both in form and content, and he asks what effective legal remedies exist and how to exercise the constitutional right while working on behalf of voters.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that amendments to government policy that are inconsistent with government policy cannot pass, citing Section 120(3) of the Riigikogu's Rules of Procedure, and stressed that amendments submitted to the state budget bill must meet the conditions of Section 40 and contain precise wording for all accompanying revenues, costs, investments, and financing transactions, and gave Annely Akkermann the opportunity to respond procedurally.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann submitted a procedural question in which she criticized Urmas Reinsalu for repeatedly leading procedural debates and asked whether he could be directed to the Center Party faction's remedial sessions and training.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar made a procedural proposal to drop the wording that refers to a repeated criminal punishment, stated that none of us has been punished, and immediately put to a vote the proposal to suspend the third reading of the State Budget Bill 513.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder accuses the opposition of ignoring and violating formal rules, highlights earlier irregularities in the materials and in the proceedings, and states that they must discuss the protection of their rights, and asks for a ten-minute recess.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, announced that, at the request of the Isamaa faction, a ten-minute recess would be given before the vote, and he asked that the stenogram show this.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar announced that he would put to a vote the Estonian Centre Party faction's proposal to suspend the third reading of the 2025 state budget draft law, bill no. 513, and asked them to take a stand and vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The proposal received 29 votes in favour, 56 against, and there were no abstentions, therefore it did not gain support; next we will proceed to the final vote, and I will put the Government-initiated draft of the 2025 State Budget Act, No. 513, to a final vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu adopted Draft Bill 513 as law: 56 in favor, 29 against, there were no abstentions.