First Reading of the 2026 State Budget Bill (737 SE)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-10-07 13:15
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 275
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 3h 37m
AI Summaries: 275/275 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The sitting included the first reading of the draft 2026 State Budget Act (737), initiated by the Government of the Republic, which was presented by Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi. The Minister emphasized that the budget was drafted in anticipation of accelerated economic growth, but it is characterized by a historically large deficit (4.5% of GDP), primarily due to the extraordinary increase in security expenditures (over 5% of GDP), which remains within the limits of the European Union exception. The budget priorities are security, supporting the economy, and incomes. Ligi highlighted the decrease in the tax burden (from 36.6% to 35.2%), the increase of the tax-free minimum income to 700 euros, and the cancellation of several planned tax hikes, calling this an economic stimulus. The budget also provides for an increase in the wage fund in the education, culture, internal security, and special welfare sectors, as well as large investments in infrastructure.
During the question round, the opposition focused on the rapid growth of the budget deficit and national debt, accusing the government of fulfilling election promises with borrowed money (Urmas Reinsalu, Martin Helme). Criticism was also leveled at directing tax relief towards higher-income individuals and the continuing deficit of the Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa). Minister Ligi defended the budget, emphasizing that the deficit is mainly caused by external security factors and that reforming the tax system is necessary to ensure the competitiveness of the economy. Ligi also sharply criticized the negative sentiment prevalent in the public and the methodology used by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research (Konjunktuuriinstituut). During the sitting, the proposal by the Reform Party faction to extend the session until the agenda was exhausted, but no later than 14:00, was put to a vote.
Decisions Made 1
The Riigikogu voted in favor of the Estonian Reform Party faction's proposal to extend the sitting until the agenda is exhausted, but no later than 14:00.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi opened the session, introduced the first item on the agenda—the first reading of Draft Act 737 on the 2026 State Budget, initiated by the Government of the Republic—and invited Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi to the rostrum to give his presentation.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi has unveiled the 2026 state budget, which forecasts an acceleration of economic growth but includes a large deficit amounting to 4.5% of GDP. This deficit remains within the allowed limits thanks to the exception granted for defense expenditures. The three priorities of the budget are security, economic support, and household incomes. Economic stimulation is achieved through a sharp reduction in the tax burden (restoring the income tax-free minimum and scrapping planned tax increases), historically large investments in infrastructure (roads, Rail Baltic), and ongoing extensive military aid to Ukraine, even as the public sector continues to implement cuts to labor and operating expenses.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi opened the question-and-answer session, thanking the participants and granting Urmas Reinsalu the right to ask the first question.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu criticizes the Minister of Finance for suspending the budget balance rules and fulfilling election promises with borrowed money, questioning whether such a precedent is sensible, considering that the state budget strategy forecasts a persistent deficit (-1%) until 2070, linked to the cost of the Reform Party's tax hump.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi is defending the government's budget priorities, rejecting accusations that they are creating a "tax hump." He notes that the "hump" was actually a foolish election promise made by the opposition, which the government is now correcting by raising the tax-free income threshold to 700 euros. Ligi accuses the opposition of hypocrisy in criticizing the deficit, pointing out that they themselves set the precedent for funding election promises with borrowed money. He stresses that the current deficit is primarily due to an external factor—defense spending, which amounts to nearly 5.5% of GDP and cannot be covered without increasing the debt burden.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Urmas Kruuse, inviting him to the podium.
Urmas Kruuse
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Kruuse asks the minister to reiterate and clarify for the public the actual dynamics of the tax burden, as, contrary to popular belief and the claims made by opponents, the overall tax burden is actually decreasing, even though national defense expenditures exceed 5% of GDP, and to compare this situation with the 1990s and the 2026 budget.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi confirms that the tax burden has remained stable for decades, while emphasizing that the upcoming tax relief, reducing the burden from 36.6% to 35.2% of GDP, is significant and precisely targeted at supporting the economy, even though the growth in defense spending and the tight budgetary situation no longer allow for the repetition of the extensive fiscal adjustments made during previous crises.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Aivar Kokk was invited to speak by Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi, but the content of his presentation has not been submitted.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk draws attention to the unprecedented loan burden resulting from the Reform Party’s promises, the repayment of which extends all the way to the year 2070. He asks the minister, who has previously emphasized the need for austerity, to provide concrete examples of which specific budgetary areas are actually seeing cost reductions, for instance, through layoffs or the scaling back of entire sectors.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi confirms that the government is implementing extensive savings, cutting salary, economic, and support expenditures in accordance with the coalition agreement (5%+3%+2%), and conducting a thorough budget revision to eliminate outdated costs. However, expenditures and wage funds are increasing in priority areas such as security, education, and special needs care, which, combined with the reduction of the tax burden, is leading to an increase in the budget deficit, despite the general trend toward savings and the directing of state investments primarily into the defense sector.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Toomas Uibo to speak.
Toomas Uibo
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Toomas Uibo acknowledges the problems of state debt and budget deficit and asks the minister to describe how he intends to balance the 2026 state budget, reconciling the need to stimulate the economy while simultaneously reducing the budget deficit.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi notes that the state budget is extremely tight, and the deficit—which is largely caused by the import of defense equipment—does not provide the expected economic stimulus, making it politically impossible to eliminate the deficit. Furthermore, the country is operating frugally and pays lower wages than the private sector for work of similar complexity.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Luisa Rõivas, inviting her to the lectern or to speak.
Luisa Rõivas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Luisa Rõivas acknowledges the criticism surrounding the historically large budget deficit, explaining that it stems primarily from extraordinary defense expenditures and previous inertia. However, she demands a clear long-term plan from the government to determine whether the state intends to stick with the 4.5% deficit or take steps toward balancing the budget.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi acknowledged that the state's budget strategy provides for the use of a historically large and unwelcome 4.5% deficit over the first two years. However, he stressed that the plan to exit this situation and smoothly reduce the deficit is scheduled to commence in 2028–2029.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Liina Kersna was called by name to the podium by Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi to begin her presentation, but the content of her address is not clear from the given text.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna is raising concerns regarding the Ministry of Education's contradictory budget decisions concerning the funding for the transition to Estonian-language education. Specifically, the budget was cut by 18 million euros on one hand, but then an additional 23.7 million euros were allocated through the draft bill on the other. This raises confusion as to why they didn't simply add the net sum of 5.7 million euros right away.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi points out that the Ministry of Education has drawn criticism owing to overly optimistic budget forecasts and significant carry-over balances. Consequently, an agreement has been reached with the ministry to tighten its plans. The primary focus of the revised cuts is on funds that would otherwise remain unused during the fiscal year, which translates to activities being shifted across years and an overall improvement in planning accuracy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi, following a brief introduction, gave the floor to the next speaker, Jüri Jaanson.
Jüri Jaanson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Jüri Jaanson praised the Minister of Finance as a top politician for the successfully finalized budget, which is primarily a defense budget due to the ongoing war in Europe. He also commended the abolition of the tax hump and the tax cut, but raised the question of the sustainability of culture and sport in a situation where the revenue base has decreased due to necessary expenditures.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi highlighted the lack of prospects for salary increases for civil servants as a sustainability problem. At the same time, he confirmed that the wage fund for cultural workers is set to increase by 7.5%, which, however, creates financial pressure on local municipalities, as they must contribute to the benefit of their staff who fall under various levels of jurisdiction.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi and Vladimir Arhipov were called to the speaker's stand to deliver their presentation.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov notes that Estonian economic indicators continue to signal low consumer confidence and a reduction in domestic consumption, and asks the Ministry of Finance to clarify whether the primary cause of this uncertainty stems from tax hikes, price increases, unstable economic policy, or a lack of faith in the country's future.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi sharply criticizes the methodology of the consumer confidence survey conducted by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research, accusing them of a methodological blunder that they refuse to acknowledge. He emphasizes that this indicator is disproportionately poor and fails to reflect the actual economic situation or the growth in real wages and pensions. Consequently, the speaker believes that the institute in question is not an authoritative source for discussing the economy in the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament), and recommends temporarily setting aside the indicator to prevent the spread of self-fulfilling negative sentiments throughout society.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi and Urve Tiidus were called to the podium to present their report.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urve Tiidus inquired about the projected 48 million euros in motor vehicle tax revenue planned for next year’s budget, which is earmarked for road upkeep. She asked the minister to confirm that this sum would cover road maintenance needs, including those in Estonia’s peripheral areas.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi denies a direct link between the motor vehicle tax and the funding of specific regional roads, while simultaneously acknowledging that the tax will increase road maintenance funds. He stresses that his priority is to direct resources toward maintaining smaller roads, as these are the actual bottlenecks and affect people’s well-being more than the major highways, which are already mostly in good repair.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the minister, noting with satisfaction the repeated mentions of Pärnu in the report, and subsequently gave the floor to Andres Metsoja.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Andres Metsoja raises two important budgetary questions: firstly, why isn't all revenue collected from the motor vehicle tax earmarked for road repairs, especially secondary roads, and secondly, what is the government’s plan to overcome structural dependency on subsidies, given that the state’s capacity to finance investments independently is decreasing over time.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi concedes that dependence on subsidies, particularly European funds, is a problem, emphasizing that EU money is intended for pan-European reforms and development incentives, not for continuous upkeep. He sharply criticizes past errors where fixed costs, such as state bureaucracy, were funded through the recovery plan, labeling such temporary financing used to cover permanent expenditures a "criminal" practice.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Irja Lutsar to the podium to begin her presentation.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Irja Lutsar began her address with a brief apology, acknowledging that she had mistakenly thought Priit Sibul was speaking before her.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi justified his position by citing the absence of his colleague, Priit Sibul, from the chamber.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Irja Lutsar raises the question of regulating research and development funding, wanting to know whether the ministries' R&D expenditures—citing the 80 million euro budget for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (MKM) and 1.48 million euros for the Ministry of Social Affairs, despite the glaring need for clinical trials—are centrally directed or the decision of each ministry itself.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi addressed the controversy surrounding the reorganization of science funding. He noted that while a significant figure (1% of GDP) is allocated in the budget, much of this money has been spent on applied research and studies supporting policy development, the scientific merit of which is debatable. Ligi expressed doubts about the sustainability of the new plan, which calls for cutting these practical studies in favor of prioritizing pure science, viewing this move as both a budgetary risk and a source of new conflict.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Diana Ingerainen to the podium, giving her the floor.
Diana Ingerainen
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Diana Ingerainen draws the minister’s attention to the metrics used in the Budget Act, asking whether, in light of rapid technological development, it would be expedient to establish a fixed time cycle for the regular review of these metrics and their underlying methodologies, in order to prevent excessive rigidity.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi defended performance-based budgeting, noting that while the system is constantly being ridiculed and criticism regarding the difficulty of finding the right metrics is valid, it represents a progressive effort strongly recommended by the OECD and IMF. He stressed that this approach links the budget with strategic management and is considerably better than abstract cost-based budgeting. He affirmed that the system has improved over time and therefore advised critics to take a calmer approach.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi confined himself to introducing the next performer, Stig Rästa, onto the stage.
Stig Rästa
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Stig Rästa points out the fact that Estonia’s tax burden remains one of the lowest in the European Union, and asks whether this reflects the strength of the economy or poses risks to the collection of future tax revenues.
Rahandusminister Jürgen LIgi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi is analyzing the risks associated with low taxes when it comes to fulfilling state functions. He notes that while European welfare statistics correlate with a higher tax burden (with the exception of Ireland), it is nonetheless logical to keep tax burdens lower to ensure faster development, especially in Eastern European countries where structural funds help compensate for any shortfalls.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi addressed Urmas Reinsalu with a request to find out whether his seatmate was arriving in the chamber, or to authorize him to remove the colleague from the list of questioners, so that it would be easier for colleagues to follow the sitting.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi briefly stated that the individual in question had meanwhile made a short trip or visit.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi managed the order of questions, explaining why one colleague (Priit) was skipped due to his absence from the chamber, confirming that his right to pose questions would be preserved, and subsequently gave the floor to the next questioner, Andre Hanimägi.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi criticizes the inconsistency of the government's tax policy, pointing out that while they refuse to cut VAT on foodstuffs—fearing it would primarily benefit the wealthy—they have simultaneously implemented income tax changes. These changes, according to the Ministry of Finance, deliver the biggest gains specifically to higher-income earners. He questions why the government is making choices that, according to warnings from international organizations, deepen income inequality and create societal problems.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi confirms that while Estonia is successful in international tax competition by keeping income tax low, lowering the VAT on food is a foolish and ineffective policy, which international organizations (IMF, OECD) strongly advise against, because it does not improve competitiveness, does not translate into lower consumer prices (instead vanishing into the supply chain and increasing trade profits), and benefits the wealthiest decile of the population in the form of a disproportionately large budget expenditure.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi and Jaak Aab were invited to the rostrum.
AI Summary
Although Jaak Aab referred to the OECD and IMF recommendations for expanding the tax structure using progressive income tax and wealth taxes, he focused on the question of why the state budget strategy, following the 10-percent salary increase in 2024, does not foresee further raises for teachers, rescuers, and police officers between 2026 and 2029, asking the minister to provide explanations to the concerned teachers.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi addresses the complexity of financing wage increases, noting that the long-term stagnation of the wage fund requires boosting real income. As a solution, he proposes a model where the wage hike is divided among additional funding, structural reforms, and contributions from local governments. He also emphasizes that the foundation of Estonia’s tax competitiveness is its broad-based, low-rate system, which should primarily rely on consumption taxes. Furthermore, he criticizes the recent raising of the income tax-free minimum, which he argues has significantly eroded the tax base.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Tanel Kiik was called to the podium by Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi to begin his presentation.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik sharply criticizes the government's budget priorities, highlighting that while the critical need for special welfare services amounts to 50 million euros and the sector is only funded with 4.2 million, tax policy decisions are simultaneously boosting the incomes of the wealthiest decile by over 100 million euros. He questions what this kind of disproportionate allocation says about the government's real preferences, especially considering the sector's long waiting lists and low wages.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi acknowledged the critical state of special care—the worst-paid sector—and welcomed the additional funds allocated by the government. However, he emphasized that meeting all funding requests totaling tens of millions is fiscally impossible. He defended the government's broad economic support measures, including income tax relief, explaining that this is not a zero-sum game but a question of economic health, which in turn secures the resources needed to support even the most vulnerable. He urged greater focus on small, targeted support measures.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi requested the operator temporarily remove Priit Sibul from the list of questioners due to his departure from the chamber, while stressing that his right to two questions would remain reserved. He then yielded the floor to Mihkel Lees.
Mihkel Lees
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mihkel Lees emphasized the importance of civil protection, a topic that has so far remained in the shadow of military national defense, and asked the minister whether the needs for internal security and civil protection are adequately covered in next year's budget, or if financial constraints are impeding faster progress in this area.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi emphasizes that internal security has benefited from robust funding due to the current security situation. Within this framework, over 100 million euros have been planned for the Ministry of the Interior's national defense tasks over four years. This funding will be distributed evenly across the years and will cover ambitious projects such as the development of PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) armament, the creation of a crisis reserve, the drone wall, and the continuation of work on the eastern border.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi briefly gave the floor to the next speaker, inviting Peeter Ernits to the podium.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits sharply criticized the 900-page material presented by the minister, labeling it incomprehensible "political graphomania." He questioned why Estonia couldn't follow the example of its Finnish counterparts, who submit smarter documents, only a couple of hundred pages long, to parliament.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi limited himself to a brief expression of thanks.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi criticized the repeated and ineffective perusal of the budget document, emphasizing that when dealing with 900 pages of material, the focus should instead be on grasping its structure, crucial political choices, and critical topics, rather than calling it rubbish, given that dozens of top specialists have worked on it day and night.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi intervened on a point of procedure during the debate, asking his colleague Peeter Ernits to yield the floor to the minister so that the latter could respond.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi criticized the lack of respect and explained that the constant lengthening and complication of the document (likely the state budget) is due to the demands of MPs and the National Audit Office. This has resulted in the document being structured on both an activity basis and a cost basis, although he suggests that critics do not actually want the information that Annely Akkermann has dubbed the most informative in the world.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi briefly addressed his colleague Peeter Ernits, quickly noting afterwards that the topic was outside the scope of the current discussion.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi emphasizes that although the descriptions in, for example, Finland’s budget document are contradictory and expert opinions diverge, the international tendency toward activity-based management is a pressing recommendation. Furthermore, members of the Riigikogu should utilize advisors and ask substantive questions to grasp complex issues, instead of labeling the significant effort required to describe state affairs as "rubbish."
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi, with a brief exclamation, yielded the floor to Anti Allas.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas addressed the Minister of Finance, requesting a full answer to two specific questions: firstly, how much of the loan funds in the 2026 draft budget is earmarked to cover permanent expenses, and secondly, which national defense expenditures are classified as investments.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi stresses that, regarding the state budget, a fundamental distinction should not be made between fixed costs and investments, unlike the practice for private individuals or firms. This is because the state itself is permanent, and the requirement for expenditures, including salaries, pensions, and investments, is continuous, meaning that from an economist's perspective, virtually all state expenditures constitute fixed costs.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi and Arvo Aller were called to the podium to begin their presentation.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller addressed the presiding officer and the minister to pose a substantive question concerning the state budget.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi gave a short but firm and affirmative response, expressing his complete agreement or readiness with a single word.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller analyzes the government sector's budget, which has a –4.5% position, and draws attention to the fact that the 2026 budget no longer reflects non-monetary expenses, such as depreciation. He asks what the basis for this exclusion is and how large the budget deficit would be if depreciation had been accounted for.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi confirms that although the state continues to account for asset depreciation, this non-cash expense has been removed from the tables in the budget documents in the interest of better financial reporting and to satisfy the National Audit Office, and consequently, it is no longer reflected in the budget documents.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Kalev Stoicescu, inviting him up to the podium.
Kalev Stoicescu
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalev Stoicescu is concerned about the non-military component of comprehensive national defense, particularly the inadequate financing of civil protection, stressing that the sums earmarked for investments by the Rescue Board are insufficient. He asks the minister how it would be possible to allocate extraordinary supplementary investments, mirroring the hundreds of millions of euros in additional funding repeatedly provided for military defense.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi stressed that the sector of internal security and civil defense has received extraordinary additional funding for an ambitious program. This program requires a long-term perspective (such as the construction of shelters), but it is also rapidly developing priorities like border construction, the drone wall, and increasing police capabilities, despite criticism regarding the pace of certain objectives.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Mart Maastik.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik criticized the Minister of Finance for presenting a budget with the largest deficit in history, pointing to contradictory behavior: the Minister is simultaneously praised for lowering the tax burden and canceling previously desired taxes, even though the abolition of the tax hump deepens the budget deficit, which must be covered by borrowed funds. He also noted the Minister’s weary appearance during the presentation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi briefly expressed his thanks.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik is questioning the position of the individual in question alongside the Prime Minister, pointedly asking who or what is compelling them to take on this secondary role.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi rebuffed the personal attacks aimed at him, pointing out that the focus had been on his personality rather than on the budget and substantive issues. He stressed that his only driving force is an internal passion to serve the country, and he asked that next time they present something of substance, since he remembers nothing from the previous exchange.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Riina Solman, calling her to the rostrum.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman sharply criticizes the budget position of the Health Insurance Fund, which is planned in the State Budget Act to have a continuously large deficit, and demands an explanation and a long-term solution from the Minister of Finance, emphasizing that a responsible parliament cannot approve a dangerous shortfall that, according to forecasts, will amount to hundreds of millions of euros in the following years as well.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi concluded his address with a brief and specific expression of thanks.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman focused on two main questions: where the necessary money will be found and what the justification is for parliament having to approve the budget deficit.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi confirms that reducing the deficit of the Health Insurance Fund from a couple of hundred million to 60 million is a major effort and a good result, achieved without raising taxes or promising additional funds. He simultaneously emphasized that he forces himself to fulfill his official duties because he lacks a direct superior.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker, Toomas Kivimägi, and Lauri Laats were called to the rostrum.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats begins by expressing hope that the minister’s work is driven by internal passion, but he then pivots to the question of the distribution of the local government revenue base. He inquires whether the government considered amending the so-called Robin Hood, or socialist redistribution scheme, in the next year's budget—a scheme established during the Social Democrats’ time that forces wealthier municipalities to contribute to less affluent ones—given that this system conflicts with the minister’s personal worldview.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi addresses the complexity of regional policy, emphasizing the need to channel funds from wealthier areas (like Mustamäe) to poorer ones (like Mikitamäe) in order to maintain the level of services. However, he simultaneously acknowledges that the state cannot indefinitely support institutions that have become vacant, such as schools where there are no longer any children.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi briefly gave the floor to Katrin Kuusemäe.
Katrin Kuusemäe
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Katrin Kuusemäe highlights the abolition of the "crippled" tax system—created by Isamaa, the Center Party, and the Social Democrats—through the 2026 budget, which returns nearly 1800 euros annually to teachers and rescuers. She also asks the minister to explain whether critics' claims regarding inflation risk are justified and whether average wage earners should still be subjected to higher taxation.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi expressed satisfaction over the elimination of the illogical tax hump, achieved after a ten-year struggle. He emphasized that although this tax relief, which has a high propensity to consume, might give a slight boost to inflation, its main and more significant advantage is supporting GDP (estimated at 1%) and providing substantial growth in real incomes. This, he argues, outweighs the constant chatter about inflation, especially considering the clear decline in inflation projected by the Bank of Estonia.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi yielded the floor to the next speaker, inviting Luisa Rõivas to the podium.
Luisa Rõivas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Luisa Rõivas acknowledges that the several-fold increase in Estonia's defense spending is the only correct course of action given the current security situation, but she is concerned about whether the decision-making and procurement processes can keep pace with the budget, and whether the agencies are capable of utilizing the allocated funds efficiently, asking the government for clarification regarding risk mitigation.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi acknowledges that the rapid increase in defense spending and the large cash flow create real administrative and industrial risks. However, he stresses that ultimately these factors do not determine our defense capability, which depends primarily on the collective deterrence and response capacity being developed in cooperation with NATO allies and the European Union.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi handed the floor over to Vladimir Arhipov, calling him by name to the podium or to speak.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov draws attention to the fact that, unlike the rest of Europe where food prices have stabilized, price increases are continuing in Estonia. He asks the minister whether the government should consider reducing VAT on food to alleviate the situation, and what the impact of this measure would be on the state budget.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi deems large budget expenditures and the lowering of VAT on food unreasonable, paradoxically explaining Estonia’s high prices as the result of a dense but expensive trade network and the continuous expansion of nine retail chains. He also emphasizes that the Statistical Office has started collecting actual transaction data instead of shelf prices for a more adequate measurement of inflation. This data accounts for extensive discounts, aiming to provide a more precise picture of the actual price dynamics.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi demanded the removal of Lauri Läänemets's name from the list of questioners for the purpose of ensuring the equal treatment of colleagues, asserting that this would not prejudice his right to ask questions, and subsequently gave the floor to Rene Koka.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi expressed his deep regret and profound sorrow very briefly, but intensely.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk defended the Institute of Economic Research (Konjunktuuriinstituut) against the minister’s criticism, stressing that the messenger should not be blamed for the bad news. He then drew attention to the ministries’ poor budget execution skills, citing as an example the billions of euros in unused funds transferred from the 2024–2025 budgets into the following year. He concluded by asking the minister whether budget drafting skills have improved in the interim and what the expected volume of funds to be carried over into 2027 is.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi sharply criticized the Institute of Economic Research and its head, Peeter Raudsepp, accusing them of academically inadequate and biased conduct. This conduct, he states, involves the selective and excessively negative presentation of economic indicators, especially regarding consumer confidence surveys. Ligi stressed that the drop in data and the resulting negative sentiment are attributable precisely to the institute’s own methodological changes and biased language, not to political parties.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi began his address by referring to Urmas Reinsalu using the respectful title "Honorable Colleague," but he did not touch upon the substantive topic.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi criticizes the party in question, alleging that they deliberately ignore international authorities, the Bank of Estonia, and independent statisticians. He claims they focus solely on "false messages" and cherry-pick only the most negative results from their own surveys, thus overlooking reliable data.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi interrupted the ongoing debate to put to a vote the Estonian Reform Party faction’s proposal to extend today’s sitting until the agenda is exhausted, but no later than 2 p.m.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi, acting as the presiding officer of the session, announced the Riigikogu voting result (49 in favor, 11 against), extended the session until the agenda was exhausted, but no later than 2 PM, and subsequently gave the floor to Varro Vooglaid.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid criticizes the unethical tone used in personally disparaging Peeter Raudsepp, and slams the submitted financial document as incomprehensible and overly general, demanding more detailed information regarding the use of taxpayer money; finally, he poses a question to the Minister of Finance as to why he did not refuse to support the deepening of the budget deficit, considering his previous promises regarding budget balancing.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi concluded his address with a brief word of thanks.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid poses a rhetorical question, criticizing the listener's passivity and asking why they didn't consider opting out of the program, saying: "carry it out, but without me."
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi, defining his political role as the preventer of the worst and the "Minister of No," fiercely defended his right to criticize analyst Peeter Raudsepp, whom he accused of arrogance and disregarding methodological flaws. Ligi further emphasized that while drafting the budget necessitates compromises, increasing defense expenditure and avoiding arbitrary cuts are essential for the Republic of Estonia.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller, Jaak Aab, was called to the rostrum to begin his presentation, but the content of his speech has not been provided.
AI Summary
Jaak Aab is focusing on the disputes surrounding Estonia's tax structure and the recurring recommendations from the IMF, which include implementing both a property tax and a progressive income tax. He notes that while these proposals do not align with the dogmas of Estonia’s right-wing governments, they remain highly relevant because the Estonian tax system is unnaturally skewed toward consumption taxes, which constitute over 40% of total tax revenue.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi defends Estonia's long-term competitive tax system, which the Tax Foundation ranks as the world's best, emphasizing, based on OECD data, the growth-neutrality of consumption taxes compared to harmful corporate and labor taxes. Although the speaker acknowledges the theoretical usefulness of property tax for the economy, he considers its implementation emotionally negative and burdensome for homeowners. For this reason, he will not initiate it himself, but instead proposes granting local governments the right to decide whether to collect land tax on homes.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Signe Kivi, inviting her to the speaker's stand.
Signe Kivi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Signe Kivi points out that the responsibility for developing the Estonian language and integration programs is dispersed between the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Culture, and asks the minister whether the government has discussed bringing language policy under unified management so that responsibility is not fragmented.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi, who initiated the transition that was off the Riigikogu agenda back in 2017, is questioning the necessity of the current administrative reorganization, especially in the context of language learning. He emphasizes that language is simultaneously both culture and education, and he cites as an example the earlier separation of the Ministry of Education and Culture, which demonstrated that major changes can arrive unexpectedly, even if no one initially desires them.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller and Helmen Kütt were called to the podium, but the content of her address is absent from this text.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt welcomes the admittedly delayed and modest increase in the subsistence benefit level, along with the promised wage hike for special care workers. However, upon reviewing the social affairs section of the budget, she is concerned that there is no solution addressing the need for state special care service slots for a thousand people—a matter which, in her view, is a direct responsibility of the state.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi highlights the persistent financial pressure and long-term funding issues stemming from the aging population. He directs the question of priorities to the Minister of Social Affairs, noting that while the subsistence benefit is crucial, it represents only the tip of the iceberg, as the system covers essential living costs, such as housing and heating, separately.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Anti Allas following a brief address.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas addresses the Minister of Finance, sharply criticizing the state's poor financial standing and warning against the growth of extremism. He reproaches the government for granting a 114 million euro tax gift to the wealthiest at a time when funds are scarce for special care services and loan repayments, and asks why shifting the tax hump to 4,000 euros was not considered as a compromise, which would allow the affluent to contribute to improving the state's finances.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller confined himself to a brief cue, yielding the floor to the next speaker and signaling the commencement of their allotted time.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas poses the question of how it is possible to simultaneously consolidate the state budget and ensure that those who need help receive the necessary support.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi categorically refuted the claim that abandoning the tax hump only benefited the wealthiest, emphasizing that it specifically improved the situation of average wage earners. He also criticized the cynical attitude towards high-income earners and entrepreneurs, whose taxation must remain competitive. Furthermore, he argued that the division of society and the growth of extremism are caused more by aggressive social-liberal culture wars than by economic policy.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller, Helle-Moonika Helme was called to the podium to present her report.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme chastises the government for presenting the state budget as excessive self-congratulation, and highlights the cognitive dissonance where a sharp increase in defense spending, which enables large salary hikes within the Ministry of Defense, simultaneously leaves cultural institutions (such as ERSO) without funding. This forces them to postpone not just dreams, but everyday essential needs. She further questions whether the Ministry of Defense is even capable of using its allocated funds effectively.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller gave a brief signal, announcing that the time for the presentation or address had begun.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme expresses her indignation and asks why individuals or groups who have been generously supported cannot use the kindness and wealth bestowed upon them with dignity or decency.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi sharply criticizes the opposing side for poor communication skills, a failure to understand irony, and straying off-topic, while simultaneously highlighting worrying political stances, such as their opposition to increased defense spending and their leading member's public praise of Russia.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller and Henn Põlluaas were called upon to speak.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas emphasizes that despite the poor condition, the need for repairs, and the insufficient funding of Estonia’s foreign missions—all of which hinder the representation of the country’s interests—the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been cut. Meanwhile, the amounts allocated for development and humanitarian aid have, strangely enough, been increased, thereby calling into question the prioritization of Estonia's own representation.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller signaled the start of the next speaker's allotted time with a brief phrase, restricting himself solely to a procedural announcement.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas stressed that resources should not simply be increased; rather, they should be strategically directed towards developing the nation's external affairs.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller's address was extremely brief, limiting itself to just one word, which was an expression of thanks.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi addressed the redirection of Estonian humanitarian aid priorities toward neighboring countries. He refuted claims regarding the defunding of ERSO, emphasizing that the cultural sector receives a proportionally very large amount of funding (twice the European average relative to GDP), but that dissatisfaction remains chronic. Ligi also confirmed that the increase in defense spending found broad consensus in parliament, contrasting only with the opposition of a certain fringe party.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller then gave the floor to Riina Solman.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman criticizes the Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa) for spending tens of thousands of euros (up to 43,400 euros) on recruiting a new chairman of the board. She points out that the chairman's job description ignores the fund's primary statutory duty as a health insurance provider, focusing instead on ensuring population health outcomes—a responsibility that falls to the parliament and the ministry. Furthermore, Solman questions the justification for such expenditure in a situation where the state budget fails to provide sufficient resources for the fund to carry out its mandated tasks.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi is responding to criticism concerning the Health Insurance Fund's deficit and management choices. He stresses that professional management involves entrusting personnel selection to experts, rather than to political parties or personal connections, which helps avoid compromising errors and self-serving decisions. He also adds that the cost of finding a good manager is very small and fully justified when compared to the scope of the Health Insurance Fund's work.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller, Henn Põlluaas, briefly announced that he had a question for the presiding officer of the sitting.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas expresses indignation over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ budget cuts, which leave Estonian embassies without necessary repairs and operational funding, while simultaneously increasing opaque humanitarian and development aid. He considers the minister’s vague response to the questions as mocking the members of the Riigikogu, and demands that the minister be formally reprimanded for abnormal conduct and disrespecting the Riigikogu.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller pointed out that although the minister referred to the budget, the funding for foreign missions is clearly inadequate, and he demanded that the question of where to find additional resources to cover the resulting shortfall be addressed in the future.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk accuses the government of shooting the messenger (regarding the Institute of Economic Research issue) and focuses on the poor quality of budget planning, pointing to the massive sums (totaling nearly 2.8 billion euros) carried over from the 2024 budget into 2025. He demands an explanation from the minister regarding how budget transfers from 2026 to 2027 are being forecasted and whether ministries have managed to improve their planning to avoid such large carryovers in the future.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi emphasized that although the relaxation of budget carry-over rules was a decision made by the previous government, the current government is striving to improve planning and will present an austerity budget that reduces expenditures and carry-overs. He simultaneously acknowledged the complexity of planning and the Ministry of Finance's limited control over the plans of sectoral ministries. Furthermore, he rejected personal accusations and sharply criticized those who deliberately distort objective information.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller Lauri Laats was invited to the podium to deliver his presentation.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats submitted three questions to the minister, requesting clarification regarding the minister’s earlier pessimistic statements concerning the poor overall state of the economy, the increasing lack of budget transparency, and the large deficit projected for 2027 and the potential tax hikes associated with it.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi cautioned the questioners not to quote individual sentences out of context. He confirmed that the economic situation is poor, citing the impact of the war and high inflation as the main reasons, and requested that questions henceforth be submitted one by one to avoid confusion and provide better answers.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Margit Sutrop to deliver the next presentation.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop praises the budget's planned increase in operating support for higher education and doctoral studies funding, but expresses deep concern over the six-million-euro cut slated for the 2027 state budget strategy, warning that this could force universities to reinstate tuition fees at a time when thousands of students are already struggling with their livelihoods. She asks how this discussion should move forward.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller signaled with a short and specific phrase that the next speaker's allotted time had begun.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop points out that the economic boom is being replaced by a recession, meaning students can no longer afford to pay their tuition fees. She then asks what steps should be taken to resolve the situation.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi criticizes the unsustainable and unfunded 15% funding promise made to higher education, emphasizing that against the backdrop of a cross-sectoral funding problem, discussing tuition fees is not wrong. He recommends finding an optimal model, adding that the drop in funding visible in the long-term budget strategy (RES) likely stems from the lack of confirmed funding for the European Union’s next budget period.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller Peeter Ernits was called to the podium to deliver his presentation.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits voiced profound skepticism concerning the six years of activity-based absurdity, and in questions posed to the Minister of Finance, he criticized the countless, yet utterly meaningless, metrics. He demanded clarification on how the Minister assesses their actual utility and exactly how much time and money civil servants have wasted creating them.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi approves of the performance-based budgets, implemented following the example of advanced nations, which link the state’s strategic planning with the budget. He emphasizes that a return to old-fashioned expense item accounting is ruled out, given that the state’s performance must be measured both quantitatively and qualitatively, as also recommended by the IMF and the OECD.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller and Toomas Kivimägi were invited to speak.
Toomas Kivimägi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi emphasized that although the budget deficit stands at 4.5%, opponents have overlooked the fact that almost half of this (2% of GDP, or over 800 million euros) stems directly from the significant increase in defense spending included in the 2026 budget. This means that without that rise in expenditure, the deficit would only be 2.5%.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi confirms that although critics are ignoring the budget's initial deficit and one-off effects, the structural deficit is indeed a couple of percent, which, when combined with defense spending, amounts to a 4.5% deficit. He stresses that while the state is attempting to rein in spending, essential sectors, such as healthcare and pension indexation, cannot be cut.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller gave the floor to the next speaker, Priit Sibul.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul is asking the minister to clarify two budgetary discrepancies: first, why the public transport base funding growth figures presented publicly differ (is it €54 million or €12 million) and whether the COVID reserves have now been accounted for in the base budget; and second, what the actual subsidy amount allocated for Elron is, given that contradictory data has been presented in the state budget explanatory memorandum and the public transport program.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller limited his address to just a brief word of thanks.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi provided an overview of public transport funding, confirming the growth of the base budget and noting that 178.1 million euros have been earmarked for the organization of these services. This sum is distributed as subsidies among road, rail, and water and air transport. He added that the need for funding increases by 4–6% annually, driven by the rising costs of various infrastructure and port fees.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller yielded the floor to Rain Epler, calling him up to the rostrum as the next speaker.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler recalls the Finance Minister’s assertion that he is a man of ideas rather than numbers, and asks him to explain how, if given a free hand, he would solve these problems and eliminate the unpleasant phenomena—such as the excessive criticism from the head of the Institute of Economic Research and the activities of merchants—which the Minister strongly criticized in his address.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi emphasized that his views on competition among merchants, which is due to the significant growth of commercial space, are based on analysis and constitute a description, not a criticism. He then sharply criticized the Institute of Economic Research, deeming the economic analysis they presented to the Riigikogu (Parliament) embarrassing and methodologically flawed, thereby misleading the public. However, he named the improvement of statistics, including the Consumer Price Index and inflation figures, as the priority of his state activities, noting that this is a matter close to his heart.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller yielded the floor to Varro Vooglaid.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid acknowledges that the budget growth and borrowing are largely due to national defense expenditures, but he criticizes the government for having begun living beyond its means at an accelerating pace, despite having previously advocated for a thrifty lifestyle. Furthermore, he considers it irresponsible to allocate an additional billion euros to national defense in a situation where the State Audit Office has identified serious problems regarding the utilization of defense spending.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller used the short phrase, "Your time!" to signal that the next speaker could begin their presentation, thereby indicating the start of their allocated time slot.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid expresses profound skepticism and refuses to support the utilization of financial resources until it has been convincingly demonstrated that they are being managed responsibly and under proper control.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi defends the role of the Minister of Finance in setting budget limits, rejecting unrealistic demands (such as 12% of GDP) and noting that the initial supplementary proposal of 2 billion was unacceptable, even though 4.5% represents the absolute minimum threshold. He stresses that the government is not obligated to blindly follow military advice, which does not supersede the law, but must instead determine what is financially feasible based on other analyses, admitting that the current 5% of GDP is already an extraordinarily difficult leap, from which it will be hard to retreat.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller called Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to the podium.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart criticizes the Minister of Finance for ignoring the extremely poor consumer sentiment and low consumer confidence, which the minister had previously tried to dismiss as a methodological problem. She highlights that the Ministry of Finance's own analysis confirms that the main reasons for the decline in consumption are the decrease in purchasing power and the growth of net wages lagging behind inflation, concluding by asking how the ministry intends to improve the situation.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi criticized the Institute of Economic Research for presenting malicious and one-sided economic statistics that undermine consumer confidence. He pointed out that they failed to mention positive developments in the services and trade sectors, stressing that although some individuals are faring poorly, real wages are, on average, near zero. Ligi added that the state must not base its decisions on false data, which, considering the emotional sensitivity of the economy, ultimately hinders consumption.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Helle-Moonika Helme as the next speaker.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme expresses deep disappointment regarding the inefficiency of the state budget debate and the minister’s poor memory, noting that the minister failed to answer a specific question about ERSO funding. She also sharply criticizes the government’s economic policy, asserting that tax hikes are killing entrepreneurship, the economy is stagnant, and any positive image is being maintained solely through borrowed funds. As an example, she cites the collapse of the car market due to the high registration tax.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller confined himself to just a brief sentence, thereby signaling that the next speaker could begin their presentation, or announcing that the listener's time had started.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme cast doubt on the opposing side's optimistic future outlooks, citing that the actual business environment does not support the narrative of a bright future.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller confined himself to just a brief thank you.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi launched a sharp counter-attack, criticizing his opponent's unstructured, accusatory, and deceitful rambling, refuting claims about tax increases and a "bright future," and emphasizing that he presents forecasts from independent authorities, concluding with an ironic remark about his adversary's poor writing skills.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller issued a brief and specific instruction to strictly adhere to the topic of discussion.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi harshly criticized the other party, arguing that they failed to present a complete, coherent train of thought—one that even ended with a question—within a minute. He stressed that he cannot be accused of failing to respond to that entire disorganized stream of verbiage.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller had to repeatedly call Anti Poolamets to order, as Poolamets was interrupting the presenter's presentation, refusing to stick to the topic, and expressing his aversion toward the presenter with sharp words ("I am ashamed to listen to you!"). Consequently, the session chair repeatedly had to ask him to allow the presenter to speak.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi gave the shame-faced listeners unequivocal permission to leave the hall, emphasizing that the option was available to them.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller chaired the sitting, insisting that the Minister (Anti Poolamets) be heard, confirming that the question had been answered despite Jürgen Ligi's quiet reactions, and subsequently giving Peeter Ernits the floor for a point of order.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits raises a point of order, urgently demanding the Chair to intervene to put an end to the constant insulting of colleagues by the Finance Minister, who arrogantly considers himself the sole visionary and ruler of the empire, both yesterday and today.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller, after thanking Peeter Ernits, repeatedly emphasized that the right of the members to ask questions and the minister’s duty to answer are guaranteed, and that all proceedings would be recorded in the official transcript, before then granting Mart Helme the floor to raise a point of order.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme raised a procedural question, expressing his dismay that instead of the first reading of the state budget, the chamber was occupied with labeling questioners and discussing personal topics (such as Mart Helme's age or relationships), rather than providing substantive answers.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller confirmed that a round of questions to ministers is currently underway in the Riigikogu as part of the first reading of the state budget, clarifying that each member of parliament is entitled to ask two questions, and subsequently gave the floor to Henn Põlluaas.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas has sharply criticized the minister for avoiding a substantive answer concerning the budget cuts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressing that, given the current geopolitical situation, it is absolutely vital to secure the funding and operational resources for Estonian representations (embassies), instead of simultaneously increasing development aid to other countries, and asking whether the representation of Estonian interests globally is no longer considered important.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concluded his presentation with a brief expression of gratitude and subsequently yielded the floor to the next participant.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas insistently and specifically demands an answer to the question regarding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' budget.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi defended his earlier clarification regarding the ERSO issue as a correction to the questioner's rushed and inaccurate presentation. He then proceeded to give an assessment of the entire event, noting that while the questions were courteous initially, the end fell flat. He criticized the row near the door for its insufficiently patriotic tone while simultaneously praising the pertinent questions posed by the Isamaa party.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller intervened in the debate, requesting that the minister stick to the subject matter and clarifying that the discussion concerned the question submitted by Põlluaas.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi responds to criticisms regarding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' budget and foreign aid, noting that although ministries are making cuts, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received additional funds for humanitarian aid. However, he emphasizes that the structure of foreign aid has become "more localized," prioritizing politically and geographically close countries over more distant nations requiring greater assistance, and recommends that the ministry itself introduce this shift.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller Henn Põlluaas addressed the presiding officer to raise a procedural question.
Henn Põlluaas
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Henn Põlluaas criticizes the minister, arguing that he failed to answer the submitted question regarding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget properly, instead discussing irrelevant topics (such as ERSO), and subsequently accusing the questioner of emotionality and fabricated accusations, all while simultaneously asserting that he had answered thoroughly.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller briefly explained that his statement was intended as a supplement to the minister's address.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas criticized the minister for deviating from the topic, stressing that he had not received a substantive answer to his question, and requested that the presiding officer issue a warning to the minister, urging him to remain focused on the subject matter and respond to the questions that were put forward.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller explains that the Minister always has the right to answer questions and elaborate on them, citing the ERSO and Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget topics as examples. He emphasizes that the thoroughness of the answers is up to each individual, but they are recorded in the official transcript, and questions can also be submitted in committees. He then gives the floor to Vadim Belobrovtsev.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev expresses concern over the rapid growth of the national debt, which the budget projects will rise to almost 26% of GDP. He is requesting a concrete vision and strategy from the minister to stabilize the debt burden in the coming years, particularly given the high interest rates and persistently large defense spending.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi notes with concern that the current situation is threatening Estonia's vision of maintaining the lowest debt burden in Europe, where big spenders are challenging tax policies and those changing the budget balance rules are creating a new paradigm. Consequently, he is losing optimism regarding the future of the state's finances, while simultaneously promising to do his utmost to prevent the worst.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller Kalle Grünthal posed a procedural question to the presiding officer.
Kalle Grünthal
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Kalle Grünthal draws the chairman’s attention to the fact that the presenter has deviated from the agenda and used inappropriate expressions, and emphasizes that the chairman possesses the legal levers under Section 72 to call the presenter to order and, if necessary, interrupt the presentation.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller explained the procedural rules, noting that the chair can intervene if either the questioner or the respondent goes off-topic, but confirmed that the minister answered Kalle Grünthal's question about the budget appropriately and stuck to the subject.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal emphasizes the need for the presiding officer to apply the house rule (§ 72, subsection 11) more strictly, issuing an official reprimand to speakers who use inappropriate expressions, rather than just interrupting their speech. He requests that this rule be enforced more frequently in the future.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller explained that the use of inappropriate expressions has not gone unnoticed, and comments have been made regarding it, after which he gave the floor to Evelin Poolamets to raise a point of order.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets inquired with the presiding officer about the procedural boundaries that govern a minister's inappropriate conduct at the rostrum, citing as examples the recent insulting of Helle-Moonika Helme and extreme hypothetical situations, in an effort to determine the precise threshold at which a minister should be removed from the podium due to indecorum.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller stresses that the Minister has no reason to abandon the rostrum, as the corresponding agenda item has not yet been exhausted and the Minister is prepared to continue responding to questions. He references the current practice, whereby one only departs after the topic has been fully addressed, and subsequently yields the floor to Aleksei Jevgrafov.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksei Jevgrafov draws attention to the contradiction between the minister’s promises to reduce the Health Insurance Fund’s deficit and set a limit on the use of reserves, and the Health Insurance Fund’s own forecasts, which indicate a drastically increasing shortfall in the coming years, leading to the depletion of retained earnings and reserves by 2028.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi sharply criticized the situation, arguing that the figures presented were outdated forecasts and in stark contradiction with reality. He emphasized that the management of the Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa) must focus on improving the reality, not merely fulfilling forecasts, referring in the process to the more detailed data that had been presented in the chamber.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller gave the floor to Priit Sibul.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul raises two crucial questions concerning public transport: First, is the 2 million euro subsidy for the Tartu–Riga rail link justified, given the low passenger forecast compared to other regions? And second, why is the compensation for Eesti Raudtee’s loss (38.2 million euros)—which is still budgeted for next year—absent from the future budgetary strategy (RES)?
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi explained that Estonian Railways requires a contribution from the state budget to maintain its infrastructure following the loss of the Russian route, while simultaneously stressing the need to focus on the European direction. However, he also voiced doubts regarding the expediency of the Riga section project, suggesting that questions about its future prospects should be directed to the minister in charge.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Rain Epler, calling him up to the podium.
Rain Epler
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Rain Epler is asking the minister, who has characterized himself as "the preventer of the worst," to elaborate and specify both the crazy ideas whose realization he managed to avoid, and those that ended up in the budget despite his objections.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi sharply criticizes the "crazy ideas" presented during the budget process, ranging from unrealistic defense spending targets and expensive requests (such as helicopters) to the reduction of the gambling tax. However, he feels relieved that, thanks to rationality and the limits set by the Finance Minister, several bad proposals, such as the whole food VAT nonsense, were kept out of the budget.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Tõnis Mölder.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tõnis Mölder thanks the minister for the overview and asks the ministry to explain in writing how the 1.87 million euro fee for the right to clear land, planned for next year's budget, is divided between national large-scale projects (such as Rail Baltic or defense infrastructure) and private developers. He simultaneously inquires whether renewable energy projects might be eligible for special concessions in this regard.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi admitted that he lacks precise information regarding the deforestation charge and potential exemptions for renewable energy projects, but he stressed his fundamental opposition to any and all exemptions, arguing that the costs of environmental impact should be factored into the projects' own cost price.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Jaak Valge, inviting him to the podium.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge questioned the relevance and sustainability of the state budget's current form, highlighting that the Chancellor of Justice deems it incompatible with the constitutional framework, the National Audit Office finds a lack of clarity regarding costs and expected impact, and a fellow faction member has even labeled it "activity-based nonsense."
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi confirmed that the expected impact is linked to the activity-based budget, noting that the answer is affirmative because experts have strongly recommended this to the state, and the system has been continuously improved based on the recommendations and criticism received.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller yielded the floor to Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, inviting her to the podium.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart reminds the Minister of Finance about concerns raised years ago within the purview of the Ministry of the Interior, where funds went unused due to a lack of budget transparency (citing the closure of the Kopli rescue station as an example). She then inquires whether these issues concerning expenditures and administration have been resolved or alleviated by now.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi confirmed that the Ministry of the Interior was in a strong position during budget negotiations and secured significant funding, even for controversial projects. Ligi stated he was dissatisfied with these projects, but noted that efforts are now being made to make them more sensible. He simultaneously denied that the matter was related to corruption or that the budget had been substantively discussed by the corruption committee.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller noted the absence of Anti Poolamets and Madis Kallas, and subsequently gave the floor to Kalle Grünthal.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal draws the rapporteur's attention to the fact that Minister Joller presented inaccurate data during the discussion on raising the subsistence benefit threshold concerning the support sums for each subsequent adult and child. This calls the balance of the state budget into question, and he therefore requests that the correct benefit rates, based on the current law, be stated.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi declined to comment on the listener's conversations with Karmen Joller, stating that he lacked information on the matter and had more pressing priorities to deal with, specifically his ministry and draft legislation.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller conducted a check of the list of attendees, identifying the absence of several individuals, including Anti, Madis Kallas, Martin Helme, and Vadim Belobrovtsev, and confirmed that Lauri Läänemets is currently present.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets criticizes the Minister of Finance, arguing that in the context of increasing national defense expenditures and decreasing state revenues, the proposed tax changes are unreasonably channeling over 100 million euros annually to the wealthiest members of society (those earning 4,000–6,000 euros). He sharply questions the logic of why these specific individuals are receiving nearly 2,000 euros in extra annual income, when that money could instead be used to improve the state budget or support those struggling with their livelihoods.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi rejects the assertion that the state channels money to the wealthy. He stresses that this is money they earned, which is simply left to them by not collecting taxes. Furthermore, he defines the tax system's objective as guaranteeing competitiveness and covering state revenues in the least burdensome way possible for the economy, favoring consumption taxes that do not hinder exports.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller chaired the sitting, thanked those present for the preceding discussion, instructed the operator to cut the feed when Anti Poolamets began his third turn to speak, and subsequently invited Madis Kallas to the rostrum.
Madis Kallas
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Madis Kallas expressed his thanks to the minister for recognizing the regional policy and the redistribution of pension income tax. He also inquired, from a budgetary standpoint, whether the impact of this redistribution on the financing of local governments had been analyzed in the 2026 budget, and whether the necessary adjustments had been implemented.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi emphasized that although he lacks detailed reporting, he firmly supports the equalization fund, while simultaneously criticizing the fetishization of the percentage of income tax retained by local governments as counter-regional policy, adding that for small local governments, these amounts are nevertheless justified considering the population structure.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller and Vadim Belobrovtsev were called to the rostrum to deliver their presentation.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev is asking the minister to explain what specific benefits the budget offers to vulnerable groups—such as large families, people with disabilities, and pensioners—while critically pointing out that the pension indexation rate is, in fact, on a downward trend compared to previous years.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi believes that the state's primary task is to ensure security and general well-being for all resident groups. He stressed that although problems with livelihoods exist, the state is, in fact, already prioritizing the weaker segments by investing in the social system, healthcare, and education—which are prerequisites for long-term self-sufficiency. Consequently, there is no reason to assume that the less fortunate should not feel pride in the state.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller called Tõnis Mölder to speak.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tõnis Mölder is concerned about the continuous growth of dividends taken from the state-owned enterprise RMK into the state budget, especially regarding the increase projected for 2026, and asks the minister to clarify whether this additional revenue stems from increased logging or from the utilization of previously accumulated assets.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi emphasized that the size of the dividends depends on solvency, harvest readiness, and the market forecast, noting that the existing mature timber allows felling volumes to be kept high, but regarding market forecasts, he leaves the speculation to be clarified by experts.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller and Kalle Grünthal were invited to speak.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal sharply criticizes the government's decision to allocate 8.2 million euros for officials' salary increases, deeming it a ridiculous priority in a situation where support for recipients of subsistence benefits increases by only 20 euros. He demands justification for why high-paid officials are being prioritized over those in need of assistance.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi criticized the opposition's high salaries and unfounded accusations, while emphasizing that Ministry of Finance officials have the lowest basic salaries in the country, which is why essential specialists are leaving, even though their professionalism is vital for the functioning of the state, and consequently, blaming salary increases is unfair.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Martin Helme was called by name to the speaker's stand by Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller to deliver his report.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme slams Minister Jürgen for incompetence, labeling him a failure and an imbecile, and accuses him of steering the country toward bankruptcy by passing a budget that includes a two-billion-euro loan. Helme stresses that this move directly contradicts the minister’s previous commitments regarding a balanced budget and the principle of never using borrowed funds for current expenditures, demanding an answer as to when the decision was made to start taking out loans to cover running costs.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concluded his speech with a brief and specific expression of thanks.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi rejected the statements attributed to him regarding the budget balance and taking loans to cover current expenditures, emphasizing that he had never uttered such phrases and that Estonia moved away from strict budget balance long ago, adopting a cyclical and structural balance instead. He called upon new participants in the discussion to familiarize themselves with the subject matter so they could ask better questions and receive better answers.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Riina Sikkut, inviting her to the podium.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut points out that although the budget strategy anticipates a reduction in the nominal deficit, the structural deficit is growing at the same time. She asks the minister how the government intends to achieve the necessary 1–1.5 billion euro improvement in the budget position after 2029, when the European Union exceptions cease to be valid.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi emphasizes that although the messages about the poor state of public finances have failed to register and society must take responsibility for the upkeep of the state, the real and decisive problem is actually a completely different government, one that threatens and occupies, creating great uncertainty regarding the future of the world by 2029.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Aleksandr Tšaplõgin.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin addressed the minister, stressing that poverty is a serious issue in Estonia, forcing thousands to live paycheck to paycheck and take out loans just to cover their utility bills, and he inquired whether the budget offers a solution to this problem.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi emphasizes that the budget primarily focuses on services supporting employment, education, and healthcare. He adds that while national defense is important, there is no need to portray the situation of Estonians as overly dramatic, because inequality is lower compared to Latvia and Lithuania, and Estonia is the most successful of the post-socialist countries in terms of quality indicators. For this reason, he is generally satisfied with the country's overall performance.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Martin Helme was invited to the podium by Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller to begin his presentation.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme is accusing the Reform Party of breaking their election promises, specifically highlighting that instead of delivering the promised responsible and balanced budget, they are moving in the opposite direction and significantly increasing the debt burden left for future generations. Consequently, the speaker questions whether the party is living in a parallel reality, having completely abandoned its core principles.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi, speaking as the government's representative, accused the opposition of deliberately misinterpreting the words of the Reform Party and Kaja Kallas. He defended the former prime minister's claim that taxes would not rise, emphasizing that public referendums should not be held on issues of responsible budgeting before elections, as the answer is ruinously predictable for the state.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller introduced the next speaker, inviting Züleyxa Izmailova to the stage.
Züleyxa Izmailova
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Züleyxa Izmailova acknowledges Jürgen Ligi as a long-time respected Estonian patriot, but sharply criticizes the large-deficit budget he is presenting, which threatens the country's credit rating and young people's ability to buy homes. She asks directly who is forcing him to make such a future-damaging decision, especially considering Ligi's own dissatisfaction with political decisions.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi emphasizes that his actions are driven by an internal sense of responsibility towards serving Estonia. This means taking into account public sentiment and opportunities for cooperation, citing his successful partnership with the Social Democrats as an example. He affirms that the core principle of politics is making compromises and understanding the needs of society, because no single party should ever seek absolute power.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller gave the floor to Riina Sikkut.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut is questioning the minister’s optimism that Estonian society will manage to reach a consensus by 2030 on tax hikes totaling 1 to 1.5 billion euros needed to save the state budget. She points out that tax increases are universally unpopular and asks why Estonia should be able to follow a different path than every other society where this kind of support has never emerged.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi dismisses accusations of optimism and stresses the necessity of shared responsibility, predicting that politicians who have inflated their ratings through irresponsible budget policy will sooner or later be forced to account for their actions, as the situation is shifting and society will demand answers—a development he has been warning about for nearly a decade.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller Lauri Läänemets was called to the rostrum to begin his presentation.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets criticizes the government for drafting the worst state budget in history, one that drastically increases the national debt and deficit. This is happening while revenues are cut by 780 million, a billion is simultaneously added to defense spending, the wealthiest benefit by over 100 million from tax revenues, and 460 million euros will now be spent annually on interest payments. Consequently, he deems the government's actions irresponsible.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller made a brief procedural remark, yielding the floor to the next speaker and noting that his time had arrived.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets criticizes the audience for actions that he believes are so extreme that they make EKRE's activities pale in comparison.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi believes that the overly sharp anti-tax sentiment, which is fueled by certain media groups and political forces, is dangerous because Estonians must collectively understand that they are responsible for supporting the state. Consequently, the government must improve society's pessimistic and hostile mood in order to restore cohesion and economic activity.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Züleyxa Izmailova, calling her to the podium to speak.
Züleyxa Izmailova
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Züleyxa Izmailova accuses the minister of aiming to teach Estonia an excessively costly lesson, despite the known responsibilities of running the state. This lesson involves gifting the richest at the expense of the poorest, which casts doubt on the minister's conscience and patriotism.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi dismisses the idea that this is a lesson, emphasizing that he is rather making a philosophical observation: people currently angry at the government and taxes will face a moment of truth in a couple of years, when they will have to admit that the state must be upheld, even if there are no "miracle workers" to be found anywhere.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller Andres Metsoja was called to the podium to deliver his presentation.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Andres Metsoja sharply criticizes the current fiscal policy, arguing that it fails to reflect state budget investments at the local government level. He cites, for instance, renewable energy parks built on state land, which generate millions in revenue for the state while leaving local authorities uncompensated. Consequently, he urgently demands that something be given back to the local level.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi first refutes the 1990s conception of the state as a mere redistributor, emphasizing its role in managing public affairs, and then focuses on the regulatory aspect of wind farms, stating that the relevant discussion revolves around how much tolerance or compensation should reach local residents, although he doubts the seriousness of the specific park's issues, given that it is located in a relatively quiet area.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concluded his questioning period, offering brief thanks and announcing that he had no further questions.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi thanked the audience and emphasized that the preceding discussion had been entirely civil.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller announced that a seven-minute recess would be taken to allow for a thorough discussion of the important steering committee topic, after which today's session will be adjourned, and discussions will not resume until tomorrow.