Continuation of the first reading of the Draft Law on the State Budget for 2026 (737 SE)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-10-08 17:08
Total Speeches: 78
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 33m
AI Summaries: 78/78 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The sitting continued the first reading of the draft 2026 State Budget Act (737), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The report of the leading committee was presented by Annely Akkermann, Chairman of the Finance Committee, who emphasized the reduction of income tax and the growth of national defense expenditures to over 5% of GDP as the budget's main priorities. She noted that budget revenues stand at 18.6 billion and expenditures at 19.5 billion euros, and the government sector's financing need reaches 1.7 billion euros. Akkermann defended the goal of abolishing the tax bracket system (or "tax hump"), arguing that it would bring the largest net salary increase specifically to those earning the average wage. The debate was heated, with the opposition criticizing the budget for irresponsibility, citing a record deficit (4.5% of GDP) and the use of borrowed funds to cover current expenses. Urmas Reinsalu and other opposition members questioned the government's mandate for increasing taxes and the debt burden, and criticized the tax gift to the wealthier, while social sectors (such as special welfare) remain underfunded. Coalition representatives (Õnne Pillak, Toomas Uibo) defended the choices, stressing the priority of ensuring security and promising to bring state finances into balance in the long term. At the conclusion of the negotiations, four opposition factions submitted a motion to reject the bill, which was voted down.
Decisions Made 3
The Riigikogu did not support the proposal put forth by the parliamentary groups of the Estonian Centre Party, the Social Democratic Party, Isamaa, and the Conservative People's Party of Estonia to reject the Government-initiated draft State Budget Act for 2026 (Bill 737) at its first reading (32 in favour, 44 against).
The first reading of Bill 737 concluded.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set for October 22nd at 5:15 PM.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was the rapporteur of the lead committee, Chairwoman of the Finance Committee Annely Akkermann (Reform Party), who presented a comprehensive report and repeatedly responded to the opposition's sharp questions regarding the budget deficit and tax policy. (Right-wing)
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced that the first reading of the draft State Budget Act for 2026, initiated by the Government of the Republic, which had been left unfinished at yesterday's sitting, would be continued, and he invited Annely Akkermann, Chairman of the Finance Committee, to the Riigikogu rostrum to present the report of the lead committee.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann, representing the Finance Committee, provided a comprehensive overview of the preparation process for the first reading of the 2026 state budget draft. This process included four sessions attended by all ministers. She highlighted that the key themes of the budget are a reduction in the tax burden and a robust increase in defense spending to over 5% of GDP, and confirmed that the committee has made the necessary procedural decisions for the draft’s further discussion.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the listeners and subsequently gave Urmas Reinsalu the opportunity to offer a brief response, asking him to then pose his question.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu sharply criticizes the government's budget communication, because the 1.4 billion euro reduction in administrative costs promised by the Prime Minister is not reflected in the draft budget, which instead shows an increase of 1.9 billion euros, and he urgently demands that the specific line items where the promised savings are actually visible be shown.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann explained that although she had not heard the previous question, she assumed that the 1.9 billion euro reduction in government spending would be spread over several years, emphasizing the nature of multi-year budget expenditures and also referencing the revenue side, such as income tax.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked Urmas and briefly confirmed that the comment he had made was perfectly clear.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann explains that the state budget lacks a specific line item for "governance costs," which is why she cannot present the requested data. However, the overall increase in expenditures is due to wage increases, the partial transfer of income tax revenue to local municipalities, and transfers to the social fund that have increased by hundreds of millions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi called Urmas Reinsalu to order, noting pointedly that the ongoing debate is not the "Esimene stuudio" (First Studio) open mic show, where interruptions are permitted at any moment.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann emphasizes that although the budget contains separate line items for the Health Insurance Fund and the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the line for administrative costs is missing, which makes commenting on the matter impossible from the perspective of the 2026 budget.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Following a brief introduction, Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Tanel Kiik.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik cannot comprehend the tone of satisfaction regarding this irresponsible and unfair budget, which simultaneously cuts revenue and increases spending amidst a deficit. He sharply criticized the government's priorities, which grant the wealthiest 10% a tax gift of over 100 million euros, while special care services, which desperately need serious assistance, receive only 4.2 million euros in additional funding.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann defends the Reform Party's election mandate to abolish the income tax kink, emphasizing that this step is mathematically targeted primarily at restoring the purchasing power of workers earning the average and median wage, who have suffered under long-term inflation and unfair 33% taxation. She ironically noted that this year's budget is exceptionally cost-based due to high defense expenditures.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Aivar Sõerd, inviting him to the podium.
Aivar Sõerd
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Sõerd sharply criticizes the ministries' approach to developing cost cuts, arguing that the proposals were presented using traditional input-based budget lines (such as travel and IT expenses) rather than being broken down by the programs of the activity-based budget. He questioned why the ministries themselves, when making budget decisions, are utilizing a system that fails to comply with the official procedural method.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann emphasizes that the role of politicians in the Riigikogu is to focus on policy and goals, not on accounting-based calculations of expenditure types, which is why activity-based budgeting is essential for discussing substantive issues and the impact of how taxpayer money is used, for instance, through reducing traffic fatalities or setting specific goals for ministerial activities.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi expressed confusion regarding the timing of the previous speech's conclusion, paused for a moment, and then yielded the floor to Reili Ranna.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand drew attention to the drastic drop in Estonia's birth rate, which has fallen below the 10,000 mark, and emphasized the necessity of political will to implement recommendations based on the Ministry of Social Affairs' analysis. These recommendations require targeted expenditures, such as making family benefits fairer, raising the single parent allowance, and increasing the school meal subsidy, in order to support families and ensure children's mental health.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi limited himself to a brief expression of thanks, conveying his gratitude with just a single word.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand criticized the Finance Committee for prioritizing the distribution of funds to the wealthiest while neglecting children and families.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi briefly expressed his gratitude and concluded his remarks.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand questions the fairness and justification of the action under discussion, stressing that its impact on the future of the Estonian state is doubtful.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann emphasizes that the elimination of the tax bulge and the resulting income tax reduction, while mathematically also benefiting the wealthier, is primarily aimed at average-wage Estonians (such as nurses, doctors, and teachers). The objective is to boost families' purchasing power, improve their financial well-being, and consequently encourage higher birth rates.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi and Aivar Kokk were invited to the podium to begin their presentation.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk emphasizes the importance of the revenue side but finds that the revenue distribution in the presented state budget is too weak, demanding a detailed explanation of the sources (e.g., electricity, fuel, foodstuffs) from which the VAT, which constitutes a large portion of state revenues, is collected, so that making amendment proposals would be possible.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann believes that although the topic under discussion might be overly detailed for the state budget, the necessary information regarding the distribution of companies' turnovers according to EMTAK codes is already possessed by the state via annual reports. Consequently, she does not doubt the availability of the data or the feasibility of performing the statistical calculations.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Arvo Aller, inviting him to the podium.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller inquired of the commission rapporteur why the reporting of non-monetary expenses, particularly depreciation, was excluded from the state budget, suspecting that this step was taken to artificially suppress the budget deficit percentage (4.5%) in order to meet European Union requirements and avoid displaying a larger deficit.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann explained that although the calculation of depreciation is defined by standards and described in the explanatory memorandum, it has not been taken into account when calculating the budgetary position, because members of the Riigikogu cannot make non-monetary changes, and it would also not change the comparable budgetary position calculated according to the European Union methodology.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
After a brief introduction, Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi handed the floor over to the next speaker, Reili Rand.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand acknowledges the necessity of abolishing the tax hump and providing support to average wage earners, but she sharply draws attention to the fact that the current budget grants the disproportionately largest benefit precisely to the wealthiest 10% of people. The tax relief for this group alone costs 114 million euros, which calls into question the fairness of the overall situation when compared, for instance, to the median wage in Hiiumaa.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann mathematically rebuffs the argument that the impact of the benefit would be proportional, explaining that the maximum 154-euro compensation goes to those earning 2,100–2,200 euros. Meanwhile, for individuals in the higher deciles (earning 5,000–6,000 euros), this amount makes up a significantly smaller relative portion of their salary, which is why the distribution is not mathematically sound.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi handed the floor over to Mart Maastik.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik criticizes the government's plan to abolish the linear income tax exemption at a time when the state budget is in a deep deficit of 1.7 billion euros and loans are being taken out to cover current expenses, calling into question both the timing of fulfilling such an election promise and its correlation with the budgetary situation.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann stressed the strong mandate for delivering on election promises, but sharply criticized the unfair tax system, whereby wage increases between 1,200 and 2,100 euros are subject to an effective tax rate of 33%. This occurs despite the current implementation of a 700-euro tax-exempt income for employees and a more favorable allowance for pensioners.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi admonishes his colleagues, especially one constant interrupter, to refrain from overly long interjections, emphasizing that while brief remarks are permitted, lengthier statements must be reserved for the official round of negotiations.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann claims that the implementation of a 700-euro tax-free income allowance actually creates a linear income tax system where the effective tax rate smoothly rises from 0% to 22%. She gives the example that for a salary of 700 euros, the income tax is 0%, whereas for a salary of 1400 euros, it is already approximately 10%, mathematically approaching 22%.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi and Helir-Valdor Seeder were invited to the podium to begin their presentation.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder challenges the government's claim of a strong mandate, demanding clarification on where this mandate originated for implementing sweeping tax hikes (including car, income, and VAT taxes), which stands in direct contradiction to the prime minister's pre-election promise that taxes would not rise.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann confirms that the Reform Party government has fulfilled its election promise regarding sound fiscal policy, strictly keeping the deficit within the permitted limits and the Maastricht criteria, in contrast to the 5.2% GDP deficit incurred by the previous EKREIKE government.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi and Õnne Pillak were called to the podium, but the content of the address delivered by him/her is not reflected in the text.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Õnne Pillak poses a historical and philosophical question, challenging the consistency of the current critics of the budget deficit. She asks whether they were equally concerned and had an exit strategy back in 2020 when the deficit stood at 5.2% (a situation caused by wasteful spending during "good times"), especially when compared to next year's projected 4.5% deficit, which is driven by the sharp increase in national defense expenditures.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann praised Mart Laar for his foresight, recalling how he had wanted to enshrine the budget balance requirement in the constitution. She admitted that while she hadn't approved of the idea back then, knowing what happened later (e.g., 2016/2017), she realized she should have supported Laar’s proposal.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi concluded the round of questions, thanked the participants, and announced that they had moved into the negotiation phase, but first yielded the floor to Arvo Aller to ask a procedural question.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller raised a procedural question, noting that although he had sent a notification, he could no longer find the necessary materials or links associated with the agenda item—materials that had still been available yesterday. He requested clarification on whether they had disappeared due to a technical error.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi stressed to his colleagues the need to review the materials and make clarifications, expressed hope that technical solutions would be found during the course of the negotiations, and subsequently officially opened the debate by inviting Lauri Laats, the representative of the Estonian Centre Party faction, to the floor first.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats briefly requested three minutes of extra time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi confined his remarks solely to noting the time, briefly announcing that eight minutes were available.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats sharply challenges the Reform Party's supposed strong mandate, stressing that it was secured through electoral deception, particularly concerning tax hikes, and that the public lacks confidence in the incompetent government mired in scandals. Consequently, the speaker cannot endorse the proposed state budget, which is deeply in deficit, utilizes loans to cover running costs, and ignores the public mandate, such as reducing the VAT on groceries, leading to a proposal to reject the budget.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Riina Sikkut to speak on behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut sharply criticizes the government's 2026 state budget, labeling it a deception and a state of chaos, arguing that it will neither bring prosperity nor guarantee security. Instead, it increases an unprecedented structural debt burden without any plan for exiting the deficit, all while drastically rising interest costs are eating away at the budget. The speaker particularly condemns the fact that borrowed money is being channeled as tax giveaways to the wealthiest 10%, completely ignoring the critical underfunding in social welfare and the ability of low-wage earners to cope. This demonstrates the government's irresponsible prioritization, which utterly disregards statesmanship.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi briefly requested three minutes of extra time to continue his address.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut sharply criticizes the government's budget policy, which has led to an unprecedentedly large deficit and a growing debt burden, accusing the coalition of political shortsightedness and avoiding responsibility, and announcing a proposal on behalf of the Social Democrats to reject the budget at the first reading.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats thanked the audience and subsequently handed the Riigikogu rostrum over to his colleague, Õnne Pillak, on behalf of the Estonian Reform Party faction.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Õnne Pillak defended the government's fiscal policy during a passionate state budget debate, stressing that while next year's budget is running a 4.5% deficit, this is necessitated by the deteriorating security situation in Europe and the need to raise national defense spending to at least 5% of GDP—a measure most other EU countries are also undertaking. She criticized previous governments for failing to accumulate reserves and asserted that the Reform Party's budget supports Estonia's freedom and economy by fulfilling the promise to abolish the tax hump and lower the tax burden to 35.2%, thereby creating favorable conditions for economic growth.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi made a brief request, asking for three minutes of additional time to continue his presentation or remarks.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Õnne Pillak defends the government’s budget choices, stressing that tax cuts will significantly boost the incomes of average wage earners (such as teachers and rescuers), thereby stimulating the economy. She also confirms the continuation and growth of pension indexation. Addressing concerns regarding state finances, she promises to reduce the budget deficit and implement €1.4 billion in cuts, which will also cover planned wage increases. She concludes by calling on her colleagues to support the budget, which is focused on strengthening defense, lowering the tax burden, and increasing incomes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the audience and, on behalf of the Eesti 200 parliamentary group, invited his colleague Toomas Uibo to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Toomas Uibo
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Toomas Uibo presents the 2026 state budget as a conscious choice designed to break the trend of deficit and debt growth, while simultaneously offering breathing room to people and businesses by lowering the tax burden, and making smart investments in education, science, and vital sectors, all aimed at building a responsible and strong future for Estonia, as we move step-by-step toward achieving budget balance.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the previous speakers and subsequently gave the floor to colleague Aivar Kokk on behalf of the Isamaa parliamentary group, adding a brief procedural note that they would not be able to read everything aloud.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk sharply criticizes the presented state budget, deeming it the worst in a long time and the minister's responses weak. He accuses the government of lying regarding the abolition of the tax hump, emphasizing that the 1.7 billion euro loan was taken primarily to fund salary increases for the highly paid (members of the Riigikogu, ministers), while low-income individuals gain virtually nothing. Furthermore, he finds that the government is taking a total of 2 billion euros away from people and entrepreneurs, returning only a fraction, and directing that fraction mainly toward the wealthier segment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi confined himself to an extremely brief affirmative reply, expressing either agreement or confirmation.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk sharply criticizes the government's budget policy and tax hikes, accusing them of a lack of transparency regarding revenues. He stresses that loans are being taken out to cover the income tax exemption for members of the Riigikogu, while the increase in excise duties (electricity, fuel) and the pointless motor vehicle tax burden ordinary people. He especially accuses the coalition, led by the Social Democrats, of hypocrisy and taking 2,400 euros away from families.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi concluded his address with a brief thank you.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk, speaking on behalf of the Isamaa Party, proposed rejecting the bill in question during the first reading, noting that he would immediately present the relevant document.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced that the next speaker to take the Riigikogu podium, on behalf of the EKRE faction, will be esteemed colleague Rain Epler.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler is accusing the governing coalition of dishonesty and irresponsible fiscal policy. Instead of reducing the promised debt burden, the budget deficit is soaring to a historically high level, and the national debt is ballooning to 13.5 billion. Moreover, borrowed funds are being disproportionately allocated to the green transition and the ill-conceived Rail Baltic project rather than to national defense, especially given that Latvia doesn't even consider the connection toward Estonia a priority.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi briefly and specifically expressed his consent or confirmation.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler sharply criticizes the government’s priorities, arguing that given the complex geopolitical situation, the focus should be on national defense, instead of sinking millions from the Ministry of Climate’s budget into swamps (the flooding of forests), while the Ministry of Culture is implementing cuts that jeopardize constitutional objectives. Finally, he calls on the cultural community to be less soft, not to faint over harsh metaphors, and not to re-elect "moral bastards"—meaning the current ruling parties—who fail to grasp the purpose of the state's existence.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi offered his thanks and explained that even though the Centre Party had not been named directly, the repeated references to the coalition provided the EKREIKE faction with grounds for a counter-speech, for which Vadim Belobrovtsev was invited to the rostrum.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev accuses the Reform Party of pursuing a policy based on falsehoods, stressing that the abolition of the tax hump—which will cost the state half a billion—will not result in any significant tax relief for the majority of people. Instead, it will boost the incomes of high earners, making the claim that the tax burden is decreasing an outright lie.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi introduced the response address by the Social Democratic Party faction, thanking the previous speaker and subsequently yielding the floor to Reili Rand.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand clarified the Social Democrats' family policy, emphasizing that the state must value every Estonian child, regardless of their birth order or family model, and called on colleagues to stop polarizing different family models.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi clarified that although this did not constitute a direct counter-response to a previous counter-response, the Isamaa faction was entitled to reply because EKREIKE had been mentioned during the preceding discussion. He subsequently yielded the floor to Aivar Kokk to deliver the rebuttal on behalf of Isamaa.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk criticizes the Social Democrats for scrapping benefits for large families, considering it an illogical and politically damaging move, especially since the benefit cuts are being presented as child-friendly policy, which will haunt the party for a long time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Helle-Moonika Helme, as the representative of the EKRE faction, to present a response speech.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme is defending the former EKRE, Isamaa, and Center Party government against accusations made by the Reform Party, emphasizing that the previous coalition left the economy with 8% growth and a lower debt burden, whereas the current government has driven the national debt past 11.5 billion euros. Therefore, she calls for an end to the unnecessary finger-pointing and urges action for the benefit of the Estonian state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi concluded the debate and announced that despite the lead committee's recommendation to conclude the first reading of Draft Law 737 on the 2026 State Budget Act, four factions have submitted an identically worded proposal to reject the bill. Consequently, this joint rejection proposal was immediately put to a vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced that the first reading of Bill 737 has concluded, as the proposal failed to gain support (32 voted in favor, 44 against), and set the deadline for submitting amendments as 5:15 PM on October 22 of the current year.