First Reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Motor Vehicle Tax Act (625 SE)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-10-09 02:55
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 66
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 34m
AI Summaries: 66/66 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debate focused on the final item on today's agenda, which was the first reading of Bill 625, the draft act amending the Motor Vehicle Tax Act, initiated by the Estonian Centre Party faction. The aim of the bill was to restore fairness and exempt motor vehicles owned by disabled persons from the annual tax, while keeping the registration fee in force. Presenter Vadim Belobrovtsev emphasized that disabled people are specially protected by the constitution and often depend on personal transport due to mobility restrictions. He criticized the government's conduct, which deprived disabled people of the initial tax exemption, offering insufficient subsidies instead.
Annely Akkermann, Chair of the Finance Committee, presented the committee's position, noting that the Government of the Republic does not support the bill. Akkermann explained that after the President failed to promulgate the original car tax law (citing unequal treatment, as the benefit only applied to modified cars), the government decided to increase social benefits by 9.1 million euros annually. She justified abandoning the tax exemption due to technical difficulties (connecting the Transport Agency and disability registers) and the risk of potential misuse. The opposition (Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart and Helmen Kütt) countered, stressing that the increase in benefits was neither sufficient nor comprehensive enough to cover all groups of disabled people, and that the Chancellor of Justice and the President had demanded a unified tax exemption, not subsidies. Following negotiations, the leading committee's proposal to reject the bill was put to a vote and was supported.
Decisions Made 1
The Riigikogu voted in favor of the proposal put forward by the lead committee (the Finance Committee) to reject Bill 625 at the first reading. The bill was consequently dismissed from the proceedings (40 in favor, 10 against).
Most Active Speaker
Vadim Belobrovtsev (Center Party faction, left) was the most active speaker, introducing the draft bill and repeatedly fielding questions while defending the need for tax exemption for people with disabilities.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller opened the floor for the final, 13th item on the agenda—the first reading of Draft Act 625 on amendments to the Motor Vehicle Tax Act, initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction—and invited Riigikogu member Vadim Belobrovtsev to serve as the rapporteur.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev is introducing an amendment to the Motor Vehicle Tax Act aimed at restoring fairness and ensuring the livelihood of a socially vulnerable group. This is achieved by exempting motor vehicles owned by disabled persons from the annual tax, given their increased dependence on personal transport due to mobility restrictions—a necessity for this exception that has also been emphasized by the Chancellor of Justice.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev emphasizes the necessity of restoring justice and guaranteeing the protection of socially vulnerable groups by introducing a bill that amends the Motor Vehicle Tax Act. The amendment adds a provision which exempts vehicles owned by disabled individuals from the annual tax, taking into account their increased reliance on personal transportation, their constitutional right to special protection, and the Chancellor of Justice's prior recommendations regarding the establishment of tax concessions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker, announced that he had received questions, and then invited Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to the podium.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart is criticizing the government's actions regarding the car tax bill as it relates to people with disabilities, finding it cynical that the coalition, instead of establishing the unified tax exemption demanded by the president, completely removed the existing special provisions and replaced them with minimal support payments.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart calls the government's behavior during the handling of the car tax bill cynical because, following the President's demand to ensure a standardized tax exemption for people with disabilities, the coalition instead scrapped all special provisions and replaced them with minimal support payments that do not provide adequate relief.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev has found the government’s conduct regarding the implementation of the car tax strange and incomprehensible right from the start, because despite the package of exceptions developed by the support group for large families—a package intended to simplify life for families with three or five children or more—all the concessions were rejected by the bill’s initiators. This left both large families and people with disabilities without the necessary tax exemptions, meaning the entire effort was shelved.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev finds the government’s conduct regarding the implementation of the car tax strange and baffling right from the start. This is because, despite the efforts of the working group formed specifically to develop exemptions for large families, all the proposed benefits—for both large families and people with disabilities—were ultimately scrapped. Consequently, all that work was done for nothing and simply filed away, meaning everyone has to pay the same amount.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar and Peeter Ernits were invited to speak.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits proposes expanding the definition of people with disabilities, asking rhetorically whether it shouldn't also include sociopaths or those who are completely indifferent to the suffering of others and believe that everything is just fine.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev acknowledges that certain individuals may indeed be misanthropes, but stresses that an exception should be made for people with disabilities who possess the relevant documentation.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev, first noting that these individuals are more accurately misanthropes than sociopaths, stresses that an exception must be made in all cases for people with disabilities who possess the relevant documentation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Vladimir Arhipov to the podium, but the text he provided does not include the content of the speech.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arkhipov addresses the presenter to clarify the actual impact that the mitigation measure currently under discussion will have on the target group who stands to benefit from it.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov addressed the rapporteur with a question regarding the specific impact the measure under discussion would have on the group of people who would receive relief from it.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev emphasizes that the separate protection of people with disabilities has a clear positive social and economic impact on both individuals and the state, noting that while this would not be a burden on the state budget, the main objective is to ensure constitutionally compliant protection, which fully justifies the means.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev believes that the planned measure has a clearly positive social and economic impact, especially for people with disabilities, by offering them protection and improving their modest income. Furthermore, it does not create a significant burden on the state budget, and the goal—the separate protection of people with disabilities—fully justifies the means.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman, Lauri Hussar, thanked the rapporteur, concluded the round of questions, and immediately thereafter gave the floor to Peeter Ernits to pose a question regarding the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the round of questions for the speaker, thanked him, and then gave the floor to Peeter Ernits to ask a question concerning the procedure of conducting the session.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits expressed strong indignation regarding the chair's drafting of the agenda, questioning why such a crucial topic as the draft bill addressing the problems of people with disabilities was scheduled for discussion at midnight, when the public cannot monitor it, while less substantive or purely symbolic issues were handled earlier.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits criticizes the chairman for scheduling important social issues, such as the bill addressing the problems of people with disabilities, for a midnight session—a time when the public cannot follow the debate—while less significant and symbolic topics were discussed earlier.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar explained to his colleague Peeter Ernits the Board's long-standing practice of moving bills—which had been repeatedly pulled from the agenda because discussion was impossible—to the end of the queue. He also confirmed that Riigikogu members were prepared to attend the session, and subsequently invited Annely Akkermann, Chair of the Finance Committee, to the podium to continue the debate.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar explained to his colleague Peeter Ernits that, pursuant to the long-standing practice of the board, the specific draft bill had been relegated to the end of the queue due to repeated failures to successfully debate the matter. He confirmed that the Riigikogu members were present and prepared to vote, and subsequently requested Annely Akkermann, the Chair of the Finance Committee, to introduce the discussion that had occurred within the committee.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann provided an overview of the draft bill—which had been repeatedly discussed in the Finance Committee and concerns the expansion of annual motor vehicle tax benefits for people with disabilities—stressing that the Government of the Republic does not support the bill, and the committee intends to propose to the Riigikogu that it be rejected.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann introduced the position of the Finance Committee regarding the draft bill on extending annual motor vehicle tax benefits to people with disabilities, noting that the government does not support this initiative and that the committee proposes to the plenary session that the bill be rejected.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the esteemed presenter for the presentation and then gave the floor to Vladimir Arhipov to begin the round of questions.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov pointed out that the motor vehicle tax is one of the most hated taxes among the public, and asked the presenter whether the commission had discussed any alternative solutions for the controversial levy.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov raises a question regarding the widely disliked motor vehicle tax, asking the rapporteur whether the committee considered alternative solutions to this proposal, which is now being rejected.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann confirmed, briefly and specifically, that the commission has not discussed any alternative solutions to the motor vehicle tax.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Peeter Ernits.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits fiercely criticized the government's priorities, pointing out that they disregard the concerns of people with disabilities because funds are being channeled elsewhere, and then ironically requested the waiter to wave to one disabled viewer.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits pointed out that at least one disabled person was observing the session, and posed the rhetorical question of whether the government had decided to set aside the concerns of people with disabilities and redirect the funds elsewhere, thereby sharply criticizing the state's priorities regarding social issues.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann is rejecting the proposal for a motor vehicle tax exemption for people with disabilities. She explains that following the president's opposition to such a concession, this solution was replaced with an annual increase in social benefits amounting to 9.1 million euros, which, when taking into account the collected tax revenue, already constitutes considerable support for the disabled community.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann rejects the proposal, explaining that because the President deemed the motor vehicle tax exemption intended for people with disabilities to be unconstitutional, that solution was replaced last year with a 9.1 million euro increase in social benefits. This increase ensures broader access to assistive devices and constitutes a significant portion of the total collected tax revenue.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar and Vadim Belobrovtsev were called to the podium by name to begin their presentation.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev expressed his bewilderment regarding the peculiar trajectory of the draft law, asking the rapporteur for clarification as to why the creation of exceptions for large families and people with disabilities was repeatedly altered, ultimately resulting in complex schemes instead of a simple exemption from the motor vehicle tax.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev expressed his bewilderment over the strange and illogical movement of the bill, asking the rapporteur why the initial exceptions for large families were dropped, and why a complicated scheme was introduced instead of granting disabled people the car tax exemption demanded by both the President and the Chancellor of Justice.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann explained that since the president failed to proclaim the motor vehicle tax exemption due to constitutional considerations, and because merging the registers of the Transport Administration and people with disabilities is practically impossible, the government will direct the tax revenue straight toward significantly increasing disability benefits, funding for assistive devices, and services, in order to ensure equal treatment for all people.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann explained that the president did not promulgate the motor vehicle tax law because the tax exemption based on modifying cars is not constitutional, and combining the registers for disabled people and vehicles is technically impossible. Therefore, the government decided instead to use the expected tax revenue to increase disability benefits and improve the accessibility of assistive devices for people with severe or profound disabilities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart explains that the president failed to promulgate the motor vehicle tax bill because it violates articles of the constitution by placing disabled people in an unequal position, granting tax exemption only to owners of modified vehicles. Therefore, it is necessary to establish special provisions and a full tax exemption for all disabled people, a point that has also been emphasized by the Chancellor of Justice and the Estonian Chamber of Disabled People.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart explained that the President refused to proclaim the motor vehicle tax because it contradicts Section 12 of the Constitution, placing people with disabilities in an unequal position. This is because the tax exemption only applies to owners of modified vehicles, whereas equal treatment would require the exemption of all people with disabilities. She stressed that this position is also supported by the Chancellor of Justice, who views the tax as a threat to the protected rights of people with disabilities.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann defended the government's policy, stressing that the equal increase in benefits for people with disabilities adhered to the President's requirement for equal treatment, and the Chancellor of Justice did not deem the current system unconstitutional. Furthermore, she asserted that the proposed 116-euro motor vehicle tax is neither confiscatory nor does it force anyone to give up their car, given that the formation of social policy falls under the competence of the Riigikogu.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann clarified that the presidential decision merely mandates the equal treatment of individuals, resulting in the uniform increase of benefits for people with disabilities. She further emphasized that the Chancellor of Justice has not found the current support system to be unconstitutional, while simultaneously affirming that social policy remains within the purview of the Riigikogu. Additionally, she remarked that the annual motor vehicle tax of 116 euros is not confiscatory and does not compel anyone to abandon their vehicle.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Helmen Kütt was called to the podium by Chairman Lauri Hussar to present her report.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt sharply criticizes the claim that benefits for all disabled people have been raised, emphasizing that children and working-age individuals with moderate disabilities were left completely unsupported, and the increases in benefits for those with severe disabilities were negligible, ranging only from a few cents up to 16 euros—which, in her view, is no increase whatsoever.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt categorically refutes the claim that the benefits for all people with disabilities have been raised, highlighting that the allowances for children and working-age people with moderate disabilities, as well as old-age pensioners receiving disability support, remained completely unchanged. She adds that even the increases in benefits for working-age people with severe disabilities were ridiculously minimal, amounting to only cents to a few euros.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann notes that although the increases in disability benefits were prepared by the Ministry of Social Affairs, she considers it a significant factor that 10% of the motor vehicle tax revenue—which amounts to approximately 100 million euros annually—is distributed back to people with disabilities.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann, who stresses that she is not a social policy expert and that the Ministry of Social Affairs prepared the increases in disability benefits, notes that roughly 10% of the approximately 100 million euros in annual revenue generated by the motor vehicle tax will be channeled back to people with disabilities, which constitutes a rather significant proportion.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Vadim Belobrovtsev, calling him to the podium.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev revisits the issue of supporting large families and asks why the specific support measures developed by the relevant working group were not included in the initial draft bill, suggesting that this omission is the reason the law recently had to be amended again.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev returns to the issue of supporting large families, asking why the measures developed by the corresponding support group in the Riigikogu failed to make it into the draft legislation, and suggests that implementing them earlier would have precluded the need for a subsequent amendment to the law.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann is explaining the rationale behind the social policy, under which families with children will be supported through a reduction in the motor vehicle tax. This reduction will amount to 100 euros for every child under the age of 19, thereby guaranteeing proportionally greater tax relief for larger families.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann explains that social policy experts considered reducing the motor vehicle tax by 100 euros for every child under the age of 19 to support families with children, ensuring that larger families would receive a proportionally greater tax benefit.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Helmen Kütt, inviting her to the podium to deliver her presentation.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt directly asked the commission whether representatives of the Chamber of People with Disabilities had been included in the proceedings regarding the bill initiated by the Centre Party, stressing that debate is always better and more substantive when all sides are able to voice their opinions.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt inquired about the proceedings concerning the bill initiated by the Centre Party, directly asking the committee whether representatives of the Chamber of Disabled People were involved in the discussion, emphasizing the need to hear from various stakeholders for the sake of a better debate.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann explained the stages of the bill's proceedings, emphasizing the deadline for amendments and the preparation for the second reading, and announced that the Motor Vehicle Tax Act must be amended once more due to specific shortcomings that have emerged during implementation, simultaneously requesting a review of the opinion of people with disabilities attached to the bill's file.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann provided an overview of the stages of the bill's proceedings, highlighting the deadline for submitting proposed amendments and the necessity of an inclusion meeting. She also proactively announced that the Motor Vehicle Tax Act is expected to receive one further amendment due to implementation difficulties, while confirming that the positions of people with disabilities have been incorporated into the draft materials.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the rapporteur and closed the Q&A session. He then opened the floor for debate, during which, following a brief procedural clarification, he gave the floor to Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, representing the faction.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the rapporteur, closed the round of questions, officially opened the debate, and, following a brief procedural clarification, immediately gave the floor to Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to speak on behalf of the faction.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart criticizes the confusion that has arisen during the processing of the car tax bill and demands that the draft legislation be moved to a second reading instead of being rejected, so that its flaws can be corrected, especially the absence of specific provisions and exemptions for people with disabilities. She accuses the government of aiming to collect money for the state budget specifically at the expense of society’s most vulnerable groups.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart sharply criticizes the handling of the car tax bill, accusing the government of hypocrisy regarding the special provisions and exemptions for people with disabilities. She emphasizes that the state continues to seek profit at the expense of weaker social groups. Therefore, she asks the Riigikogu not to support the proposal to reject the bill during the first reading, so that this "flawed bill" can be amended during the second reading and merged with other car tax amendment bills.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar closed the debate and announced that he would put the leading committee’s proposal to a vote in the Riigikogu: to reject draft bill 625 at the first reading.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar closed the debate, announced the leading committee's proposal to reject Bill 625 at the first reading, and asked the Riigikogu to take a position on that proposal and vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar informed the members of the Riigikogu that Bill 625 had been rejected by a vote of 40 in favor and 10 against, and would therefore be dropped from the proceedings, after which today's session was declared closed.