First Reading of the Draft Act on the 2025 State Supplementary Budget (733 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-10-13 18:25
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 25
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 16m
AI Summaries: 25/25 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the first reading of Draft Law 733 on the state's 2025 supplementary budget, initiated by the Government of the Republic. Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi introduced the draft, emphasizing that this is the second supplementary budget this year, which reduces expenditures by 19.9 million and investments by 12 million, while increasing financing transactions by 72.3 million. The main focus of the budget is national defense, within which the budget of the Ministry of Defense is increased by 39 million euros. A significant part of the changes concerned comprehensive national defense, especially energy infrastructure: within the administrative area of the Ministry of Climate, Elering's share capital is increased by 45 million euros, of which 35 million is directed towards protecting transformers against hybrid threats. Also, the implementation of several major projects, such as activities related to the transition to Estonian-language education (60.5 million euros), is postponed because they cannot be realized this year.
During the debate, MPs asked questions regarding the financing of Elering, investments in hydrogen infrastructure, and the intended use of the 17.8 million euros distributed via SmartCap. Minister Ligi explained that strengthening Elering's capital is necessary for attracting foreign capital and admitted that the postponements of projects stem from the tendency of ministers to overestimate their capacity to implement their projects. Annely Akkermann, Chair of the Finance Committee, introduced the committee's discussion, where it was decided to conclude the first reading of the draft law.
Decisions Made 2
The first reading of Bill 733 was concluded.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set for October 27th at 5:15 PM.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced the commencement of today's second agenda item: the first reading of Draft Act 733 on the 2025 Supplementary Budget, initiated by the Government of the Republic, and invited Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi to the rostrum to introduce the draft.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi is providing an overview of this year's second supplementary budget, which focuses on reallocating expenditures and investments and increasing financing transactions. He emphasized the continued dominance of national defense, which receives an additional 39 million euros in funding, the protection of critical energy infrastructure (transformers) against hybrid threats with 45 million euros, and the postponement of several projects, including activities for the transition to Estonian-language education, until subsequent years.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the respected Minister, announcing that there were questions, and then invited Aivar Kok to the podium.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk demanded an explanation from the Minister of Finance regarding the allocation of 17.8 million euros to the joint-stock company SmartCap and its subsequent distribution through the Venture Fund, expressing strong suspicion that the government lacks oversight regarding which entrepreneurs are actually receiving this large sum, and demanding the disclosure of the actual recipients.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi explains that the decisions of the innovation loan funds are project-based and are made relatively autonomously, without needing to be escalated to the government level, but confirms that accountability and targeted oversight are always ensured.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called Rain Epler to the podium to begin his presentation.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler is questioning the justification for increasing Elering's share capital, asking why the resilience of critical infrastructure isn't handled via network tariffs, and what will happen to the funds earmarked for hydrogen transit infrastructure investments if the expected co-financing from the European Union fails to materialize.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi confirmed the existence of a decision regarding European-level hydrogen infrastructure, but stressed that guaranteeing the reliability of the infrastructure is a choice of national policy that is not profit-driven, and that it should be financed primarily through strengthening equity capital, as the largest expenditure is related to the concrete protection of the transformers.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar and Peeter Ernits were called to the rostrum to take the floor.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits considers the transition to Estonian-language education critically important, but sharply criticizes the 6.5 million euro error in its financing, which now necessitates postponing the process. He questions how such a massive correction could have arisen, especially since it stands in stark contrast to previous adjustments that amounted to only one euro.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi defended the submitted supplementary budget, calling it good, but admitted that the 6.5 million euro surplus stems from the ministers' chronic tendency to overestimate their capacity to implement projects and spend money. This overestimation is precisely what leads to budget tensions and surpluses, which officials constantly attempt to combat through more precise planning.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Aivar Koka.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk is questioning the minister in detail regarding the 50 million euro investment into the defense industry fund, demanding clarification on the fund's total volume, the percentage of Estonian participation, and the fund's actual operations, as this constitutes the largest single line item in the budget.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi voiced his displeasure over the assessments concerning his knowledge, clarifying that although he deals with large figures in the Ministry of Defence budget and doesn't have the detailed reports readily available, they are in existence and accessible upon request. Nevertheless, he recommended directing requests for more detailed comments to the Minister of Defence, as he personally does not wish to engage with the subject in depth any further.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited the next speaker, Tarmo Tamm, to the podium, requesting that he begin his address.
Tarmo Tamm
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tarmo Tamm provided an extremely brief and specific answer, confining himself only to the negative phrase, "I don't have any."
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar confirmed that the situation was clear, announced that they were moving forward, and then gave the floor to the next speaker, Peeter Ernits.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits asks the minister to clarify whether the ministers' tendency to systematically overestimate their capabilities and the promises they have made – a tendency also highlighted by the 6.5 million euro issue – is a general syndrome affecting the current Estonian government.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi clarifies that while this is not a general rule, budgetary competition often leads governments to overestimate their capacity to implement their programs during the planning phase, noting that this issue has plagued all previous administrations.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Rain Epler as the next speaker.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler raised two issues: first, how the resilience of the electricity infrastructure to weather conditions differs from its resilience to potential attacks, and second, he questioned the necessity of the government support being provided to Elering, citing the company's report which indicated that their cash and equivalents grew from 65 million to 95 million, suggesting a sufficient financial standing.
Rahandusminister Jürgen Ligi
AI Summary
Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi stressed that he would not delve into technical details while introducing the supplementary budget, but explained that Elering's capital structure must be strong enough to allow for the favorable and smooth raising of external capital for the implementation of projects, even if the company itself has funds.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the minister and concluded the questioning, subsequently giving the floor at the Riigikogu rostrum to Annely Akkermann, Chair of the Finance Committee, to present the discussion that had taken place in the committee.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann provided an overview of the Finance Committee meeting, where the preparation of draft bill 733 concerning the 2025 supplementary budget for its first reading was discussed. She highlighted questions regarding the 45 million euros allocated to Elering and the reallocation of funds designated for the Ministry of the Interior's vehicle procurement. The Committee decided consensually to include the draft bill on the plenary session agenda, and the majority of members voted in favor of concluding the first reading (8 in favor, 1 against), while simultaneously setting the deadline for amendments at ten working days.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that, since no questions or requests to speak were submitted following the presentation, the first reading of Bill 733 has been concluded upon the proposal of the lead committee, and the deadline for submitting amendments has been set for 17:15 on October 27th of this year.