Draft law amending § 5 of the Act on the Election of Municipal Councils (530 SE) – First Reading
Session: Fifteenth Estonian Parliament, fifth session, plenary session.
Date: 2025-01-30 12:02
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 34
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 44m
AI Summaries: 34/34 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today, the first reading of the draft law amending section 5 of the Local Government Council Elections Act, initiated by Member of the Riigikogu Leo Kunnas, was considered. The draft's aim was to link the right to vote in local governments to the Riigikogu’s declaration identifying Russia's actions as terrorism – a question of considerable power in the current security situation, which tests the constitution's resilience and the extent of voting rights. The discussion during the first reading focused on the stamping of legal consistency and its pragmatic effect on voter loyalty and potential societal influence.
In the second part, there was an introduction and discussion by the Constitutional Committee, where, in cooperation with the government, the legitimacy of the draft law and potential side effects were considered; the committee decided to raise the draft to the plenary agenda and at the same time reject the draft, as presented by both members participating in the discussion and representatives of the committee. Thirdly, an inter-faction discussion took place, with the central tone being the context of national and allied relations, and the question of the boundaries of voting rights for stateless persons and citizens of other third countries. Finally, a joint agreement was reached that the draft 530 should be rejected in the first reading and it was confirmed by a vote of 41–5–0, as a result of which the draft is removed from proceedings. The session concluded with the determination of the official outcome and subsequent procedures.
Decisions Made 1
The proposal to reject draft 530 in the first reading is rejected. Draft 530 has been rejected and falls out of the process, 41 against, 5 in favor, 0 abstentions.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Member of Parliament Leo Kunnas (non-voting), who led the speech during the first reading of the day and answered questions, representing the viewpoint guiding the initiative. His position lies on the right of the political spectrum (right).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Today, the Riigikogu's agenda includes the first reading of the draft bill No. 530 initiated by Leo Kunnas to amend § 5 of the Local Government Council Elections Act; the presenter is Riigikogu member Leo Kunnas.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas introduced a draft bill whose aim is to tie the right to vote in elections for local government councils to a Riigikogu declaration that Russia has been designated a terrorist state, and he noted that in the future, in principle, other totalitarian states could also be declared terrorist states on the basis of their deeds.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
They apologize and ask that the presenter finish the presentation.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kunnas emphasizes the importance of the question of loyalty to the state, notes that a Russian citizen in Estonia does not owe loyalty to the Estonian state and therefore cannot be charged with treason, and adds that if the votes to amend the constitution come together, the bill’s significance disappears; otherwise, in the context of the autumn local elections, one should think ahead.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanked and said that you have questions, and asked Enn Eesmaa to present them.
Enn Eesmaa
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Enn Eesmaa asked how this problem has been solved in similar countries Latvia and Lithuania, emphasizing that we do not live in a vacuum.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas notes that states have addressed the question of voting rights differently— in Latvia, citizens of other countries are not given any voting rights at all— and although, as an EU member, we have certain obligations, the solution chosen after Estonia regained independence has over time created an unwanted security-political situation that no one wanted.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu thanked you, Leo, and praised your initiative, but at the same time asked whether, as the parliament, it would be possible to find a comprehensive solution in the context of constitutional amendments that would address both third-country nationals and stateless persons with regard to restrictions on voting rights.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chair Arvo Aller invited Urmas Reinsalu to take the floor.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas said that the ideal solution would also affect stateless persons, but if that does not succeed, the current solution in a state of emergency is better than nothing; he supported the opposition's initiative and emphasized that in local elections the right to vote should belong only to citizens of the Republic of Estonia and, on the basis of the EU's founding treaty, also to citizens of EU member states.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme asserts that only citizens should be able to vote in all elections, refers to the chamber's amendment proposal that would bring the constitutional amendment to a final vote, and raises a question about jurists' objections, which claim that the draft could conflict with the Constitution if it selects individual states, and that it would be temporary and would be implemented only at the level of law.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman, Arvo Aller, asks Martin Helme to take the floor.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas emphasizes that he is not a lawyer and that this is a complex legal question, but he offers a solution and says that the final decision will be made by the competent lawyers in this matter, who will assess its compatibility with the Constitution.
Igor Taro
AI Summary
Igor Taro claims that most constitutional law specialists have said that the right to vote cannot be restricted in Estonia without amending the constitution, and therefore the introduction of the draft bill is merely a stopgap whose purpose ends if the constitutional amendment does not succeed.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller invited Igor Tarot onto the stage.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas stressed that in matters of constitutionality and the legal weight of declarations recognizing Russia as a terrorist regime, this weight must be clearly assessed, and if they lack weight, there is no point in accepting them, and the next steps should be evaluated by the Chancellor of Justice, the Supreme Court, and the President's Office, not by him.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman asks Jüri Jaanson to come onto the stage.
Jüri Jaanson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Jüri Jaanson thanks the chair and the presenter and notes that the discussion has broadened, and asks more broadly about the limits on participation in local government elections – should participation be limited to citizens of Estonia and the EU, or also to citizens of NATO countries, for example the USA and Canada.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas emphasizes that although drawing borders between other democratic states is difficult, the border is clearest for the citizens of Estonia and the European Union, and it is necessary to assess how many of those countries' citizens live in Estonia — that number is relatively small.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman expresses agreement that citizens of the aggressor country should not be eligible to vote in Estonia, but she asks what solutions are possible for residents with a Russian passport and a grey passport, and how our current approach might push them away or provoke resentment toward those who would like to be Estonian patriots.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Riina Solman.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas emphasizes that every Estonian citizen is, first and foremost, a person with a military service obligation to their country and, in the sense of broad national defense, a support to the state; but as an aggressor, Russia may use Estonian Russian citizens for hostile actions or for a possible war, and he has no basis to assert their full loyalty, and he hopes that Russians living in Estonia will remain neutral or support the Republic of Estonia.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chair thanks, closes the questions, and asks Pipi-Liis Siemanni, a member of the Constitutional Committee, to present the discussion that took place in the lead committee.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu discussed Leo Kunnas's draft bill on declaring Russia a terrorist regime, concluded that the declaration is not a legal act and its implementation requires a constitutional amendment, heard the government's position rather than the draft, and decided to place the draft on the agenda for January 22 and to recommend its rejection (6 in favor, 2 against, 1 abstention).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller opens the negotiations between the factions and confirms that Henn Põlluaas represents the Isamaa faction by virtue of the mandate.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas stressed that, through amending the constitution, the right to vote should be held only by Estonian citizens (and EU citizens), because owners of grey passes are loyal to Russia, and depriving them of the right to vote threatens Estonia's security, and he accused the coalition and some parties of urgent, solution-avoiding conduct.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks that three more minutes be given.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Isamaa representative Henn Põlluaas warns that through a change to the constitution non-citizens may gain the right to vote, which would threaten the Estonian state and the foundations of the constitution, emphasizes that the right to vote must belong only to Estonian citizens, and states that Isamaa does not support the coalition's current solution, but wishes to continue the discussion and the consideration of Bill 530.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanks, and Igor Taro represents the Eesti 200 faction and asks to be given the floor.
Igor Taro
AI Summary
Igor Taro said that Estonia 200 stands for revoking the voting rights of citizens of aggressor states in local elections, but the current draft bill cannot do this without amending the constitution, therefore we must focus on the main objective and find constitutional solutions.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanked, and Belobrovtsev, on behalf of the Centre Party faction, asked for extra time, requesting three more minutes.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev emphasized that the draft bill to revoke the voting rights of third-country nationals in local elections is democratically and constitutionally incomprehensible, and in light of the current economic situation it is not a solution, and the Centre Party certainly does not support it.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller concluded the negotiations, put the leading committee's proposal—Draft Bill 530—to a vote to reject it at the first reading, and began preparing it.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Riigikogu voted on the proposal with 41 in favour, 5 against and 0 abstentions; Bill 530 was rejected and removed from consideration, and the sitting ended, the agenda was exhausted.