The situation in the country.
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-09-10 15:44
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 35
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 14m
AI Summaries: 35/35 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Under the fourth item on the agenda of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament), Riigikogu member Helle-Moonika Helme submitted an interpellation to Prime Minister Kristen Michal regarding the situation in the country, focusing on the government's activities and the alleged use of war hysteria for domestic political purposes. Helme began by criticizing the incompetence of government ministers and accused the government of frightening the population with an impending war to justify tax increases and cuts. She asked how long the threat of war is planned to be used as a tool for domestic political mobilization, and whether it would be possible to build up defense capabilities without emotionally and materially exhausting the people.
Prime Minister Michal categorically rejected the claim that the war had been fabricated in Estonia, emphasizing that the threat stems from real aggression in Ukraine. He defended the government's decision to raise national defense expenditures to 5% of GDP, noting that readiness is a prerequisite for peace and meets the expectations of allies. In a clarifying question, Helme highlighted concerns about the mandatory conscription plan for women being discussed in the Ministry of Defense, arguing that it threatens demographic sustainability, as mobilized women cannot evacuate with children, which accelerates the emigration of young families. The Prime Minister responded that he was unaware of any widespread mandatory debate within the government and emphasized the positive role of women's voluntary participation in the Defense Forces. Finally, Mart Helme intervened, accusing the Prime Minister of ignorance and lying regarding the women's conscription plan, and called for an end to the incitement of war hysteria, urging a focus on quiet and determined strengthening of defense capabilities. Michal affirmed that discussion is not a decision, and Estonia's strength lies in the contribution of all citizens to national defense.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made
Most Active Speaker
Riigikogu member Helle-Moonika Helme (EKRE, right/other) was the most active, submitting a primary question sharply criticizing the government, along with two long clarifying questions on the topic of war hysteria and plans for mandatory military service for women.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman announced that they were moving forward, and the fourth question is directed to Prime Minister Kristen Michal. The questioner is Helle-Moonika Helme, and the topic is the state of the country.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar introduced the fourth item on the agenda for the sitting, under which Riigikogu member Helle-Moonika Helme will pose a question to Prime Minister Kristen Michal regarding the state of the nation.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
In her presentation, Helle-Moonika Helme accuses the government of ministerial incompetence and claims that political mobilization is being sought through fear generated by the focus on war and media coverage. She questions how long this tactic will continue and whether military readiness shouldn't be achieved without imposing an emotional and material burden on the people.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme sharply criticizes the government's incompetent ministers and accuses them of consciously using the threat of war as a tool for domestic political mobilization to justify tax hikes and cuts and keep the government in power, thereby generating stress and fear among the population. The speaker asks whether the country's sense of security truly means living in constant fear, and when residents will start being prepared for life instead of just war, without being emotionally and materially drained.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme sharply criticizes the incompetence and inappropriate behavior of government ministers, but her main complaint concerns the constant and consciously amplified use of war fear in the public sphere. She argues that this is a domestic political tool used to pressure the populace into accepting tax increases and budget cuts, and to keep the government in power. The speaker asks when residents will start being prepared for life as well, not just for war, without emotionally and materially exhausting them.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar addresses the Prime Minister with a request.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced in the Riigikogu that, starting next year, Estonia will increase its national defense budget to 5% of GDP to ensure preparedness and defend the country against Russian aggression. He emphasized the nation’s unity and the reality of the situation, directly confronting claims that the war is fabricated.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal sharply rejects the notion that war is merely an Estonian invention, emphasizing instead that the neighbor’s aggressive attack in Ukraine constitutes a real threat. For this reason, the decision to raise national defense spending to 5% of GDP starting next year is a vitally necessary and profoundly correct step that will ensure our readiness and defense capability. At the same time, she demands effort from the entire country—despite the unpopularity of tax increases—to preserve Estonia’s freedom.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair thanks the speaker and invites Helle-Moonika Helme to ask a clarifying question.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme criticizes the implementation of mandatory military service for women, warning that it could accelerate the departure of young families from Estonia and damage demographic sustainability. She emphasizes that crisis-era family policy must be thoroughly discussed before any decision is made.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme expresses concern that Estonia has turned into a platform for war preparation, and she sharply criticizes the Ministry of Defense’s plan to introduce mandatory conscription for women. In her estimation, this plan threatens the sustainability of the population by preventing women from evacuating with their children during a crisis and forcing young families to leave Estonia. She also questions whether the state actually has a functioning family policy in place for crisis conditions.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme criticizes the respondent’s evasion and expresses deep concern that Estonia is turning into a platform for war preparation, against the backdrop of a plan maturing within the Ministry of Defence to implement mandatory conscription for women as well. She categorically opposes this idea, arguing that mobilizing women would prevent them from evacuating with their children and participating in the rebuilding of the country. Furthermore, she warns that communicating such a plan will accelerate the departure of young specialists and families from Estonia, which in turn poses a greater threat to the sustainability of the population than the military risk itself. She concludes by asking for the state’s plan for a functioning family policy under crisis conditions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar urged the audience to take action, saying that now is their time.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The address focuses on the question of how to ensure that every child has at least one parent or caregiver during wartime, and what support systems are in place when both parents are mobilized.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks Mrs. Helme.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme is questioning the actual impact of the ongoing policy, asking whether it strengthens security or instead undermines social stability and Estonia’s demographic future, especially concerning the long-term effects on fertility rates and family models.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The author of the presentation asks whether policy serves security or increases instability, and how this affects Estonia’s birth rate and family models in the long term.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman offers his thanks and addresses the Prime Minister with a request.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized freedom of speech in Estonia as a free country, encouraging people to actively participate in debates, and confirmed that the involvement of women in the Defense Forces is common and growing on a voluntary basis. She acknowledged the issue of young men’s poor physical preparation, noting that the Defense Forces have established support mechanisms designed to motivate better fitness. She concluded with a call to action, stating that national defense is the responsibility of every citizen, and urged all Estonians to protect and cherish their country, regardless of political disagreements.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasizes Estonia's strong freedom of speech and media, encouraging people to participate in debates, and notes that women's voluntary participation in the Defense Forces is common and growing. He acknowledges the problem of young men's poor physical fitness but highlights the support mechanisms provided by the Defense Forces to incentivize better preparation. Finally, he calls upon all citizens to defend and preserve Estonia, stressing that the country's security is everyone's responsibility, regardless of political disagreements.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal affirmed that Estonia is a free country, and we invite everyone to actively contribute their thoughts and participate, stressing that the voluntary involvement of women in the Defense Forces is common practice, and every citizen must help defend and preserve Estonia.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasizes Estonia's freedom and open debate, affirms the voluntary participation of women in the Defence Forces and the importance of physical fitness, and calls upon the entire nation to responsibly defend Estonia regardless of disagreements.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gives thanks and announces that colleague Mart Helme will pose the supplementary question.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accuses the prime minister of being ignorant regarding the functioning of the state and the defense sector, refers to the plan to make women conscripts, recalls that the funds allocated for border construction were withdrawn to prevent corruption, and calls for an end to war hysteria and for increasing defense capability quietly, determinedly, and effectively, rather than through the rhetoric of defeating Russia.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme is accusing the government and the prime minister of being completely out of touch with what is happening in the country and of lying to the public, citing the plan to make women eligible for compulsory military service. He also refuted allegations regarding the border construction budget, emphasizing that the cuts were implemented specifically to prevent corruption. Furthermore, the speaker sharply criticizes the current war hysteria, which he believes amounts to warmongering, demanding instead a quiet, determined, and effective increase in defense capabilities.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme sharply criticizes the Prime Minister, claiming she knows nothing about what is happening in the country and allows government agencies to run the state. He asserts that the plan to introduce mandatory conscription for women exists, despite the government’s denials, and defends his previous government’s decision to withdraw the funds corruptly allocated for border construction. Furthermore, the speaker condemns the constant incitement of war hysteria, suggesting that, instead, the country should quietly and determinedly enhance its defense capabilities, rather than shouting about forcing Russia to its knees and dismembering it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speech emphasizes that this is your time.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speech says not to do that, and not to accuse those who are calling for an increase in defense spending, as though they were working against [us].
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme is calling for an end to the accusations against proponents of increased defense spending, as well as the labeling of them as saboteurs and the aggressive ranting.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The message is that Mart Helme's time has come.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme emphasizes the necessity of finding consensus and recommends working quietly, rather than ranting.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speaker offers thanks and submits a request to the Prime Minister.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Stress is laid upon the decision concerning the construction of the 2014 border, the importance of discussion and the free expression of diverse opinions, and the strength for Estonia provided by women's voluntary participation in the Defence Forces.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal addressed questions concerning the history of the border construction project, pointing out that the decision was originally made in 2014 during Taavi Rõivas's government. He also criticized the opposition for having previously sought to cut the project, claiming it was excessively luxurious. Furthermore, he stressed that while there is an open discussion underway regarding women's participation in the Defence Forces—which does not constitute a decision in itself—the voluntary contribution of both men and women to national defense is Estonia's core strength.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair thanks the assembly and informs them that the consideration of today's fourth item is concluded.