Government decisions
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, information briefing
Date: 2025-02-12 15:17
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today, within the framework of the sixth question, the main focus was on government economic policy and people’s ability to cope. Anastasija Kovalenko-Kõlvart presented a denunciatory and essentially critical overview of how the car tax notices, the increase in VAT, and the reintroduction of income tax are affecting family finances and purchasing power. She highlighted signs of increasingly rising prices and decreasing incomes and asked whether the Reform Party’s position has changed recently and whether people are a priority or a tertiary factor. In response, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of economic growth and the country's security and explained that the tax burden and budget deficit have been linked to crises in history and the need to keep reserves of money for crises. Subsequently, the size of green technology investments (such as the €2.6 billion plan), the role of parliament, and the role of the economic cabinet in making decisions were touched upon. The discussion then shifted towards simplifying budget policy, taxes, and investments, and three concrete steps to revitalize the economy were raised: guaranteeing tax peace, attracting the workforce, and simplifying investment procedures. Overall, the focus was on the ability to respond to crises and to avoid future tax increases and insecurity for entrepreneurs.
Decisions Made 1
Within the framework of the sixth question, no final decisions were made. Discussions will continue, and issues concerning cross-cutting energy policy, budget policy, and investments, as well as best practices, will remain for further discussion between the government and the Riigikogu. No formal decision recorded for this agenda items.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, a member of the Riigikogu. Her position suggests that she doesn't represent the surveyed viewpoints with a clear party label of "left" or "right"; therefore, her political alignment is assessed as "other" or a position between other parties or private entities—not clearly defined on the left or right side of the official scale.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar informed that today’s sixth question is directed at Prime Minister Kristen Michal, and the questioner is Riigikogu member Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, the topic being government decisions.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart criticizes that car tax notices, the rise in value-added tax, and the upcoming increase in income tax reduce people's incomes and increase the cost of living, and asks whether the Reform Party's position has changed and whether people are a priority for them or remain in third place.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal says that Estonia must collect more taxes and maintain reserves to fund crises and national defense, because premature loosening of the budget and a lack of reserves force a responsible, countercyclical economic policy, and this is necessary to fund health care, education, and other important areas, although Estonia's tax burden is lower than the EU average.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and asks Vladimir Arhipov to present an additional question.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arhipov asks the prime minister a question as to whether the 2.6-billion-euro green-energy investment should receive only the approval of the leaders of three parties, or whether it should also go through the Riigikogu debates.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that energy has, over the last year and a half, become an increasingly important topic of discussion in the government and Parliament, that various price models have been developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Climate, Elering, and one of the world's largest auditing firms and a technical university, and that in the name of progress a debate on offshore wind farms, a nuclear power plant, and large-scale storage must be brought before Parliament, the materials for this debate reaching the public in spring–summer and enabling Parliament to hold a fact-based discussion.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker Lauri Hussar thanked and invited Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti to present a clarifying question.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The presenter accuses the previous government of raising taxes and of failing to make budget decisions, and notes that although the international and economic environment is complex, the current government has not yet made the necessary decisions, and there is a fear of another tax increase.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Now is the time for you to act.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart expresses concern about the difficult conditions faced by people and entrepreneurs and requests three concrete steps to revitalize the economy and improve livelihoods.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and asks the minister to take the floor.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The Prime Minister confirmed that the amount of savings has increased and there will be no new payment decisions, and alongside reducing bureaucracy and simplifying planning, the focus will be on engaging the workforce and promoting investments, and the government will hold Economic Cabinet meetings every two weeks, where concrete decisions will be made.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and informs that, since the questions have been posed within the framework of this specific question, he ends the consideration of the sixth question.