Draft law amending the Code of Criminal Procedure and other laws (optimization of court proceedings and publicity of court decisions) (560 SE) – first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-02-12 20:43
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 16
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 41m
AI Summaries: 16/16 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu will hear, as the fourth item on the agenda, draft law 560 initiated by the Ministry of Justice, amending the Code of Criminal Procedure and other laws (optimization of court proceedings and the publicity of court decisions). The draft law is for its first reading and aims to accelerate the processing of criminal cases, ensure the principles of justice, and reduce the workload of courts. At the same time, there is a need to balance the speed of proceedings with the rights of the parties: the possibility of accepting evidence, dynamic solutions in the case of substitute defense, video and digital solutions in court, and the possibility of more precisely addressing medical certificates and other circumstances related to health status.
Decisions Made 4
To include the draft agenda for the plenary session on February 12, 2025. (consensus decision)
First reading completed. (consensus decision)
The deadline for submitting amendments is set at 5:00 PM on February 27th. (consensus decision)
Appoint Valdo Randpere as the representative of the steering committee.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Valdo Randpere, a member of the Riigikogu. Political position: other.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Today's fourth agenda item deals with the Government-initiated draft bill No. 560 to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure and other laws, focusing on optimizing court proceedings and the public accessibility of court rulings, and this is the first reading, with Liisa-Ly Pakosta presenting.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta presented the court reform draft, whose aim is to ensure a fair and speedy court proceeding, reduce the burden, strengthen the presumption of innocence and the rights of victims, enable participation by video and the use of expedited proceedings, improve state legal aid, and increase public access to court records and better organization of evidence.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanks the minister for the thorough presentation and announces that questions will follow; Urve Tiidus, please!
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They want to know how much these changes are intended to speed up the pace of the court process and by how much the proceedings will be shortened.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Liisa-Ly Pakosta said that although the duration of proceedings may lengthen, delays must not be allowed; the rights of the parties must be protected, court decisions must be reached, and unnecessary work must be reduced, but she does not promise an overall acceleration, because in digital and cybercrime matters things are complicated, and the Port of Tallinn case shows how to avoid delays.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks the minister, confirms that there are no further questions, and asks Valdo Randpere, a member of the Legal Affairs Committee, to present the discussion that took place in the Riigikogu's Legal Affairs Committee.
Valdo Randpere
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Valdo Randpere said late in the evening that the bill would increase the efficiency of the proceedings and the enforcement of criminal law, praised in the Legal Committee an exceptionally unanimous debate and 225 amendments, and the consensus-backed decisions on the agenda, the deadline for amendment proposals, and the representative of the leading committee.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the presenter for a very positive presentation, said that there were no questions and the positive mood would persist, and then opened negotiations, inviting colleague Andre Hanimäe to the podium, who wishes to speak on behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi thanks the ministers and emphasizes that a substantive reform of criminal procedure is underway, the aim of which is to make the judiciary faster, more efficient and fairer; the bill reduces malicious delays, improves the checking of medical certificates and the cost-effectiveness of presenting evidence, adds a provision for taking factual circumstances into account, simplifies the proceedings and allows the proceedings to continue in the absence of the accused; he stresses that financial savings must not obscure the sense of justice and quality and prioritizes the release of foreign detainees and the control of deportation from the country; and discusses the publication of court rulings after the decision and the need to ensure differentiation between ongoing and final court decisions, preserving the presumption of innocence.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar says that instead of 30 seconds, he gives a full minute.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi noted that the bill is a major step toward reforms, and the next steps still need to be discussed; the abolition of lay judges is not currently in the bill, but the topic remains under discussion, and the Port of Tallinn's court case shows the need for further reforms, for which he thanked the Ministry of Justice, the Legal Committee, and the chamber.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanked a colleague and invited Ando Kiviberg to speak at the Riigikogu's lectern on behalf of the Eesti 200 parliamentary group.
Ando Kiviberg
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ando Kiviberg praised the draft as a more efficient and cost-reducing solution, expressed appreciation to Pakosta's team, and said that goodwill and cooperation will enable similar cases to be resolved more effectively in the future.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked a colleague and noted that Valdo Randperel has the right to deliver a rebuttal, and although the speech seems supportive, according to the RKKTS it is considered a rebuttal.
Valdo Randpere
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Valdo Randpere said that he would not present his rebuttal in a negative light, and admitted that only recently it had become clear to him that former Justice Minister Kalle Laanet was the initiator of the working group, and he thanked him for that.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chair Lauri Hussar closed the session, announced the completion of the first reading of Bill No. 560 and the deadline for its amendment proposals on February 27, and noted that Bill No. 543, which was to be considered as the last item on the agenda, could not be opened in the chamber due to the absence of speakers, after which the session ended, and we will meet tomorrow at 10 o'clock.