Draft law amending the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia (536 SE) – second reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-02-25 12:44
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 209
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 4h 23m
AI Summaries: 209/209 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu discussed the draft law amending the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia in its 536th second reading, aiming to restrict the right to vote in local government council elections from citizens of aggressor states (Russia and Belarus). The Chairman of the Constitutional Committee, Hendrik Johannes Terras, provided a detailed overview of the committee's seven sessions, where the opinions of several legal experts and security agencies were heard. The discussion mainly focused on whether the constitutional amendment should leave the definition of the right to vote open to stateless persons (holders of a "grey passport"). The opposition (Isamaa, EKRE) sharply criticized the coalition's proposal, arguing that it enshrines a security risk in the constitution, as many grey passport holders may have Russian citizenship.
Two amendments were put to a vote. The opposition's proposal (no. 1), which sought to limit the right to vote only to Estonian citizens, was rejected (25 in favor, 55 against). The coalition's proposal (no. 2), which removed a redundant sentence from the draft law regarding the conditions for electoral registers, was adopted (52 in favor, 24 against). After reviewing the amendments, the proposal by the EKRE and Centre Party factions to halt the second reading was also rejected (17 in favor, 61 against). The second reading of the draft law was completed, and the deadline for submitting new amendments was set for March 11th at 5:15 PM.
Decisions Made 5
Amendment proposal no. 1 (to grant voting rights only to citizens of Estonia) was rejected (25 in favor, 55 against).
Amendment proposal no. 2 (to remove a repeated sentence from the draft) was fully accepted (52 in favor, 24 opposed).
The proposal to postpone the second reading of draft law 536 was rejected (17 in favor, 61 against) by the Conservative People's Party fraction and the Centre Party fraction.
Bill 536's second reading was concluded.
The deadline for submitting amendment proposals has been set for March 11th at 5:15 PM.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu is debating the second reading of the draft law 536 for the amendment of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, emphasising that the procedure follows the usual second-reading process and that amendment proposals may be submitted with at least 21 signatures, and the chairman Toomas Kivimägi is prepared to grant Hendrik Johannes Terras additional time of three minutes, if necessary up to seven minutes, provided that no one in the chamber opposes and after 23 minutes have elapsed.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras describes in the Constitutional Committee the handling of the draft bill and the various positions voiced at several sessions, which address restricting the voting rights of permanent residents in local government council elections and questions concerning stateless persons and foreigners, regarding the impact on integration and security.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi said that he doubts whether they will make it in one go, and offered five minutes of extra time if no one in the hall objects.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Hendrik Johannes Terras thanked the audience.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The essence of the speech is a plea: if no one objects, five more minutes will be granted.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
The presentation discussed two proposed amendments to the voting right in local government elections: the first would limit the right to vote to Estonian citizens who permanently reside within the area of the local government and are at least 16 years old, excluding stateless persons and citizens of third countries, and asserting that the voting rights of European Union citizens do not need to be separately enshrined in the constitution; the second would like to remove the second sentence that regulates the compilation of lists, but the commission treated it completely, leaving the first proposal unconsidered and decided to put the bill on the agenda for the second reading, finish the second reading, and set the deadline for amendments at 11 March at 17:15.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanked for a very thorough presentation and invited Rene Kokk to answer questions.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that he does not support enshrining the voting rights of stateless persons in the Constitution and asked the commission to explain when Estonia could see the emergence of both the so-called stateless people and people with undetermined citizenship, including in the context of 2025.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
In conclusion, it was emphasized that there have been about one hundred cases of the emergence of gray passes since 2006, and they must indeed be terminated by means of the bill and the exceptional possibilities eliminated.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks for the sharp question, asserts that we will continue in the same spirit, and asks Signe Kivi to take the stage.
Signe Kivi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
According to the presentation, the attitudes of stateless people differ markedly from those of Estonian citizens, which points to different values and security priorities; although more than 60% of them would currently like to obtain Estonian citizenship, the path to doing so is often hindered, and a question arises as to how serious this problem really is, whether it has been discussed in the committee, and whether the expressed wish also conceals a security threat.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Hendrik Johannes Terras said that non-citizens are welcome to apply for Estonian citizenship, but fulfilling the language and constitutional requirements is an important part of integration, and if people are willing to meet these language requirements, he welcomes the granting of Estonian citizenship.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, turned to Helir-Valdor Seeder and made a request.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Seeder noted that the constitutional entrenchment of voting rights for stateless persons would be foolish and would create ambiguity and security risks, since we do not know how many of them are Russian citizens, and asked how Estonia treats the citizens of unrecognized states (Palestine, Abkhazia, South Ossetia) — whether they are stateless or citizens of third countries — which the experts in the commission could not answer.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Hendrik Johannes Terras said that he does not support adding non-citizens to the constitution and emphasized the need for broad political consensus, while distinguishing the concepts of non-citizens and stateless persons and giving the example that Palestinian citizens are stateless persons, not non-citizens.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech begins with a brief greeting to colleagues, and no other content is currently presented.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Hendrik Johannes Terras did not present that justification in legal terms.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Unfortunately, the content of the speech is missing; please enter the entire text so I can create a one-sentence summary.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
The jurists came up with this interpretation, and I realized that this is not my own preference.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi said that there are no answers to all questions, that there is no common language in the commission, and that on some questions there are no clear legal solutions, and he asked to proceed with the questions, inviting Anti Poolametsa to speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets noted that the chairman of the committee should be better informed, and in the matters of grey passports and dual citizenship there is no overview of how many grey passport holders are citizens of another country, including Russian citizens, and although it could be said that the answer cannot be known, there is a danger.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras stated that a Russian passport is a serious threat to a non-citizen, and although security authorities respond to it immediately, they are not able to assess the risk at present if the passport is carried covertly or not shown.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Vadim Belobrovtsev to come.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev said that the views of non-citizens are not significantly different from those of citizens, and although studies show some dissatisfaction with the state, that share is very small, and he asked how, at a public hearing, about 90% of the experts' critical opinions about the constitutional amendment would be taken into account.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras said that he did not share the 90 percent assessment, because experts' opinions on the threats varied, and at one meeting the opinions of the three presenters differed, but ultimately these opinions are known to all members of the Riigikogu, and the committees took them into account and sent the bill to a second reading, where the final decision will be made in the chamber.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asked Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helme criticized the bill whose aim is to revoke the right to vote in local government council elections from Russian and Belarusian citizens, highlighting the grey passport and dual citizenship issues, and calling on the commission and the government to convene before its submission in order to agree on amendments and make changes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He expresses gratitude.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He recommends removing the grey-pass men from there, perhaps to go further with something.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
They said that there are different levels to changing laws and that a consensus must be found, and although their personal opinion is somewhat radical, they are willing to compromise if it guarantees the removal of voting rights from citizens of aggressor states.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi reminded that every member of the Riigikogu has the right to pose two questions, and invited Vladimir Arhipov to take the floor.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov claims that this law lacks democracy, and the removal of the voting rights of tens of thousands of people is a collective punishment that creates internal tensions, and he asks what kind of security this actually guarantees and how it aligns with the spirit of the constitution.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
In short: in the short term it is risky both to withhold and to grant the right to vote, but in the long term it is important to determine who will be able to vote in Estonia—Estonian citizens and the citizens of our allied countries, and by agreement also non-citizens, who are a transient phenomenon.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Ando Kiviberg is invited to speak.
Ando Kiviberg
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ando Kiviberg thanked the speaker for the thorough presentation and asked for statistical clarification, inquiring how many people living in Estonia had consciously chosen Russian citizenship during the period when the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia was in force, referring to a figure he had heard, around 7,000.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Hendrik Johannes Terras thanks and says that there should be 70,000 of them, and apologizes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, invited Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski to come forward.
Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The presenter asks whether the committee has discussed by what year the gray passport institution could disappear in Estonia, and whether a roadmap and timetable have been prepared for this.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras stated that the status of gray passes must not be lost, nor may citizenship be granted automatically; instead it must occur upon meeting the criteria for knowledge of language and the constitution. Otherwise, people will remain on the state’s territory and no one will be expelled, and at the same time there should be no further creation of that status, while the transition to Estonian-language education increases the likelihood of obtaining citizenship.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart is being called onto the stage.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker emphasizes the president's criticism of the constitutional amendment and notes that changes made before the elections would damage the credibility of the elections, the international legal order, and security, and asks how likely it is that the president would send it back due to insufficient arguments.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras said that although the persuasiveness of arguments is subjective, the security authorities' arguments are convincing, and we must continue to move forward to safeguard Estonia's security, although changing the rules right before elections is not good practice, and in the current circumstances Russia's influence on the elections of neighboring countries requires everyone's effort to improve the situation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman invited Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
According to Belobrovtsev, the Russian Federation has not directly influenced elections through its own citizens, but through testing and falsification, and although the majority of experts and security agencies, including the former head of the Estonian Internal Security Service, affirm that third-country nationals voting in local elections do not pose a significant security risk, the question is whether this argument still holds.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras emphasized that the constitutional amendment must be adopted by members of the Riigikogu and that work on it should continue, because the risks of election interference include both fraud and influencing citizens loyal to the Russian state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
At the start of the speech, Vladimir Arhipov is invited to speak.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
This bill deprives 60,000–70,000 people of their voting rights, destabilizes domestic security, provokes resentment among about a quarter of Estonia's residents, and raises the question of whose interests this destabilization serves.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras said that it is in the interests of the Estonian people, because if a person on one day votes for Putin and on another day for the Tallinn mayors, then that is not right and creates security risks.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, asks Helir-Valdor Seeder to take the floor.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder believes that the definition of an aggressor state, on the basis of which the right to vote is withdrawn at the local government level, is inadequate and potentially harmful and would create international problems if Swiss, Japanese, and Australian citizens also lost the right to vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The focus of the speech is on amending the Constitution.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
He explains that the North Korea example does not apply, because even North Korean citizens cannot vote in Estonia, and at the moment the focus is on who can vote in Estonia and what their conditions are, not on declaring the aggressor state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This was a short prayer to Riina Solman.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman asks how the claim that excluding thousands of people from elections destabilizes the constitutional order stands, and asks for a comment on how many European countries there are where non-citizens do not have the right to vote, and why they have organized it that way, including mentioning the neighboring country Latvia.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
He notes that such a situation, where a country has a large number of non-citizens, is very rare in European countries, and the main example of such a country is Latvia, where they cannot vote; in other countries it is not on the agenda because the number of people is small, and practices vary greatly; there is no single approach.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a short plea to invite Kalle Grünthal to perform.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal asks for a precise and detailed description of how Russia can influence elections in Estonia.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Thank you, Mr. Grünthal, for the compliment; I think we can make better use of this time in the hall than merely informing you, and you can find this information on the Internet.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi said that one should not judge a person by their appearance, recalling a childhood notion that appearance is suitable only for a flower or a butterfly.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul asks whether, if the bill remains as the coalition has stated and amendments have been proposed, the removal of voting rights from citizens of aggressor states would yield the highest voter turnout in history among stateless people, and what the analysis of that would be.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
I can, at this point, rely on the assessments of political scientists Martin Möldri and Tõnis Saarts, according to which this should not bring about a radical change.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Riina Solman to speak.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman emphasizes that in many European countries non-citizens do not have the right to vote, and we want to do the same regarding citizens of aggressor states, recalls the 2007 Bronze Soldier crisis and the messages from the Russian embassy, and asks what parliamentarians can do so that such influence on our people in the future does not take hold.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
The speech emphasizes that every representative of the people has a responsibility to the people of Estonia, especially to his or her own electorate, and it is hoped that they will act responsibly in the interests of the Estonian state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech was a plea to invite Kalle Grünthal to perform.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal thanks the director and refers to the flower–butterfly metaphor, recalling the moment one little flower becomes an EU official, and now directly and in detail demands an explanation of how Russia could influence elections in Estonia, rather than hiding the answer.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Summary: there have been several cases, and the influence more easily reaches citizens who are loyal to the Russian state, and thus makes them more susceptible.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi said that he understood that Kalle had spoken about himself in his remark, and asked Evelin Poolamets to take the floor.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asks the rapporteur for an assessment of the amendment to the law, asking whether it aligns with the style and form of the Constitution, and notes that they are currently introducing a very strange amendment.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Hendrik Johannes Terras said that the form is not the best stylistically, but for the sake of the goal he is prepared to accept it if it enables broad agreement.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Priit Sibul to speak.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
They are trying to understand which understanding and which discussions led to the conclusion that local elections could grant an additional voting right to someone other than Estonian and European Union citizens, and they ask why such a bill is even being brought up for discussion.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
He thanked and said that he couldn't quite understand what that question was.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi said that if the questioner wishes, he will return the microphone for clarification and asked Priit Sibul to hand the microphone to the questioner.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul asks which discussions, at the second reading, led to the conclusion that in local elections other people besides citizens of the Republic of Estonia and of the European Union may vote, and why we took such a decision.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
They emphasize that for citizens of Russia and Belarus there is an obligation of loyalty to another country, and therefore it cannot be said that non-citizens have the same obligation; they do not support including non-citizens in the constitution, and changes require as broad a consensus as possible.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Andres Metsoja to speak.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The presenter highlighted a study by the Baltic Studies Institute, according to which about 60,000 stateless people living in Estonia, 65% of whom want to acquire Estonian citizenship and actively contribute to it, but some do not see its value, and he asked whether the Commission has discussed this study in its context and formed a position on it.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Since the study was published last week, we did not manage to discuss it in the committee, but I am pleased with its results and I want to emphasize that if people respect the Estonian constitutional order and learn the Estonian state language, they are, as far as I am concerned, very welcome among the citizens of Estonia.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech invited Rain Epler onto the stage.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asks why there is a desire to enshrine in the constitution the local voting rights of European Union citizens, since these rights already derive from the accession treaty, and whether the coalition has discussed what it would mean if Estonia left the European Union.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
They state that there is no desire within the coalition to leave the European Union, and the draft was amended to include the European Union for the sake of clarity, together with NATO member states, although this derives from the treaties.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Mart Maastiku onto the stage.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik said that during his two years in the Riigikogu he has always voted according to his convictions and conscience, and he asked how hard it is to vote against his own beliefs in the chamber.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras said that although it is a personal matter and he would prefer that the draft not include non-citizens, he would choose the option that takes away the voting rights from the citizens of the aggressor state, if the only way to find consensus involves non-citizens.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks that Henn Põlluaas be invited onto the stage.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He critiques the idea of granting voting rights to non-citizens and to grey-pass holders and of enshrining this in the constitution, emphasizing that he does not know how many of them hold Russian citizenship, and that, according to polls, their sentiment matches that of Russian citizens, hence he asks why such a threat and risk should be written into the constitution.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras said that voting rights are determined by rules, not by anyone's whim, and that if it turns out that a gray-passport holder has Russian citizenship, the gray passport will be revoked, and to find a solution to the problem this will be discussed in the Constitutional Committee.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
A word of thanks is given at the start of the speech, and Mart Maastikut is invited to ask the next question.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Maastik emphasizes that there isn't only one option, and there exists an option where the right to vote would be limited to Estonian citizens, which EKRE, Isamaa, Reformierakond and Eesti 200 could vote for together, and he asks why this option is being ignored.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
They do not rule out the possibility of amendment proposals and confirm that after the second reading is completed, the search for consensus will continue and the submission of amendment proposals will continue for another couple of weeks, and if a solution acceptable to all parties is found, I would be very pleased about that.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-speaker Toomas Kivimägi asks Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti to present the second question.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart states that her mandate has not been obtained due to Russian influence, and she asks for precise sources and concrete quotes about the security agencies' assessments.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
He said that he did not want to talk about individual cases, but about the general possibility of influencing people who owe loyalty to the Russian state, who are more likely to be receptive to that influence, and that the security services' assessments can be asked from his fellow faction members, since this is a state secret and he will not disclose it here.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the substantive presentation, stated that there would be no questions and opened negotiations, inviting Helle-Moonika Helme and noting that negotiations are open to everyone, to which Helme requested eight more minutes.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme claims that the Estonian constitution is being changed cavalierly in the interests of globalists and woke activists, and bills such as e-voting, the continuation of voting rights for stateless persons, and marriage equality threaten Estonia's independence and democracy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks you and asks Rene Kokk to speak.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that the constitutional amendment draft bill 536 is completely unacceptable and that the only reasonable solution is to guarantee the right to vote in local elections only for Estonian citizens, excluding the voting rights of people from third countries and stateless persons (bill No. 1).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Mart Helme to take the floor.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme described the recent law amendment as a completely unconstitutional stunt that endangers freedom of religion, thought, and conscience and may infringe the right to vote, especially for people with Russian citizenship or a grey passport, and warned about behind-the-scenes lobbying and political corruption.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks if you want extra time.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He is asking for more time.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks for three more minutes.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme states that annotated editions of the Constitution have appeared and there are comments on the domestic and working order that create arbitrariness, and he calls on the coalition to withdraw, accusing them of using a political agenda and recalling the steps previously taken in the matters of the Nevsky Cathedral and the Pühtitsa Monastery, because the conjuncture has changed.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The central message of the speech is that now is your time to act.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme says that his time is up and he hopes that he has touched the listeners' conscience, if they have one, and thanks the listeners.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
To begin the speech, Helir-Valdor Seeder is asked to take the floor.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder asks for a total of 16 minutes.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks whether 8 + 8 also means acting on behalf of the faction.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder urged the members of the Estonian Parliament to carry the constitutional amendment through to completion, both collectively and with personal conviction, emphasizing that in local elections the right to vote must remain only for Estonian citizens, that the amendment must be simple and clear, and should avoid involving people of undetermined citizenship or citizens of an aggressor state, which would increase security and the state’s cohesion.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The next performer is Evelin Poolamets.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Poolamets emphasizes that the right to vote must belong only to Estonian citizens, because it is the protection of the state's sovereignty and national identity, and non-citizens should not have political influence over local governments.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Jaanus Karilaidi to speak.
Jaanus Karilaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaanus Karilaid called on all six parliamentary parties to jointly support a constitutional amendment for the coming month, the result of which would be that the right to vote would remain only for Estonian citizens, because continuing the privileges of gray passport holders and removing voting rights from Russian citizens create tensions and threaten Estonia's future.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Anti Poolametsa to take the floor.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets emphasizes that the restoration of Estonia had to take place on the basis of legal continuity, and the basis for elections must be citizenship, not holders of a grey passport or stateless persons.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
They proposed adding three minutes.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets warns that the dual citizenship of gray-passport holders and the associated impact on elections and local councils threatens Estonian democracy and calls for clear and principled reforms, while at the same time criticizing e-residency due to concerns about money laundering and emphasizing the need for tighter control and clearer borders.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chair Arvo Aller announces that it is Riina Solmani's turn, and asks her to take the floor.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman stated that Isamaa does not support the voting rights of non-citizens or persons with undetermined citizenship, and she emphasized, on the basis of the Constitution, the protection of Estonia's security and the preservation of Estonian identity, language and culture, referring to Russia's aggressive behavior and the Tallinn 2007 riots.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks for three more minutes.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman said that Russia has historically and repeatedly invaded the Baltic states, attempting to establish control over our lands, language, and culture, and that it demands loyalty to the Estonian state, therefore Russia's influence must be limited and Estonia's independence preserved.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The message indicates that it's your time.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman said that conduct based on motives heard in the hall is unacceptable.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller invites Rain Epler onto the stage.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler warns that a political party must end with sobering up in order to avoid hangover-like consequences, and emphasizes that in Estonia the right to vote should belong only to Estonian citizens.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Martin Helme to come on stage to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They are asking that three more minutes be given to them.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller asks for three more minutes.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme confirmed that their party’s position is that the right to vote must be limited to citizens of the Republic of Estonia in all elections, and they do not support adding the rights of non-citizens to the constitution; if they cannot secure the votes, the constitution will be left unchanged and the problem will be solved later at the level of election law, and the faction intends to vote against an urgent amendment if the grey passports remain in place.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Kert Kingo asked for extra time and got three more minutes.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo accuses governments since 2021 of devaluing the constitution and warns that a draft bill granting voting rights to grey-passport holders threatens Estonia's sovereignty and integration, emphasising that the right to vote should be reserved only for citizens of the Republic of Estonia.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks that Henn Põlluaas come forward.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas stressed that Estonia's constitution provides for the preservation of national identity and language, and the right to local elections should belong only to Estonian citizens, not to non-citizens or to citizens of Russia and Belarus, because their worldview could threaten Estonia's defense capability and independence.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asked that three more minutes be added.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas claims that extending voting rights to non-citizens is unacceptable and duplicitous, and if the amendment were to pass, voting rights would have to be withdrawn from all non-citizens, which would be incomprehensible and risky for the coalition and its allies, therefore in the future before granting citizenship a very strong security check must be applied, taking into account cases of Russian agents.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speech emphasizes that now is your time to act.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas said that the right would be taken away from gray-pass holders, and they would not be enshrined in the Constitution.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski onto the stage.
Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski said that this year there were blue-black-white flags in Lasnamäe, criticized the voting rights of citizens of aggressor states, stressed the integration of gray-passport holders—learning Estonian and passing the exam—and said that work must be done to ensure that more people become Estonian citizens.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Eduard Odinets asks for extra time and gets three more minutes.
Eduard Odinets
AI Summary
Eduard Odinets announced that he represents a personal viewpoint and does not support the constitutional amendment restricting voting rights, because there is no impact analysis, and it is disproportionate and threatens the autonomy and internal peace of local governments.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Ando Kiviberg to come onto the stage.
Ando Kiviberg
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ando Kiviberg emphasizes that in Estonia, in response to Russia's aggression and hybrid warfare, security must be strengthened, and the main step is the removal of voting rights from citizens of the Russian Federation, although an agreement has not yet been reached and a common ground with partners must be found.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanks and turns to Vladimir Arhipov: "Please!"
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arhipov warns that the rushed amendment of the constitution to restrict voting rights undermines the credibility of democracy, creates national fractures and reduces people's sense of belonging to the state, and emphasizes that every person—whether they are a citizen or a non-citizen—has an important right and the state must be honest and understandable in order to maintain unity and security.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller announces three minutes of extra time.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov warns that restricting the right to vote makes people disappear into invisible statistics and splits society, and calls on everyone to firmly say no to this law, emphasizing that the heart of democracy is the right of every Estonian citizen to vote, and that proficiency in the Estonian language and citizenship are the strength of the state, which we will demonstrate together.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Siim Pohlak to speak.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
According to Siim Pohlaku, Estonia's land is the land of Estonians, and the right to vote must belong only to Estonian citizens, because suffrage is a matter of national dignity and the state is created to preserve Estonianness, language, and culture.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
In the speech it is noted that Kalle Grünthal is not present, and Varro Vooglaiu is then asked.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid emphasizes that in local government council elections the right to vote must remain with all Estonian citizens, and he criticizes security rhetoric, the superficiality of the threat assessment declared a state secret, and the political motive.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks for three more minutes.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid emphasizes that the removal of the local government council's voting right could become a serious security threat, because it creates distrust among people and does not increase social cohesion, and he calls for public debate and a genuine security analysis based on factual arguments, not slogans, referring to the context of the Moscow Patriarchate's Estonian Orthodox Church and the Pühtitsa Monastery.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chair thanks and asks to give the floor to Kalle Grünthal.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal criticizes the constitutional amendment bill as being completely devoid of substance and potentially dangerous, because it would grant European Union and NATO citizens the right to participate in local elections and could have a demographic impact on Estonia, which he illustrates with examples from Turkey and COVID-19, and regards the claim about preserving language and culture as ridiculous.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller requests three more minutes.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal regards this proposed amendment to the law as a total failure and legally invalid, because it would grant European Union citizens the right to vote in local government elections even in the event of Estonia's possible withdrawal from the Union or the Union's dissolution, and he stresses that the constitution is the foundation of the state and must not become a victim of political games.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Next, speaker Mart Maastik steps onto the stage.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik asks for three extra minutes just in case, though he doesn't know whether they are needed.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Three more minutes are requested to continue the presentation.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The landscape demands that the constitution be amended so that the right to vote would be limited to Estonian citizens who know the Estonian language and culture, thereby promoting the nation-state and the continuation of sovereignty.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Next up is Peeter Tali.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali asks for three more minutes just in case, although it may not be necessary.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks for three more minutes.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali emphasizes that Estonia is a democratic parliamentary republic, and for local elections the constitution must be amended further so that only citizens of Estonia and the European Union may participate, in order to safeguard the preservation of Estonian identity, language and culture, while at the same time finding consensus solutions with all parties and standing up to Russian aggression and reducing the influence of the Moscow Church.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speaker thanks and announces that next up is Ants Frosch.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ants Frosch emphasized that the restoration of the Estonian state was based on the jus sanguinis principle, that only Estonian citizens should vote in local elections, and he called on Parliament to consolidate around a proposal submitted by 23 Riigikogu members, in order to avoid gray areas and to ensure the sovereignty of the state.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and invites the next speaker, colleague Kalev Stoicescu, to the podium.
Kalev Stoicescu
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalev Stoicescu said that, against the backdrop of Russia's aggression, an inevitable constitutional amendment is needed, by which the participation of citizens of aggressor states in local elections is prohibited, and that the solution must preserve the voting rights of citizens of allied countries, of the European Union, and of NATO members, although it is not ideal.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar requests three more minutes of extra time.
Kalev Stoicescu
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalev Stoicescu said that in local government elections only citizens of Estonia and his allies may vote, refuting the talk about stateless persons and migrants and calling for the right decision to be made through a constitutional amendment, calmly and practically.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and asks to give the floor to his colleague Madis Kallas.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Kallas, representing the Social Democratic faction, said that the amendment of the constitution should not be rushed, and the aim is to prevent citizens of aggressor states from participating in local elections, being prepared to take the necessary steps and compromises, so that Putin's supporters could not be elected to the councils of cities and rural municipalities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks a colleague and invites Urmas Reinsalu to the podium, where Reinsalu asks for extra time — three minutes, please.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu, under Isamaa’s leadership, called for the establishment of a dialogue and cooperation with substantive-quality constitutional amendments to be discussed with all parliamentary forces, emphasizing the importance of the Russian threat and Estonia’s security, and stating that security must not be the object of party-political compromise, and called to find a fast and high-quality agreement that the Reform Party and Eesti 200 can vote for in accordance with their own views.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanks and asks that, during the negotiations, Tõnis Lukas be allowed to address the Riigikogu from the podium.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Speaking about the revocation of the voting right in local elections, Tõnis Lukas argues that this could reflect the will of the people’s representatives — 80% of the population and 80% of Parliament — but it would infringe on the sense of justice, and in the future, in the context of mass immigration, the growth of temporary residents could threaten the unity of the state and the community.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, asks for a moment and adds three minutes to the time, saying that he does not want to interrupt.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that local governments have a critical role in solving issues of national security and Estonian-language education, and the state cannot organize these life areas without municipalities; therefore the will of the majority of the people in the Riigikogu must be realized, and let's not go around in circles.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman thanked and then invited his colleague Arvo Alleri to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller emphasized that in local elections the right to vote should belong only to Estonian citizens, and he urged the coalition and parties to support the proposal put forward by 23 Riigikogu members, according to which only citizens of the Republic of Estonia may vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and invites his colleague Aleksei Jevgrafovi to the podium.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksei Jevgrafov emphasized that residents who are citizens of Russia and Belarus must have the right to vote in local elections and must not be restricted, because equal rights and their integration into Estonian society are the cornerstones of democracy and European Union values, and restrictions could lead to discrimination and polarization.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked for one more minute.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Security lies in people's trust in the state, and every restriction on constitutional rights must be seriously justified and subject to scrutiny, because pre-election changes undermine trust and Estonia's international reputation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti and invites her to the podium, who asks for three more minutes.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He accuses that the constitution is being amended in the interests of one party, so that after local elections the current rulers would continue to govern in Toompea and in Tallinn.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, apologized and asked Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to continue, noting that discussions in the hall should take place more quietly or outside the hall, so that the presenter would not be disturbed.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart claims that the expedited amendment of the constitution before the local elections taking place in Tallinn is a violation of the foundations of democracy and the rule of law, which threatens the country's security, and for which there are no concrete examples or impact analyses, being, in her words, one big bluff.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, invited his colleague Vadim Belobrovtsev to deliver a speech, and Belobrovtsev asked for eight plus eight minutes, saying that he would speak on behalf of himself as well as on behalf of the faction.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He says that perhaps it's not necessary to have so much.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
At first you're given eight (5 + 3), and if you ask again, you'll get more.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He invites listeners to take action and to get things done right away.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
They request clarification as to whose name is currently being used to take the floor.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev said that a draft bill under which local-election voting rights would be taken away from among those people who for years have lived in Estonia as law-abiding residents is contrary to the principles of democracy and the rule of law and may damage the state's security and the credibility of elections.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair informed, on behalf of the faction, about the start of the speech taking place, and the request was 5+3, i.e., three minutes of additional time, asking Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev claims that the bill, by which the voting rights of illegal residents and people connected with Russia are restricted, sends a signal that they are not trusted, creates alienation and social division, and is a dangerous instrument of destabilization that is useful to the Kremlin and harmful to Estonian security.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
There are no more requests to speak; however, Eduard Odinets, mentioned in Peeter Tali's speech, is asked to deliver an on-the-spot reply.
Eduard Odinets
AI Summary
Eduard Odinets said that he is not prepared to negotiate with Talia on the topics of peace, security, and constitutional values and democracy, and does not want to discuss how to drive out the Estonian people.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar informed that the speaking requests have ended and we are turning to the examination of amendment proposals, where there are two amendment proposals and the lead committee wishes to leave the first unconsidered.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Thank you, please vote in favor of this amendment proposal.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar informs that we are moving to the preparation for the vote, and Amendment Proposal No. 1 will be put to a vote, about which the leading committee recommends that it be disregarded.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The proposal received 25 votes in favor, 55 against, there were no abstentions, and the proposal did not receive support.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder, thanking you in advance, asks you to vote on this amendment proposal.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, called for a vote in the chamber on Amendment No. 2, noting that no one was opposed, and announced that the Steering Committee is of the opinion that it should be taken fully into account.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu decided with 52 in favour, 24 against and with no abstentions to proceed to a vote and to submit the proposal of the EKRE and Centre Party factions to suspend the second reading of the draft law amending the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, bill 536.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Seventeen Riigikogu members supported the proposal; 61 were against, and there were no abstentions. The second reading of bill 536 has been completed. The deadline for amendment proposals is March 11 at 5:15 p.m. Today's session has ended, and we will meet tomorrow at 12 for the information briefing.