Security
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-09-10 16:52
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 12
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 4m
AI Summaries: 12/12 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The information session addressed security issues and, primarily, the progress of development along the eastern border. The discussion began with the fact that the ninth question was submitted by Jaanus Karilaid, but he was unable to ask it today, and therefore that question remained unaddressed. Next was the tenth question from Varro Vooglaid, whose absence from the room meant that question was also left unanswered. The eleventh question arrived, submitted by Mart Helme, and concerned security. During the discussion, criticism was raised regarding what has been done at the border versus what was planned: whether anything has been done, how funding and procurements have been resolved, and what the security and surveillance equipment are like along the eastern border.
Secondly, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas gave an introduction regarding the steps taken in recent years and the plans in place, clearly stating that the eastern border will be built to completion and that the border needs to be secured and protected with all necessary technology and monitoring. At the end of the information session, the core rules were reiterated: that a speaker, presenter, or questioner must focus on the agenda item; and, if necessary, procedural considerations were explained to clarify cooperation and subsequent actions.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were adopted during the information session.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Mart Helme (EKRE), who posed and commented on questions and represented the right-wing political viewpoint; he is a member of the Riigikogu and the leader of EKRE, which gives him a noticeable leading position in the right-wing political spectrum.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that questions 9 and 10 would not be addressed because the questioners were absent. They then moved on to question 11, the topic of which is security, and the questioner is Mart Helme, who is present in the chamber.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accuses Kristen Michal and the previous government, claiming the construction of the eastern border was merely a promise and allocated funding, and that no actual work was done over the course of five years, leaving the border defenseless while Russians are operating along the line.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accuses Kristen Michal and previous governments of stalling the construction of the eastern border, stressing that before he became minister, all that had been done was an expensive decision and showing foreigners a three-kilometer-long "Potemkin village," whereas Mart Helme was the one who actually initiated the real procurements and construction work. Furthermore, he sharply criticizes the fact that in the nearly five years since EKRE left the government, nothing has been done to secure the border, leaving it vulnerable and an easy target for Russians, as the theft of the border buoy also demonstrated.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The main message of the speech is that now is your time.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Referring to the southeastern border, he questions their purpose—is it the protection of people or the creation of resistance for military units—and asks for a public explanation of the actions taken.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks Mart Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme discusses how to ensure the security of Estonia's eastern border within five years.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar addresses a brief request to the Prime Minister.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed that the eastern border will be completed by 2027, responded to the opposition's criticism, and recalled that construction began before the current government and must be finalized with all necessary elements.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed that the eastern border will be fully completed by the end of 2027. However, he used a significant portion of his address to criticize the previous government (referencing a national broadcaster’s news report) for cutting back border funding. He stressed that construction had begun long before their tenure and expressed satisfaction that the debate has now reached the point of acknowledging the facts—that the decisions and actions regarding the border construction had already been made previously.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the information hour, reminded attendees of the rules for conducting the session (RKKTS Section 72, Subsection 1, and the commentary on Section 146), affirmed the presiding officer's right to discretion and confirmed that the rules are clear. He thanked the participants and wished everyone a productive continuation of the workday.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the first information hour of the session, reminding colleagues of the strict procedural rules regarding staying on topic and the right of the session chair to terminate the discussion of questions, thanking the participants and wishing them a productive workday.