Governing the state
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, fifth sitting, information briefing.
Date: 2025-03-12 14:17
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 11
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 11/11 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today's second question focused on an overview of state governance and important issues between the coalition and the opposition emerged on the speaking platform. Helir-Valdor Seeder posed a question to Prime Minister Kristen Michal, referencing potential previous social democratic initiatives and their possible withdrawal. The question highlighted specific ideas, such as the formation of oblasts into four, and the appointment of special representatives to regions, the transformation of county public transport hubs, online versions of the Ministry of Agriculture’s toolboxes, and the implementation of training at the level of local governments. The reduction of bureaucracy, making the state function effectively, and controlling costs were also brought up.
The second part addressed research and development funding and the reduction of the number of officials: the focus of the discussion was 1% of GDP for research and development, and the potential implementation of plans, which also brought up several questions about how these promises would actually be realized. In addition, cooperation in reforming state governance and fulfilling the coalition's promises was highlighted, which were discussed and for which there is currently no clear and formal decision. The focus of the third part was on the accusations made in Lauri Läänemets’s interview and their impact on claims of the coalition's disintegration, and an analysis of the state’s secrets and the future role of the Chancellery of the Government. Overall, the agenda primarily consisted of discussion, not the formalization of specific decisions.
Decisions Made 1
Specific decisions were not made. The discussion focused on clarifying the coalition's directions, reducing bureaucracy, and coordinating the upcoming work before various regional and national reforms.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was the prime minister, whose speeches consistently ran long and largely carried a right-wing perspective. He represents the government and holds a leadership position, sounding like a government leader who emphasizes reducing bureaucracy and economic reforms.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Today's second question is directed to the Prime Minister Kristen Michal on the topic of state governance. The question is posed by Riigikogu member Helir-Valdor Seeder.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder thanks the prime minister, notes the leftward turn and the criticism of the tax war, and asks directly whether the new government is ready to reverse course or, at least, to stop some of the SD ministers' initiatives, such as dividing into four oblasts, appointing special representatives, transforming county transport centers into regional ones, introducing web-based toolkits in agriculture, and organizing trainings at local governments.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The prime minister answered yes, apologized for the poem and said that it is personal and asked to write it in that drawer, not under his name, adding that these decisions about regional representatives are already in the news, and the climate minister, whom you greatly support, canceled these decisions and asked you to continue supporting him.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked and asked Helir-Valdor Seeder to pose a clarifying question.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder expressed Isamaa's support for reducing bureaucracy and moving the state toward more efficient operation, but asked for clarification on the exact target and deadline for allocating 1% of GDP to science and development activities and for a 20% reduction in civil servants.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal pledges to reduce bureaucracy, setting as an initial goal 20% fewer checks and forms, and to establish, under the Prime Minister, a council for a big-business initiative to systematically review state controls, drawing on the experience of previous zero-bureaucracy and gaining the support of the coalition and of entrepreneurs, including Isamaa.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and requests that an additional question be submitted to colleague Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart discusses in a speech the accusations raised in Lauri Läänemets's interview about her and Kasemetsa's collaboration in bringing down the Social Democrats' government, emphasizes the growing influence of the State Chancellery and the Secretary of State, and a plan to channel funding for research and development through them, and asks whether these claims are true.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar expresses great gratitude and appeals to Mr. Prime Minister with a request.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal explains that the claim is not true, but the departure from the coalition occurred mainly due to bureaucracy and delays in decision-making, and the end took place on Monday morning at a faction meeting, emphasizing the need for concrete and rapid decisions and reminding that the Centre Party has experience of leaving the Social Democrats.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and announces that today's consideration of the second question is terminated.