Draft law amending the Rules of Procedure Act of the Riigikogu (552 SE) – first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, Fifth Session, Plenary Session
Date: 2025-03-12 16:31
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 63
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 43m
AI Summaries: 63/63 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The third agenda item concerned the draft law amending the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure Act, first reading 552. The draft was initiated by Rain Epler, Kert Kingo, and Arvo Aller, and the presentation was given by Kert Kingo. The purpose of the draft is to more clearly define the obligations of Riigikogu committees regarding appearances and the submission of documents, and to establish sanctions in cases of non-compliance with these obligations. The planned amendments include changing the wording of paragraph 2 of §22 and changes to §23, including an additional paragraph 4; the terms "mutual obligations" and "punitive sanctions” are also being replaced with "Riigikogu commission" instead of "investigatory commission." The draft’s budget neutrality lies in the fact that the provisions to be amended concern inter-parliamentary and government cooperation, not the state budget.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 552 is rejected in the first reading. Voting result: 45 in favor, 15 against, 0 abstentions. The bill is dropped from consideration.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was iE5FtJw0e48, who represented the commission as the proposer/rapporteur in the constitutional affairs committee and guided the discussion regarding the content and procedure of the draft. Position: other (committee representative/rapporteur).
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
During the third item on the agenda, the first reading of draft law No. 552 amending the Riigikogu's Rules of Procedure was held, and for a speech to be delivered, the esteemed colleague Kert Kingo was invited to the Riigikogu's rostrum.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Proposal to strengthen the Riigikogu's oversight of the government, granting all committees uniform powers to require the appearance of individuals and documents, and establishing the grounds for initiating disciplinary and no-confidence proceedings in cases of violations.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience and asks Constitutional Committee member Timo Suslov to present the committee's positions on Draft Bill 552 and the meeting's decisions, emphasizing that a boycott is not planned and that there are usually many questions.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He gave an overview of the committee's work carried out on 18 February, where amendments relating to the house rules and the working order were discussed, and a consensus emerged that the draft should be placed on the plenary agenda for 26 February (which was later postponed), with a separate decision to reject the draft, which received 6 votes in favor and 4 against, and Timo Suslov was appointed as the representative of the leading committee.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanks the audience and announces that there are a few questions from the audience, and invites Kert Kingo to answer.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo thanked the chair of the session and the committee's rapporteur and asked to name six individuals, by name and party affiliation, who voted in favor of the bill's rejection.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They confirmed that they could handle it, and the list of supporters included Katrin Kuusemäe, Kalle Laanet, Eduard Odinets, Pipi-Liis Siemann, Timo Suslov, and Hendrik Johannes Terras.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Helle-Moonika Helmet to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The government did not give an opinion on this bill, and according to Helle-Moonika Helme, it is actually a very good bill, because Kert Kingo's presentation highlighted major problems, but government members do not want to come to discuss questions that may involve corruption or conflicts of interest, and Helme asks what was the committee's argument for why such a good bill was rejected, whom are you protecting or what are you hiding?
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He said that he wasn't hiding anything; the issue was proportional to the so-called no-show, and although the problem had existed before, it has improved on the part of the government members, but disagreements and the use of financial coercive measures may be a matter of worldview, about which the discussion dragged on.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Varro Vooglaid to take the floor.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid addressed the opposition to the obligation that a member of the Government must appear before the Riigikogu's inquiry committee, emphasizing that if the government is accountable to the Riigikogu, a minister must not choose whether to appear or not, and noting that the opposition had arisen both in form and in substance, and that during information hours Riigikogu members should have the opportunity to ask questions, but if the minister finds that the question is not sufficiently important or relevant, then he will not come.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He noted that the discussion focused more on ideological questions, and he himself did not have a direct answer to the question posed.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech was merely the inviting of Lauri Laatsi.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasizes that the problem lies not in the worldview but in political culture, and he invites discussion precisely for this reason about such bills aimed at reforming the political culture that has emerged during the previous coalition.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Since I am here as the commission's rapporteur, I may express my personal opinions later.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Mart Helmet to speak.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accuses the current government of secrecy and evading accountability, pointing to the unavailability of the National Audit Office's data, and warns that if this continues we will follow the same path as Romania, where the Reform Party distributes money as it pleases.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Timo Suslov said that he does not know whether he has submitted the committee's position, and he does not know how to comment on it.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme expresses surprise, asking why the draft bill was rejected and whether the justification “it's even appeared and isn't necessary” was merely childish and arrogant, while pointing out that members of the government have not wished to contribute to the investigation, and that this is a problem.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Constitution lays down the procedure for dismissing a minister by a vote of no confidence, and therefore this option exists, but it was discussed whether the sanction should be monetary and whether it should be uniform across all commissions, since in the case of the investigative committee it is so.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi requests that Kalle Grünthal be invited onto the stage.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal emphasizes that the Riigikogu is an institution that determines the government, and that government members must report to the Riigikogu; he refers to the Riigikogu Member’s Status Act, which requires responding to members' demands and petitions, and asks why this is not being done and why the Constitutional Committee does not address the status of a Riigikogu member in the proceedings on the bill.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
We had a draft bill that concerns amending the Domestic and Work-Order Act, but it wasn't discussed in the committee, and I can't tell you any more, because we simply didn't have it.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo accuses the coalition in the Constitutional Committee of lacking substantive debate and of rolling all draft bills through with only the coalition's majority, noting that the coalition does not want to increase the Riigikogu's powers to oversee the executive branch and the transparency of state governance.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech began with inviting Kert Kingo to perform.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
I won't sign off on this construction, but in our view these conditions are already in the law and are sufficient.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks René Kokk to come forward.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk emphasizes that it is in everyone's interest to obtain the necessary information from ministers through the committee, and condemns the opposition that could hinder access to information; he notes that the coalition's voting power does not allow removing the minister and that this creates a deadlock, and finally asks whether the six people who voted against justified their decision and whether there was a broader discussion about it.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Most people believed that we did not support it, because the conditions have been introduced into the Domestic and Working-Order Act, and they should be sufficient, and ministers must report to committees, and if anything is touched upon, it must be justified.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman invited Valdo Randpere to speak.
Valdo Randpere
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Valdo Randpere explains how the practice of not appearing at special committee meetings began, citing Martin Helme and media headlines as examples, and emphasizes that the origin of this practice should be discussed, not only its consequences.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He thanks the listeners.
Valdo Randpere
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Valdo Randpere said that we condemn this together, and a whisper is heard in the hall.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Timo Suslov thanked and said that this probably wasn't his question.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invited Kalle Grünthal to pose a question; it was discussed whether he may ask; it was confirmed that he may, but must not disturb other colleagues; and finally they said: Kalle Grünthal, please!
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal criticizes that the Constitutional Committee is engaged in political games and does not want to solve an important problem, although the National Defence Committee should be one of the strongest committees of the Republic of Estonia and a bearer of constitutional values, and he will go tomorrow to defend the draft bill he initiated.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked the audience.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal asks whether you agree with this claim.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He said that he does not agree with that.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, invites Varro Vooglaid onto the stage.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vooglaid emphasizes that in organizing the work of Parliament and the government’s cooperation, a universal, one-size-fits-all rule must apply to everyone, and opposition and coalition members must not be treated differently; he asks whether, while in opposition, he would stick to the same position, and notes that not appearing before the Coalition Ministers’ Special Committee is their sovereign right, but this shows the need for such universal rules.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They admitted that the commission did not discuss implementing acts, and in hindsight no implementing act has been adopted, and the solution to the problem has not been brought to completion, and that is their own opinion.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
In the speech it is said that Valdo Randpere will have the floor once again.
Valdo Randpere
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He criticizes the committees' excessive overreach beyond their competencies and the staging of political theater, and emphasizes that special committees should deal with their own areas of competence; for example, the Special Committee for State Budget Control would focus on the state budget, not on whether the sun rises in the east or in the west.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Timo Suslov said that the given question had not been discussed, and he thanked that it was a good question.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The chair of the meeting invites Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart onto the stage.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart expresses concern about how to ensure ministers appear before the special committees, cites examples of repeated absences (RMK classified contracts, the wind-turbine issue, the State Secretary topic), and emphasizes that in an information briefing with two questions you cannot obtain answers, and therefore the work of the special committee may become meaningless.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Timo Suslov thanked, recalled the committee's discussion, and said that it had not been discussed and that he had no answer to it, that he could express his personal opinions later, because he is currently the committee's rapporteur.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi asked Rene Kokk to pose a second question.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk expressed suspicion that committee members did not understand the content of the proposal, according to which ministers should appear before the committee regardless of party, and asked for a comment on why six members voted differently.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He thanks you for the question, believes that everyone understood, and adds that he can't comment on anything regarding Valdo Randpere.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked the participants, said that the questions had been concluded, opened negotiations on behalf of the EKRE faction, and asked Mart Helme to speak next.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme describes in a speech how committees do not show up and materials are not distributed, which has become a pattern, accuses Kaja Kallas's leadership of having suppressed parliamentary power, and stresses the need for open dialogue and the inclusion of the opposition—only in this way can Estonia avoid the fate of a failed state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi gives thanks, and on behalf of the faction asks Lauri Laats for the floor and promises to give him three additional minutes.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats expressed deep concern about the democracy crisis and the silencing of the opposition, as well as the failure to appear before ministerial committees, and stressed that this bill regulates both the present and the future and helps improve political culture, calling on everyone to support it.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Valdo Randpere, on behalf of the Reform Party faction, requests to deliver a speech.
Valdo Randpere
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Valdo Randpere demands a rebuttal, saying that he was clearly referred to.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi says that this is a reply speech on behalf of the Reform Party faction.
Valdo Randpere
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Valdo Randpere denies Mart Helme's claim that Kaja Kallas is still prime minister or had usurped the government, and presents the sequence of events from 2022, in which Kallas dismissed ministers, stepped down, and a new government formed with Isamaa, the Social Democrats and the Reform Party took office.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi declares the negotiations closed, presents the lead committee's proposal to reject Bill 552 on the first reading, and puts it to a final vote, asking colleagues to take a stand and vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu voted 45 in favour, 15 against, and there were no abstentions; the proposal found support, but Draft Bill No. 552 was rejected and removed from the proceedings, the third item on the agenda ended and today's session ended — thank you to everyone for participating.