The Selection of Ministers
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-03-26 14:16
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 16m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The second question concerned the selection of ministers and the reliability of the coalition: whether this is a “new government” or rather a continuation of the existing composition, and what background checks are being applied to the ministers. The debate revealed sharp criticism regarding the surfacing of ministers' pasts and their stances on Russia, including statements associated with Sveti and Igor Taro. Both past and present government tax and economic decisions were criticized, and there was a split on whether the coalition members are suitable for a single government. Boldness and national defense topics were also addressed, but the focus remained on the appropriateness of the ministers' selection and background checks, as well as the use of discretion by coalition partners when formulating coalition agreements.
Decisions Made 2
The implementation of background checks for all ministers and, if necessary, the application of preventative background checks before ministers are confirmed.
Increasing defense spending and borrowing at a necessary level (min. 5% of GDP) in accordance with national security and alliance commitments.
Most Active Speaker
Most active speaker: C8iMWR25mcA. He represents an EKRE member and a right-wing political position; leads criticism of the government in discussions about the selection of ministers and foreign policy, and represents strong criticism of the previous government and coalition.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Riigikogu member Martin Helme asks Prime Minister Kristen Michal a question about the selection of ministers.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that there is actually no new government, but the same old coalition, and he criticizes tax policy and the coalition's past, and he asks why unsuitable people are admitted to the government and why the prime minister's discretion is not used.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the government will carry out tax reforms, including the abolition of the corporate profits tax and the income tax from the first euro, and an increase of the tax-free minimum to promote investments and people's incomes. At the same time, defense spending will be increased and financed by borrowing. Ministerial background checks are underway, and the government emphasizes that it is different from the previous coalition.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker, Lauri Hussar, thanks and asks Martin Helme to pose a clarifying question.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme said that EKRE is not in the government and the legitimacy of the coalition is in doubt, therefore early elections should be held in Estonia, and he criticizes the tax policy and the backgrounds of the coalition members.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that extraordinary elections are a constitutional mechanism, emphasized defense spending growth due to Russia's aggression to at least 5% of GDP, explained the reform of the tax system and the lowering of the income tax to promote investments, while noting that Igor Taro has publicly expressed positions on Ukraine and Russia issues, and said that European Union rules allow these steps to be implemented more quickly via loans, and believes these decisions have broader support than just from Reform Party or Eesti 200.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked and gave the floor to his colleague Mart Helme, who will pose an additional question.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme stated that he is not pro-Russian, recommended that Kristen Michal read his books about Russia to understand Russia, and at the same time pointed out that there are two ministers in the government whose independence is in doubt, and emphasized Russia's influence and the danger of recruitment to national security.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked Mart Helmet and said that he could not give him any more time to speak.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme says that such a person should not be appointed as Minister of the Interior.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked that the meeting stay within two minutes and that questions would not be interrupted, in order to reach Varro Vooglaiu's tenth question, and he addressed a plea to the prime minister.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal believes that the opposition's statements about leaving the EU and treating Russia as a separate civilization shape the country's worldview and must be revised, and at the same time reminds that in a two-party government it is inevitable that the Ministries of Justice and the Interior are under one party's control, and Isamaa proposed a coalition, but the leaders adopted a stance of denial, although it would have been possible to defend national defense and reduce taxes.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and ends the consideration of today's second question.