Government decisions
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-03-26 15:34
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 12
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 12/12 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Eight questions concerned the decisions of the prime minister and the government, as well as the ETS2 climate action framework, including the postponement or annulment of the directive. Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart presented a critical review of previous decisions within the coalition, and the question was how the Reform Party initially supported the directive and why the current position appears contradictory. The PM explained that the political and economic circumstances affecting the coalition have changed over time, and Estonia's position remains clear – a postponement and ultimately an annulment is being sought, and this work will receive the necessary support and mandate from the commission in cooperation with other countries. Another topic, the ongoing discussions and exemptions regarding car taxes for people with disabilities, highlighted constitutional discussions and the influence of the President's position; the PM emphasized that if there are errors, they must be corrected or the law annulled, and that process is underway in cooperation with the finance committee. Additionally, a procedural comment was also made regarding references made by female party members.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made in this session.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Lauri Laats (a member of the Riigikogu). His position is other (neither left nor right). He raised two key questions and clarifications regarding car taxes and procedural matters, which is why he appears to be the most active among the speakers.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Riigikogu member Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart asks Prime Minister Kristen Michal about the government's decisions.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart notes that the Reform Party and the coalition supported on 25 April 2023 an EU directive proposed by Estonia, which planned to tax transport fuels and home heating, and now they deny that it is a tax, although at the time they were in favor of it.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that Estonia's wish is to postpone ETS2 and later cancel it, because the system is complex, burdens companies and people, and the impact on Estonia is marginal, and Estonia is working together with other countries to obtain support for postponement and to reach a unified decision.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti and invites her to pose a clarifying question.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart states that the car tax is unconstitutional because it does not provide for exemptions for disabled people, large families, and the poor, cites the Chancellor of Justice and court proceedings, and asks whether the new government is ready to abolish the car tax.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal says that faults in the car tax issue must be corrected; although the exemption for people with disabilities caused controversy and the president found it unacceptable and it was sent back to Parliament, changes have been made and a support mechanism created, and he calls on the commission to cooperate to find the best solution, leaving aside previous adventures.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, asks Lauri Laats to pose an additional question.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats believes that the Social Democrats, who governed for three years, raised taxes and introduced a car tax, and now talk about lowering the value-added tax on groceries and regional inequality, and he asks how the Reform Party guided them in this way and whether their trust has remained.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that although the departure from the government in coalition with the Social Democrats occurred due to differing views on economic management, the pace of decisions, and cutting bureaucracy, the departure should be carried out with dignity, to thank the partners for what has been done, and to strive to be better in the future.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
In short: the chair thanks, ends consideration of this question, and before moving on to the ninth question, Lauri Laats has his hand raised, and a procedural question is raised regarding the rules for conducting the meeting.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats thanked the Speaker of the Riigikogu and the Prime Minister and said that he did not want to offend his female colleagues, regarded it more as a compliment, and apologized if it seemed otherwise, while still noting "female colleagues".
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
They thank a colleague and inform us that we are moving on now.