Board elections of the Riigikogu
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
Date: 2025-03-27 12:12
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 42
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 2h 15m
AI Summaries: 42/42 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu sitting took place on Thursday, March 17th, with the aim of electing the Riigikogu board, including the speaker and two deputy speakers. At the beginning of the sitting, the election procedures, derived from the Constitution and the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure, were presented, emphasizing secret ballots.
Lauri Hussar (nominated by Toomas Uibo) and Helir-Valdor Seeder (nominated by Urmas Reinsalu) were presented as candidates for the Riigikogu speaker. Urmas Reinsalu, in this regard, criticized the existing parliamentary leadership, citing a need for a fundamental change and an impartial mediator. 99 members of the Riigikogu participated in the vote. Lauri Hussar received 51 votes and Helir-Valdor Seeder received 42 votes. Six ballots were declared invalid. As Lauri Hussar received more than half of the valid votes, he was declared elected as the Riigikogu speaker.
Subsequently, the Riigikogu deputy speakers were elected. The candidates were Arvo Aller (nominated by Martin Helme), Toomas Kivimägi (nominated by Õnne Pillak) and Tanel Kiik (nominated by Lauri Läänemets). 97 members of the Riigikogu participated in the election of the deputy speakers. Toomas Kivimägi received 52 votes, Arvo Aller received 25 votes and Tanel Kiik received 19 votes. One ballot was declared invalid. Toomas Kivimägi was elected as the first deputy speaker and Arvo Aller as the second deputy speaker, as they received the most votes.
Decisions Made 3
Lauri Hussar was elected Speaker of the Riigikogu, receiving 51 votes.
Toomas Kivimägi was elected as the first vice-chairman of the Riigikogu, receiving 52 votes.
Arvo Aller was elected Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu, receiving 25 votes.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Alleri's speech explains one item on today's agenda—the election of the Speaker of the Riigikogu and two deputy speakers—and describes the voting process (secret ballot, each Riigikogu member has one vote, a winner by a majority of the valid votes, if necessary a second round and a draw by lot), the handling of protests and the announcement of the results, and invites members to submit candidates.
Toomas Uibo
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Toomas Uibo nominated Lauri Hussar as a candidate for Speaker of the Riigikogu and called on everyone to support him, saying that Hussar is up to the task and has performed well so far.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller announces that the speech from the podium will be heard and comments can be made in the corridor; Urmas Reinsalu, please!
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu announced that the Speaker of the Riigikogu needs a fundamental change, nominated Helir-Valdor Seeder as a candidate for the Speaker of the Riigikogu, and stressed that Seeder has leadership experience during different coalitions and is not accused of partisanship, and that all members of parliament will cast their vote in this secret ballot or may leave their ballot blank.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
There are no further requests to speak, and, in accordance with the law, the candidate put forward must give consent, after which Lauri Hussar was asked whether he was willing to run for the post of Speaker of the Riigikogu.
Lauri Hussar
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Lauri Hussar confirmed that he is ready to stand for election as Speaker of the Riigikogu.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller confirmed the existence of a written consent and asked Helir-Valdor Seeder whether he was willing to run for the position of Speaker of the Riigikogu.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder thanks his colleague, quotes the folk wisdom "God gives the office and wisdom" and expresses a desire to experience the same miracle and is ready to accept it when the office becomes available to him.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller announced the closing of the list of candidates for the Speaker of the Riigikogu and announced a break of about five minutes for voting, the end of which is signaled by an audible signal.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller explained the voting procedure for electing the Speaker of the Riigikogu: the voting takes place in the foyer, each member must present an identity document and receive a ballot paper, which when filled out is marked with a cross next to one candidate's name; the ballot is considered invalid if more than one name or none of the names is marked; the ballot must be folded and placed in the ballot box; in case of a violation it is possible to obtain a new ballot; and there are no questions.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal raises the question of whether, when marking the box on the ballot, one must use a specific symbol or may use anything at all, and emphasizes that this is a very important question.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The cross is used as a symbol, and if the cross is legible, it is a valid symbol.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal asks whether some other fragments, for example a triangle or a circle, do not fit.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
If the mark made with a cross is clearly legible and shows the voter's preference for a particular candidate, the ballot is not spoiled.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They are asking for clarification whether it reads only the cross, not the circle, the triangle, or any other symbol.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
During the voting, only members of the election committee and staff serving the election committee may be present in the polling area; Members of the Estonian Parliament have 30 minutes to vote, voting begins five minutes after the start of the break, and the break for electing the Speaker lasts 35 minutes.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller declared the voting for the election of the Speaker of the Riigikogu finished, asked to bring the ballot box into the hall and check that its security seal had not been broken, and called on the election committee to read the votes and publicly announce the result.
Vabariigi Valimiskomisjoni aseesimees Airi Mikli
AI Summary
Airi Mikli announced before the Riigikogu that Lauri Hussar received 51 votes, and Helir-Valdor Seeder received 42 votes, and the number of invalid ballots was six, because the ballots were not marked with a cross behind the name of any candidate or were marked with a cross for both candidates.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Riigikogu confirmed Lauri Hussar as Speaker of the Riigikogu with 51 votes in favour and 42 votes for Helir-Valdor Seeder; 99 members participated, there were 6 invalid votes, no protests were submitted, and the decision took effect upon signing.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker Lauri Hussar informed the Riigikogu about the procedure for electing the vice-chairs, explaining that the two candidates who received the most votes would become vice-chairs (the one who received the most votes first and the next one), with an additional round if necessary, and signaled the possibility of questions and Martin Helme's wish to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
I submit Arvo Aller's candidacy on behalf of the EKRE faction, and I note that he has performed well so far, better than all the other board members, and deserves advancement within the board.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and, next, gives the floor to Õnne Pillak, the chair of the Reform Party faction.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Õnne Pillak congratulates the chair of the meeting on being reelected to the post and wishes them strength in their work.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar expresses heartfelt thanks.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Reform Party faction nominated Toomas Kivimägi as a candidate for Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu, a person whose work is professional, whose chairing of sessions is constructive and solution-oriented, and who takes into account both opposition and coalition MPs, and asks to support him.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
He thanked and asked that the floor be given to his colleague Lauri Läänemets at the Riigikogu dais.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets greets the Speaker of the Riigikogu and first extends his congratulations to him.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
They expressed heartfelt thanks.
Lauri Läänemets
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Läänemets put forward Tanel Kiik as a candidate for the deputy speaker of the Riigikogu, saying that Kiik is a staunch defender of the rule of law and of every person's freedom and of parliamentary democracy, and that as deputy speaker he would bring to the parliament a fresh perspective and energy, and he urged everyone to support him.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker Lauri Hussar asks esteemed Arvo Aller whether he is willing to stand for the office of Vice-Speaker of the Riigikogu.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller said that he is ready and willing to run.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
During the speech, a written consent is requested, and they ask Toomas Kivimäe whether he is willing to stand for the post of Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu.
Toomas Kivimägi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi said that he is willing to run for the post of deputy speaker of the Riigikogu.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker requests written consent and asks esteemed colleague Tanel Kiik whether he is willing to run for the office of Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik gives his consent in writing.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar asked for written consent before the closing of the list of candidates for the Riigikogu's vice-chairs and invited Martin Helme to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme recalled the dispute over who would initiate it, whether the faction or the MP, and clarified that although the ballot said “faction,” it could actually have been the MP — i.e., a colleague — who put Arvo Aller’s candidacy forward, to avoid confusion.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker Lauri Hussar closed the Riigikogu's list of candidates for vice-speakers and announced a recess so that the candidates' names could be written on the ballot.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar informed that the National Election Commission would conduct the election of the Riigikogu's deputy speakers, confirmed the candidate Arvo Aller presented by Martin Helme, explained the rules of the voting procedure and the rules governing the validity of votes, and announced that there were 30 minutes to vote and that voting would begin five minutes after the break, which lasted 35 minutes.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker announced that the voting for the election of the Riigikogu’s deputy speakers had ended; the ballot box and a bomb threat were checked, and there were no protests; it was requested that the Election Committee begin counting the votes and carry out the public reading by the Republic’s Election Commission, which is led by the deputy chair of the Election Committee, Airi Mikli.
Vabariigi Valimiskomisjoni aseesimees Airi Mikli
AI Summary
The deputy speaker of the Riigikogu, Airi Mikli, publicly reads aloud the votes cast for the candidates and announces that Arvo Aller received 25 votes, Toomas Kivimägi 52 votes, and Tanel Kiik 18 votes, and one ballot is invalid because it did not indicate any candidate.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
During the elections for the Riigikogu's deputy speakers, it was announced that Toomas Kivimägi became the first deputy speaker and Arvo Aller the second deputy speaker, and the new Riigikogu leadership has been elected.