Continuation of the first reading of the draft law on declaring the Motor Vehicle Tax Act invalid (592 SE)
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-04-09 17:08
Total Speeches: 101
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 30m
AI Summaries: 101/101 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda includes the first reading of the draft motor vehicle tax law 592. The draft was initiated by the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) faction, and now it has been brought back for discussion with various viewpoints: the opposition (EKRE, Isamaa, and Centre Party) emphasized the need to declare the law invalid, and constitutional criticisms were raised, also relating to the occupation period; the coalition, along with the Reform Party and Estonia 200, considered the main objections to be partially related to the set limits and tax implications, but the ensuing discussions showed that the Parliamentary Ombudsman has identified constitutional issues. The agenda continued yesterday's unfinished discussion, and there are plans to have the initiator’s representative, Rene Kokal, respond to questions from the Riigikogu rostrum.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 592 was rejected on its first reading; the lead committee made a decision and rejected the proposal by a vote.
Most Active Speaker
eoQySqbpowY – a right-wing coalition representative; the most active speaker during this session; possessing a firmly established stance, but representing the coalition's positions and remarkably closely involved in the debates (right-wing factions).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chair Arvo Aller guided today's agenda, clarified that we would continue with what was left unfinished yesterday, and announced the first reading of Bill No. 592 initiated by the EKRE faction to declare the motor vehicle tax unconstitutional, and asked the initiators' representative Rene Kokat to answer the Riigikogu members' questions.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Varro Vooglaid is invited to speak when he is ready.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid notes that the Chancellor of Justice has found the car tax law to be incompatible with the Constitution and asks whether this is a sufficient justification or whether more fundamental problems lie hidden in it, and at the same time refers to Article 28, paragraph 4 of the Constitution, which obligates the state and local governments to care for large families and people with disabilities.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk says that the motor vehicle tax bill is unequal and places an excessive burden on large families and people with disabilities, increases their annual expenses and forces them to apply for social benefits, therefore the entire law should be declared invalid.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is merely an appeal to Andres Metsoja and a plea.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Andres Metsoja says that the car tax is an unfair tax, and calls on the opposition and the government to install cameras on gravel roads to see people's lives and the impact of a heavy garbage truck, and emphasizes that the condition of gravel roads is not discussed in the context of climate change.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that the bill can be processed, but regarding roads, gravel roads must be converted across the board to hard-surfaced roads, and people can also live outside population centers; on the issue of cameras, progress could be made, but for now the regulation should be left undone so that rural people are not burdened by the state.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The presenter introduced Anti Poolamets and Vadim Belobrovtsev by name and, at the same time, apologized.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev noted that different factions have divergent opinions on the car tax: Isamaa, EKRE and the Centre Party want to repeal the tax, Reformierakond and Eesti 200 are in favor of the tax, and the Social Democrats' position is not unified; yesterday, together with the opposition, only Anti Allas voted for the repeal, the other Social Democrats did not attend the chamber.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is a brief call to action: your time has come, and it's time to act.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker asks whether they support it or not.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that it is difficult to understand what the Social Democrats are thinking, noting that although the coalition was a brilliant move to oust the Social Democrats from government, the Social Democrats are still ready to bring forward bills and are now imitating the opposition, but when it comes to votes on bills that are actually harmful or burdensome for the people of Estonia, they will still support them, and he hopes that the representative from Võrumaa understands that the people of Võru are concerned about the car tax and will vote in favor of declaring it invalid.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asks the chair of the meeting how to assess, in light of the car tax, the situation in which the tax burdens the less well-off, while a €4,000 subsidy is paid for the purchase of an electric car.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
At the start of the speech, Evelin Poolametsa was asked to perform.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that electric cars are mainly purchased by wealthier people, and he does not support subsidizing the purchase of used electric cars, because in the context of budgetary constraints it is necessary to focus on more important expenditures.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller asked Varro Vooglaid to come and speak.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid presents concrete numbers using the example of two cars and finds that when you compare this with the Constitution's claim that large families are under the state's special care, it is a sheer mockery.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This was a short plea to invite Evelin Poolametsa to perform.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
In conclusion, the discussion suggests that the Chancellor of Justice has drawn attention to the deficiencies of the law, and it was the presenter who was the first to point this out, which shows a tendency to pass laws hastily and without impact assessments.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk claims that the car tax draft is being pushed through to meet the budget, that the opinions of stakeholder groups are not being taken into account, and that the ministry's analysis is incomplete; therefore the procedure must be postponed and the law properly worked out.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Aivar Kokki to speak.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
In a speech, Aivar Kokk states that the first decision of the previous coalition was to abandon support for large families, and, based on the Ministry of Finance's calculations, there is a possibility of savings of about one billion, and he discusses whether removing the tax relief for high-income earners or abolishing the car tax would be sensible.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk criticized the lack of an overview of Estonia's budget and spending, and said that the decision-making process is a mess, and stressed that decisions should serve the interests of the Estonian state and its people.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller asks Rain Epler to come and speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler expresses hope that the Social Democrats will learn and develop and will be able to together find reasonable proposals, such as the abolition of the car tax, but he does not believe that they will turn around immediately and will need time to learn.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk expresses hope that Anti will join us and vote in favor of abolishing the motor vehicle tax, which would provide a small ray of light and show goodwill, and would allow for future discussion about whether the tax should be paid only by Tallinn residents.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speech says that Anti Poolametsa should be present, but he is not present, therefore Anti Allast is asked.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas thanked, noted how quickly it reached him, and said that this is his question, and yesterday he voted for a bill similar to Isamaa's.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas explains that he will continue the proceedings, because in the previous lineup the motor vehicle tax law could not be reasonably processed and the faults corrected, and now invites colleagues to acknowledge that the country is buckling under varying costs and many strategic sectors are underfunded, and asks whether they are ready to support the Social Democrats' proposal to implement a progressive income tax.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This speech 'Your Time!' invites listeners to take action and to make the most of their time.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He claims that the so-called removal of the tax shield would bring in another 300 million in profit.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller said, "Your time!" and thanked.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk praised Anti's vote yesterday in favor of declaring the motor vehicle tax invalid and proposed that today one or two more Social Democrats be brought on board to show goodwill and to advance the law to declare the motor vehicle tax invalid.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller states that Antti is not present, and turns to Lauri Laats with a request.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats believes that the car tax decision punishes people in rural areas who rely on cars in their daily lives and should be rolled back, and he asks directly whether the Social Democrats are willing to admit that it was wrong, or whether they actually support tormenting people who live in the countryside.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk said that he hasn’t quite understood this properly, but if Anti Allas yesterday supported moving the bill forward for consideration and today he finds two to three more socialists, there is hope that being in opposition has been positive and that people will start to see what actually worries people and what kind of help is needed.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller asked Anti Allas to speak.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas recommends abolishing the car tax and replacing it with a progressive income tax to cover the state's needs, and asks whether the ideas can be supported.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk criticizes that the government's priorities are determined by politicians, and they discussed 2.5 billion for wind turbines and the construction of the fourth Estonian–Latvian power line, which would bring deforestation and long-term forest loss, and emphasizes that the problem is not a lack of money, but its use and the direction of spending.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman invites Martin Helmet to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme says that Anti Allas is talking about budget cuts, and five billion will go to Rail Baltica.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme criticizes the government for imposing taxes, referring to Anti Allas's two-faced behavior — in government he supported the car tax, in opposition he was against it — and asks whether they promise that if they come to power they will not change their stance on the car tax.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk promises, upon entering government, to declare the car tax invalid, gives Ant a chance to try a progressive path of rebirth, and emphasizes that local government elections must take the car tax issue into account and remind voters of the origin of this burden.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is merely a prayer for Lauri Laats.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats says that when the car tax is abolished, money must somehow be found, and the lack of funds is the government's failure to do its job. He points to a bank tax as an alternative, which the coalition and the Social Democrats have repeatedly voted down. He notes that the amounts of the bank tax and the car tax are roughly equal or even higher in the case of the bank tax, but in the end the money was taken from ordinary people, not from banks, which, in his opinion, says something about the government.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk claims that the coalition spoke about a bank tax one way and did the other, and that the government's internal disagreement and poor communication is a fundamental problem, where the opposition has offered fairer solutions.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is an invitation to Andres Metsoja: please come and talk.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Metsoja emphasized that Mr. Allas is on the right track, and Isamaa called on the opposition to join in rolling back taxes, and this has gradually borne fruit, but he warns that removing one tax inevitably leads to the creation of the next tax, and he emphasizes the need to balance government spending cuts with the tax system.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk believes that the state's financial policy is unclear, and the number of civil servants and public sector spending has increased in recent years; the new right-wing government talks about cuts, but no actions are visible, and it must be clearly determined how much money there is and where it goes.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
In Arvo Alleri's speech there is only a plea to invite Aivar Kokk.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
In a presentation, Aivar Kokk stated that, in fact, the tax relief for low-income earners is graduated, and the Social Democrats plan to grant everyone a 700-euro income tax relief, which next year would take over half a billion euros from the state budget, and without it there would be no need for the car tax, according to him, because its planned revenue is about a quarter of a billion.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk noted that the anticipated car tax sums may not reach the budget at all, and even if they do, administrative costs and the draining of the economy could mean that in the end there won't be much money from it, because car sales have fallen and the work of auto repair shops is decreasing.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Peeter Ernits to speak.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits claims that the death sentence for this bill has already been handed down by the coalition, and that discussion about it is pointless, just as with Eila's bill.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk emphasized that the incomplete understanding of bills and their vote-down, and the re-emergence of the car tax issue, show how important it is for voters to receive explanations about the work of the Estonian Parliament, and, ahead of the local government elections, to remind people who have driven others into poverty, and that the opposition must continue to work and hope for a better result.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti to come forward.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The presentation criticizes the Social Democrats, who claim that there is no money in the national budget, giving examples before the 2023 elections of subsidies distributed in the government together with the Reform Party and of wage increases, and adds that if the bank tax had been introduced on time instead of the car tax, the current debate would probably not be so sharp.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk says that before elections people hear one thing, but in the government it's another, and that the mainstream media and people's everyday worries prevent the messages from reaching the public; therefore the opposition must continually bring them to the foreground and remind people who these decisions actually belong to.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Mart Helmet to take the floor.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme called on the opposition to join in abolishing the car tax and stressed that this is a life-or-death decision, not a death sentence, while noting that the coalition is tenuous and that some MPs may vote for the opposition.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk emphasized the fading of hope and the need for a sense of reality, noted new colleagues, said that some would vote in favor of declaring the motor vehicle tax invalid, and that even the coalition should vote in favor of it, and he called for a ten-minute pause before the vote so that everyone could calmly think about whom they represent and what their role is.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller announces that Anti Poolamets is not present, proclaims that there are no more questions, and Aivar Kokk nevertheless tries to ask — there are two questions.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller thanked the presenter and moved on to the discussion that took place in the Steering Committee, which is presented by Mart Võrklaev, a member of the Finance Committee.
Mart Võrklaev
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Finance Committee discussed the draft on March 25 and decided to reject the draft at the first reading (6 in favor, 3 against, 0 abstentions), while the appointment of the committee's rapporteur and the proposal to put it on the plenary agenda were agreed by consensus.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller announced that the speaker also had questions, and invited Peeter Ernits to take the floor.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits compares automaxi Marti “with a child” and asks what his feeling is when he goes to the countryside, when the locals react to him either violently or approvingly.
Mart Võrklaev
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The presenter said that he cannot and must not express a personal opinion and must refrain from participating in the committee's deliberations, because the topic was not discussed in the committee.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invited Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti to speak.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The rapporteur states that the Social Democrats actually wanted harsher taxation, including CO2 taxation, and asks for information about this, and emphasizes that the car tax issue has been discussed more broadly in the Finance Committee.
Mart Võrklaev
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Võrklaev stated that what was said yesterday is true, but with regard to this draft bill he will leave it to the committee's deliberations, and that topic was not discussed there.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The content of the provided speech has not been presented; therefore a brief summary cannot be made.
Mart Võrklaev
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Võrklaev said that the draft is flawed and its content is scant, and the committee lacks important points, but the debate in the chamber was substantive and the participants defended their worldview.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal emphasized that the adoption of laws must be in accordance with the Constitution, noted that the motor vehicle tax bill is not in accordance with the Constitution, and asked by name who in the committee were the constitutional experts who stated the opposite.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller asked Kalle Grünthali to come forward.
Mart Võrklaev
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Võrklaev said that they are racing against the clock, and tomorrow the questions related to motor vehicle tax and the constitution will be discussed. Although the ombudsman has noted a possible conflict, he does not see such a conflict in the text of the current draft bill or in the explanatory memorandum, and the topic was left unaddressed in the committee; the debate will take place in the chamber tomorrow.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk pointed out that Tanel Kiik discussed in the committee a draft bill to declare the motor vehicle tax invalid, and stressed that broader motor vehicle tax problems were left unaddressed when the draft was rejected.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Arvo Aller, asks René Kokk to come forward.
Mart Võrklaev
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Võrklaev noted that the discussion about declaring the motor vehicle tax invalid was a hollow exercise and there was nothing new, and although the government's and the Ministry of Finance's positions on Draft Bill 571 are known and confirm that they do not support declaring it invalid, the government's final stance on the draft is not yet public and is being formed.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller thanked and announced that the questions had ended, and opened negotiations with the factions, inviting Rain Epler to represent the EKRE faction.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler says that the car tax is an unfair and painful tax that burdens especially families raising children and people living outside the big cities, and that it was introduced by the Social Democrats, the Reform Party and Eesti 200, which is why it is important in the elections to signal to politicians about the lies behind these decisions.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Anti Allas represents the Estonian Social Democratic Party and asks for your attention, and on behalf of the faction apologizes.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas stressed that the issue of car tax must be solved responsibly and with justification, not based on populist talk; he recalled the previous lowering of income tax and the funding of road reconstruction, and that the necessary costs must be covered, and that car tax could be a reasonable instrument if account is taken of sparsely populated areas and exemptions for large families.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asked for three more minutes.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas called for correcting mistakes and a sensible compromise, to listen to entrepreneurs and to implement a progressive income tax — for example, taxing income above 3,000 euros at 40%, which would generate about 800 million euros and would allow reducing bureaucracy, increasing the tax-free minimum, and strengthening Estonia's business environment.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Andres Metsoja submits a request on behalf of the Isamaa parliamentary group.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Metsoja stressed that the car tax is a mistake, and true justice is born only with a functioning economy and a realistic tax policy, which focuses on investments in infrastructure, and the introduction of new taxes should be avoided until the economy is functioning and debts are reasonably addressed.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
In the speech, it is announced that three minutes will be added.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
According to Andres Metsoja, Estonia must stop patching things up and implement a clear, bold, and realistic strategy, because trust in the state has fallen, and without the state's own decisions and actions, not even NATO or European unanimity will help.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
On behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction, three additional minutes for a speech were requested for Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart claims that the car tax overburdens families in Estonia—especially large families, people with disabilities, those living in rural areas, and low-income families—and is contrary to the Constitution, therefore it must be repealed; she vows to use all legal means and, if necessary, to appeal to the Supreme Court, and for the City of Tallinn she promises to compensate the car tax for large families and people with disabilities.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman gives thanks and, on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction, requests that the floor be given to Toomas Uibo.
Toomas Uibo
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Toomas Uibo emphasizes that Estonia's finances must be sustainable, and taxes are our common money with which the state's defense and functioning are ensured, and teachers, emergency responders and police officers receive reasonable salaries so that the state remains independent and secure.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller announced that the negotiations have ended and that the leading committee's proposal to defer the first reading of Bill 592 is now to be put to a vote.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The proposal received support: 47 for, 25 against and 0 abstentions; Bill 592 has been rejected and is no longer under consideration.