Poverty
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-04-16 16:10
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 9
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 10m
AI Summaries: 9/9 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The sixth question directed to Member of the Riigikogu Riina Solman was addressed to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and focused on poverty and related measures. The discussion highlighted how Estonia has measured poverty and what social and economic policy steps have been planned or implemented to improve family well-being and reduce regional marginalization. In addition, historical measures – for example, support for large families and the interaction of special measures enacted during the coronavirus crisis – were examined, and the impact of decisions influencing tax and tax behavior on poverty alleviation and decisions regarding natural childbearing was discussed.
Parallel to the discussion’s direction, attention was drawn to the state’s strategic pathways: tax system reforms that increase people's disposable income from available funds, and increasing the investment capacity of companies to develop higher value-added industries. The Prime Minister emphasized that economic growth and increased employment are tools that create better conditions for reducing poverty throughout Estonia, including in marginal areas. She also noted that certain previous steps were necessary at a critical time, but in the future, other, more socially equitable solutions should be continued and some of the older tax models that diminished people's incomes should be discontinued.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made at this session; the discussion focused on describing plans and integrated measures, and talking about the direction of future policy.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Riigikogu Prime Minister YnKIrQfzj2E. He belongs to the right wing (right wing/government), representing center and right-wing political views and leading the discussion and visions of topics concerning poverty alleviation through tax policy and economic development measures.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Riina Solman asks the sixth question to Prime Minister Kristen Michal on the topic of poverty.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman emphasizes that Estonia has a “golden key” – support for large families, which since 2017 has increased births of third and subsequent children by 25%, and asks what measures the new government plans to take so that poverty does not prevent children from being born, especially in sparsely populated areas.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker Lauri Hussar expresses great gratitude and asks the Prime Minister for something.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The discussion on this question will continue, and Riina Solman has a clarifying question.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal acknowledged that in 2023 both absolute and relative poverty decreased, and that the government intends to continue steps that improve people's livelihoods, including the abolition of income tax liability from the first euro, the removal of the tax wedge, and raising the tax-free minimum to 700 euros, as well as the abolition of corporate income tax, which promotes investments, higher value-added jobs, and wage growth across Estonia.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman said that Isamaa did not demolish anything, but allowed the second pillar to be freed, and that its construction does not help low-income people, but enriches the profits of bank fund managers and private entrepreneurship, and she asked for an overview and solutions on how Estonia has progressed in achieving the SDG‑2030 goals and how to reduce poverty and peripheralization, especially in Ida-Virumaa.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
They thank and present a plea to the prime minister.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed that urbanization is inevitable and that poverty has decreased thanks to increases in pensions, the minimum wage, and child-support benefits, and he stressed that economic growth and cooperation with entrepreneurs provide people with better living opportunities, but he does not support the dismantling of the second pillar, as this has caused inflation and threatens the savings that will be accumulated in the future.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the audience and closed the discussion of the sixth question, listening to what was said in the hall: "That was not reasonable."