Draft law amending the Hunting Act (553 SE) – Third Reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-05-14 17:30
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 8
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 10m
AI Summaries: 8/8 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item was the third reading and final vote on draft law 553 to amend the hunting law, initiated by the Isamaa faction. During the discussions, the focus was on the need to manage populations of large predators, primarily wolves, and their connections to environmental policy.
Andres Metsoja (Isamaa) emphasized that the draft law is necessary because the wolf population in Estonia and Europe is too large and is encroaching on people's economic and living spaces. He noted that the legislature must be able to express its will clearly, regardless of court decisions. Tiit Maran (Social Democratic Party) supported maintaining a wolf population within a socially acceptable range (20–30 packs), but used the metaphor of the wolf as a "canary in a coal mine," referring to deeper problems in Estonian forestry. In Maran’s opinion, conflicts between wolves and people are due to a scarcity of prey animals, which in turn is related to overharvesting and the lack of undergrowth in forests. He warned against ecologically foolish decisions that will increase social tensions in the future. Yoko Alender (Reform Party) supported the draft law, noting that it is a small but important improvement that will help maintain balance between nature and people and is also in the wolf's own interest, preventing it from becoming a target of anger. The draft law passed the final vote.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 553 (the draft act amending the Navigation Act) was adopted as an act. It was supported by 83 members of the Riigikogu, opposed by 1, and there were no abstentions.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Tiit Maran (Social Democratic Party), who offered a thorough ecological analysis of the wolf's role and linked the topic of large predators with the sustainability of Estonian forestry policy. (Left)
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The second item on the agenda is the opening of the third reading and debate on Draft Act 553 on amendments to the Hunting Act, initiated by the Isamaa parliamentary group. Andres Metsoja is then invited to speak on behalf of the Isamaa parliamentary group.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Support Isamaa’s sound bill, which would amend the Hunting Act and provide better opportunities for controlling large predators, particularly wolves, when their population is excessive. This is necessary to protect people’s living environments and economic interests, and to express the will of the legislature irrespective of court rulings.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Thank you very much. — On behalf of the SDE faction, Tiit Maran requests the floor.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran compares the wolf to a canary and warns that if forest management and carrying capacity are not properly taken into account, and ecologically foolish decisions are made, the wolf will approach human settlements, leading to increasingly severe conflicts within communities.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks you and, on behalf of the Reform Party Faction, invites Yoko Alender to take the floor.
Yoko Alender
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Yoko Alender said that this is a small but important amendment to the law, which corrects a flaw remaining in the legislation, demonstrates sensible cooperation between the opposition and the coalition, and is important for the balance between nature and humans, as well as for the protection of the wolf's interests.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi concluded the negotiations and announced that the steering committee would conduct the final vote on Draft Bill 553, and that Draft Bill 553 concerning the amendment of the Hunting Act, initiated by the Isamaa faction, would be put to the final vote, asking everyone to take a position and vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Bill 553 was adopted as law: 83 votes in favor, 1 against, and 0 abstentions.