Second reading of the draft law on accession to the statute of the Institute for International Democracy and Electoral Assistance (559 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-05-14 19:55
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 6
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 10m
AI Summaries: 6/6 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
A small but important discussion concerned the second reading of draft law 559, regarding the accession of the Republic of Estonia to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). The leading committee carried out the procedures following the period between the first readings: the draft law was concluded in the first reading, and the deadline for amendments was April 24th; a so-called linguistic correction added the word "and" to the text. The leading committee decided on May 5th to submit to the Riigikogu board a proposal to place the draft law on the plenary agenda for a second reading on May 14th, to confirm the text and explanatory memorandum of the draft law, and to conclude the second reading and conduct the final vote. For the draft law to pass the vote, a majority of votes in favor is required. Strong critical views were presented during the debate: criticisms from the opposition forces claimed that accession to IDEA is essentially meaningless and rather a matter of image regarding the appearance of democracy. The discussion highlighted the need for sustainable democracy and electoral assistance and proposed alternative reforms such as citizen initiatives, referendums, greater autonomy for local governments, and more transparent and reliable electoral systems. All of this concluded with a final vote, the results of which showed that the draft law was adopted.
Decisions Made 2
The steering committee decided to put the bill on the agenda of the full parliament for the second reading on May 14th, to confirm the bill’s text and explanatory notes for the second reading, and to conclude the second reading by conducting a final vote.
The Riigikogu passed bill 559: the number of votes in favor was 50, against 12, and abstentions 1. The bill has been adopted as a law.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Da8wPkBavy0, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, who represented the lead committee's proceedings and provided an overview of the progress of the proceedings and a significant portion of the decisions. His role was important as a procedural representative, but his specific, unfinished mark cannot be described within the political spectrum; his presentation remained relatively in the "other" category.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
We are moving to the fifth item on the agenda, where the government-initiated bill No. 559 concerning the second reading of accession to the Charter of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance will be discussed; the presenter is Ester Karuse, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Ester Karuse
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
According to the presenter, the second-reading procedure for Bill No. 559 is underway: the first reading was completed on 9 April, no amendment proposals were submitted, and the linguistic correction added the word “ning”; the Foreign Affairs Committee decided on 5 May to place the proposal for the bill’s second reading on the Riigikogu plenary’s agenda, to approve the bill’s text and its explanatory memorandum, and to conclude the second reading and hold a final vote, which requires a majority.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chair Arvo Aller thanked the audience, opened the negotiations, and asked Varro Vooglaid, noting that comments would come later.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid claims that the draft bill enabling joining IDEA is a completely pointless image-building and spending activity that does not bring real benefits to Estonia, and that to promote democracy one should focus on substantive reforms such as a reliable and transparent electoral system, citizens' initiative, referendums, and strengthening local democracy, rather than following foreign organizations.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-speaker Arvo Aller announced the draft bill 559 for a final vote and asked the members of the Riigikogu to take a position and vote.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The draft bill 559 was enacted into law: 50 members of the Riigikogu voted in favor, 12 against, and 1 abstained.