First reading of the draft resolution of the Riigikogu concerning the appointment of members of the Estonian National Broadcasting Council from recognised experts in the field of activity of the Estonian National Broadcasting. (643 OE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-05-14 20:05
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 42
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 34m
AI Summaries: 42/42 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
As the sixth item on the Riigikogu’s agenda, the Riigikogu considered the draft resolution 643 of the Culture Committee, for its first reading, aimed at appointing two new, nationally recognized expert members to the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) supervisory board. The Culture Committee decided to submit the draft resolution on May 6th, according to which two new members will be appointed to the board, with terms of office lasting five years. It is also noted that the terms of office of Peeter Espak and Viktor Trasberg expire on May 26th of this year, and therefore new experts are needed. The draft’s details emphasize that the ERR supervisory board consists of members of the Riigikogu and recognized experts in the field of public broadcasting, and the Riigikogu appoints members as representatives of parliamentary groups and from a group of four recognized experts. The organization of the competition and the assessment of candidates were carried out in accordance with the decision of the April 15th sitting; 13 candidates were expected by April 29th, and as a result of the vote held on May 6th, Paavo Nõgene and Raul Rebane were put forward for interviews. It is specifically mentioned that the existing recognized experts, Sulev Valner and Rein Veidemann, will continue and their terms of office will last until 2027. Finally, it is emphasized that the draft resolution of the Riigikogu will be adopted by a majority of affirmative votes, and the vote resulted in 50 in favor, 11 against, and 0 abstentions.
Decisions Made 1
The Riigikogu adopted draft resolution 643 of the Riigikogu: to appoint Paavo Nõgene and Raul Rebane as members of the recognized experts group in the field of public broadcasting, with their term of office beginning on May 27, 2025. The adoption of the draft took place according to the Home Rule Act of the Riigikogu, with one reading and a majority of votes in favor. The explanatory note of the draft states that the candidates had proper written consents and that prior restrictions (not being a member of the board, a procurist, an auditor, etc.) were met. The vote result was 50 in favor, 11 against, and 0 abstentions.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was fx-YQO-LhEY, who represents the culture committee and belongs to the Reform Party faction. His role appears similar to that of the Riigikogu president, acting as a representative/leading representative, and he acted as the main presenter and respondent in providing substantive explanations of the bill. In terms of the political spectrum, he can be classified as belonging to the right-wing political bloc, considering the Reform Party's niche and the faction he represents.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Next, the sixth item on the agenda will discuss the first reading of the Riigikogu draft decision No. 643, submitted by the Culture Committee, which concerns the appointment of council members who are recognized experts in the ERR's field of activity; the presentation will be given by Liina Kersna, the chair of the Culture Committee.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Riigikogu Culture Committee submitted to the Riigikogu a draft decision by which two new sector-recognized experts, Paavo Nõgene and Raul Rebane, are named to the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council, whose terms would begin on May 27, 2025, and the appointment conditions comply with the law; the decision will be adopted in a single reading with a majority of votes in favor, and Rebane has stated that if elected he will sever his contractual ties with Vikerraadio.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanks and asks that Reili Rand pose a question.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand raises the question of why the culture committee had to choose from 13 candidates, but there is no female representative on ERR's council, emphasizing the need to uphold gender balance and to set an example for the country through the forthcoming bill.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna noted that all factions have sent men to the public broadcasting council, and she called for considering replacing a male expert with a female expert in the name of diversity, because there are many suitable female field experts in the chamber.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invites Evelin Poolametsa to perform.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Poolamets expresses concern that although there is a desire to increase the representation of women in leadership positions, only men are represented in high-level positions, which does not correspond to the Reform Party's gender equality policy and raises the question of whether female candidates were even considered.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
We had a so-called blind vote, i.e., a secret ballot, as a result of which Raul Rebane and Paavo Nõgene were elected.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is a short prayer to Anti Poolamets.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets emphasises in the Riigikogu that in the leaderships of listed companies and business enterprises, at least 40% of the members of the supervisory board or at least 33% of the members of the management board and the supervisory board should belong to the less represented gender; he asks why they do not follow their own ideas and why this is not discussed at all, and he demands the inclusion of at least one such representative on ERR's board, and asks whether the committee has discussed this issue and how many members of the less represented gender there are in total.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna notes that the public broadcasting council is very male-dominated and that it is in our own hands, because all candidates were presented by the factions and we have presented all those men, but she calls for thinking about the inclusion of women and emphasizes that the selection was made on the basis of expertise and that the Culture Committee evaluated it.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speech is a brief plea to invite Helle-Moonika Helme.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme emphasizes that the choice should be based on professional competence, not gender, notes that there were several good experts on the women’s list and that she voted for a woman, and asks a fellow how sincere he was, referring to the fact that ultimately men were chosen in the coalition.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna said that among 13 candidates she selected two very good experts with firm conviction, and if the Culture Committee had had the opportunity to choose four experts, there would certainly have been a woman included among them, and she hopes that the women who applied will apply again in two years.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invited Reili Randi to the microphone.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They admitted that the microphone isn't working.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller said "now!" immediately, and based on the overheard chatter from the hall it turned out that there were actually two questions.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand stressed that the selection does not have to be gender-based, and that on the basis of competence, representatives of both genders could be considered, and she asked whether there were female candidates among the 13 candidates, and whether the commission found that none of them was sufficiently competent.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Thanks! There was a vote in the commission, and each member could select two candidates from among 13 candidates; we only need two candidates whom we are presenting here now.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna asks briefly whether there is another way to approach something.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Evelin Poolametsa to pose a question, noting that Reili Rand has already received a second question.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets called for a review of the candidate requirements and stressed that women’s representation would give the ERR council significant added value, referring to the mocking of motherhood and large families in ETV’s New Year’s Eve program and to a possible link with the absence of a women’s council.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
I do not agree with your conclusion, but I agree with the premise that in leadership bodies where there are both men and women, more balanced and better decisions are made.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller invites Rene Kokk to take the floor.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The representation of women on the council is our responsibility, but at the moment it is not my responsibility either.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Helle-Moonika Helme to take the floor.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme said critically that the focus of the debate had already drifted off somewhere, and that the choice is justified by expertise, and she stressed that all the women who ran this time know who they are, and in fact they are not experts.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna said that although the two recognized experts elected by vote (Raul Rebane and Paavo Nõgesel) provide support to the field, the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council must not be all men and its composition must be changed to include more women.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Rain Epler to come onto the stage.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler expresses criticism of why government agencies do not implement the same 40% gender quota principle as the private sector, and hypothetically suggests that if the law comes into force, male candidates could be removed from the list before the vote, and the ballot would contain only women.
Liina Kersna
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Liina Kersna said that the appointment of the Public Broadcasting Council is being discussed, along with the two candidates' compliance with the legal requirements, and she hopes for your favorable vote on the draft.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller announces that the questions have been concluded and opens negotiations with the factions; Mart Helme represents the EKRE faction.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accuses the Reform Party of arrogance and of interpreting laws in a one-sided manner, calls Raul Rebane and Paavo Nõgene their mouthpieces and propagandists, and promises that their regime will soon fall against the backdrop of global perestroika and Trump's election.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The central question of the speech is whether additional time is desired.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He says that this whole thing against their propagandists won't last long, and he thanks the listeners.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chair thanks and, on behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction, gives the floor to Reili Rand.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand stressed that two men were appointed to ERR's council, and this illustrates a systemic lack of gender balance. She stated that competence depends on knowledge and experience, not on gender, and she voiced opposition to a bill that would entrench invisible injustice and exclude women.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Next, Peeter Tali will speak on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali confirmed Raul Rebast as a long-term media expert, whose exposure of Kremlin-directed influences makes him a particularly needed member of the ERR board, and added that the Culture Committee has found excellent female experts Liina Kersna and Margit Sutrop, and their selection will certainly be supported.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller announced that the negotiations have ended, because under Section 117(2) of the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Regulation Act amendments could not be submitted regarding the given draft, and he sent to a final vote the draft 643 presented by the Culture Committee, the aim of which is to appoint the members of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Council from among recognized experts.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Draft bill 643 was adopted as a decision: 50 in favor, 11 against, and there were no abstentions.