First reading of the draft resolution of the Riigikogu "Proposal to the Republic of Estonia’s Government to submit a negative supplementary budget bill to reduce administrative expenses in 2025" (608 OE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-05-14 20:40
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 17
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 27m
AI Summaries: 17/17 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Isamaa faction’s presented Riigikogu decision "To make a proposal to the Republic's Government to present a negative supplementary budget bill to reduce government expenditures in 2025" had its first reading, which addressed the content and main objectives of the bill. Urmas Reinsalu acted as the representative of the bill and proposed establishing a negative supplementary budget and taking measures to reduce government expenditures in order to lessen the impact of inflation on society. The government's current tax policy was also criticized, and a plan was presented not to increase indirect taxes, but instead to implement a financial mechanism to compensate for tax increases according to the principle of tax peace.
The second section focused on the argument about the impact of inflation and the cost of living on Estonian people and the interaction of the government's tax policy. Isamaa emphasized that the current tax increases are increasing inflation and therefore it is necessary to reduce government expenditures and keep increases in indirect taxes to a minimum. References were also made to observations from the National Audit Office and other analyses, which show an increase in government expenditures, and a decisive emphasis was placed on the fact that negative supplementary budget funds should be used to amend the state budget and reduce expenditures by approximately 300 million euros. Finally, it was seen that the bill was further processed in the finance committee and, in reaching the final decision in the Riigikogu, the decision was to reject the bill, which was reflected in the vote results.
Decisions Made 1
The Riigikogu rejected the proposal from the Isamaa faction regarding the Riigikogu resolution "Submitting a negative supplementary budget bill to the Republic of Estonia's Government to reduce administrative expenses in 2025." The vote result: 14 in favor, none against or abstaining.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Urmas Reinsalu, Chairman of the Isamaa (Fatherland) faction. He stepped forward as the main representative and facilitator of discussion in the context of the bill's first reading, outlining contradictory schemes of government tax policy and prioritizing the themes of tax stability and transparency in government spending. His actions are positioned within the right-wing political spectrum, presenting criticism and proposals targeted at Isamaa voters and the coalition.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Under the seventh item on the agenda, Urmas Reinsalu of the Isamaa faction presents Riigikogu draft resolution No. 608, the aim of which is to submit to the government a negative supplementary budget and to reduce the government's 2025 operating costs, first reading.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu claims that the government will increase inflation through taxes, and Isamaa will present a plan to do away with the 2025 increases in indirect taxes, to reduce government operating costs, and to use a €300 million negative supplementary budget to mitigate the impact of tax increases.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller thanked and invited questions, asking Helir-Valdor Seeder to answer.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder asked where within the coalition the planned 20% cuts would be made and on whose account they would come, noting that he had only been shown where there would be no cuts (for example, teachers' salaries and national defense), and requesting concrete sectors from which the cuts could come.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that practice is the criterion of truth, and objective data show that the promise to reduce government administrative costs by 5% brought about a 5% increase, and the same fate could also befall the pledge to reduce staff by 20%, but there is no clear answer as to whether last year's promise should be deemed false.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanked the presenter, stated that there were no questions, and invited Annely Akkermann, the chair of the Riigikogu's Finance Committee, to come here to the podium to introduce the discussion.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann said that Isamaa had submitted a draft bill, and Urmas Reinsalu gave it a thorough briefing, and the Finance Committee unanimously decided to put the draft bill on the agenda today, May 14, and to designate the rapporteur for this item.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks the presenter, notes that there are questions, and invites Urmas Reinsalu to speak.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu says that this is by no means the last word, in response to Lauri's dramatic claim.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar describes how Annely had almost left the podium when someone pressed the button.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu said that the situation is not fatalistic, and asked which questions the government’s supplementary budget to be presented tomorrow would address, referring to the Isamaa proposals and to Mrs Akkermann as the chair of the Finance Committee in order to obtain an overview.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
It's still too early to say anything, because the final draft has not yet been submitted to the Riigikogu, and I can't comment on it yet.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, thanks and asks Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler recalled the state budget discussions and asked when the measures for improving clarity and reducing costs, promised by the coalition and presented as his proposals, would finally be put into effect.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann said that over the past six months the budget transparency and the unspent budgets of all ministries have been reviewed, Heidy Purga and Hendrik Terras will also come, with the aim of keeping costs down and making the state budget for the next draft clearer and more understandable, and the base budget amendment will be handed over at the first sitting of the autumn session.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speaker Lauri Hussar announced that there are no more questions and that the negotiations are over, and the Riigikogu will put to a final vote the decision presented by the Isamaa faction to submit to the government a draft law on a negative supplementary budget to reduce 2025 expenditures, which requires an absolute majority of the entire membership.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
In the Riigikogu, 14 voted in favour; there were no opponents or neutrals, and Bill 608 has been rejected.