Draft law amending the Securities Market Act and, in consequence thereof, amending other laws (588 SE) – second reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-05-14 23:27
Total Speeches: 104
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 31m
AI Summaries: 104/104 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu discussed the draft law amending the Securities Market Act, and related laws, initiated by the Republic’s Government, for a second reading (588). The draft law’s purpose is to adopt the EU directive to improve gender balance in the management bodies of listed companies, with the goal of a 40:60 gender representation. Member of the Finance Committee, Riina Sikkut (SDE), emphasized in her presentation that the representation of women in management bodies is extraordinarily low in Estonia, therefore regulatory intervention is necessary. Although amendment proposals did not arrive by the deadline, the Ministry of Finance submitted one amendment proposal, comprised of three parts, based on the opinions of interest groups (the Bar Association, Port of Tallinn, Chamber of Commerce and Industry). The main amendment concerned the deadline for submitting information to the Financial Supervision Authority, which was moved to June 30, 2026.
The subsequent debate was ideologically charged, with conservative MPs (EKRE, Isamaa) criticizing state intervention in the private sector and the establishment of gender quotas, considering it to be devaluing women and repeatedly asking for a definition of the "underrepresented gender" in the light of transgender ideology. Riina Sikkut defended the draft law, explaining that it deals with biological sex (men and women) and that the underrepresented gender is defined at the company level, not at the population level. She emphasized that quotas are necessary to overcome attitudinal barriers that prevent qualified women from reaching leadership positions.
Decisions Made 3
The Finance Committee's proposed amendment was fully taken into account.
Bill 588's second reading was concluded.
The Steering Committee's proposal is to hold the final vote on the bill on May 21, 2025.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was presenter Riina Sikkut (Social Democratic Party, left-wing), who introduced the bill and answered 17 questions, passionately defending measures to improve gender balance and rejecting criticism from conservative MPs regarding quotas and gender definitions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Under agenda item 10, the second reading of Bill 588 on amendments to the Securities Market Act, initiated by the government, is addressed, and Riina Sikkut is invited to give the report.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut presented a draft bill to the Finance Committee aimed at improving gender balance in the management bodies of listed companies. The bill requires the disclosure of information regarding gender composition during the general meeting of shareholders and sets deadlines for notification to the Financial Supervision Authority. The committee supported the proposed amendments, decided to place the draft bill on the plenary agenda for May 14, 2025, conclude the second reading, and hold the final vote on May 21, 2025. Furthermore, the information must be submitted to the Financial Supervision Authority for the first time by June 30, 2026.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi expresses his thanks and notes that the pace has been established well, before turning to Rain Epler with a request.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler criticized the state for its double standards, pointing out that while private companies are subject to quotas when appointing members to their councils or management boards, these same quotas are ignored when appointing members to the ERR (Estonian Public Broadcasting) council. He questioned whether this constitutes hypocrisy in the state's actions.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut stressed the need to improve gender balance, noting that the representation of women in management bodies in Estonia is only about 10–11% and progress has stalled. She explained that although the directive mandates specific obligations, a 60:40 target was reached as a compromise for the state's ownership policy. She further emphasized that the state should also consider gender equality in state foundations and public institutions, and better define the selection criteria for members of the ERR Council and the executives of state-owned companies.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Martin Helme to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that Riina is a feminist and questions how she, as a socialist, can endorse a law that addresses underrepresented genders (potentially not women), given that he believes trans ideology undermines women's achievements and threatens women's rights.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut stated that the enactment of a gender balance requirement based on biological sex is necessary, emphasizing that the representation of women in decision-making processes in Estonia is very low. Consequently, this representation must be increased on the supervisory boards of listed companies, state-owned enterprises, foundations, and public-law organizations.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech is simply a request to Hanah Laht.
Hanah Lahe
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Hanah Lahe, a feminist and supporter of the bill, notes the quotas or other artificial mechanisms discussed in the cabinet for increasing gender balance on management boards, and asks what other methods exist, why they haven't worked so far, and whether the bill will bring about change both in the supervisory boards and in the broader mindset of state-owned enterprises.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasized that change will not happen by itself when it comes to improving gender balance, and that a quota is a reasonable and implementable tool that the state should accelerate through foundations and public-law organizations, as it concerns 12 listed companies and contributes to a broader societal discussion and better decision-making.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi called upon Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler claims that Riina's bill does not improve women's rights or position, and that the Minister of Finance's answers were insufficient. He further asks whether the calculation of underrepresentation applies to every company or is based on nationwide statistics.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasizes that gender balance on boards is enterprise-specific, and if a board consists solely of women, then men are the underrepresented gender, meaning gender representation must be ensured at the level of every single company.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called upon Martin Helme to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme warned that we have more cynics operating in politics under the guise of liberalism than actual conservatives, noting that the draft legislation refers to underrepresented gender, not biological sex. He then cited the US example under the Biden regime, where incentives created for transgender individuals led to the emergence of transgender admirals, which he labeled a "freak show" and a "parade."
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He thanks the audience.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme points out that men may be underrepresented, raises odd scenarios in the name of diversity (citing 20 genders), and asks how this issue might be addressed delicately.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut explains that the draft bill addresses the underrepresented gender and seeks to improve gender balance in councils, adding men if necessary, and adhering to the 40:60 rule, although no alternative approach to this has been planned in Estonia.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
At the start of the address, Peeter Ernits is invited up to the stage.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits asks why the sexualization of the management boards of companies would be the only focus, and suggests that if this is to be done at all, it should be expanded to cover all aspects of Estonian life—local government councils, education, and prisons—instead of limiting it only to the boards of enterprises.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut stated that the draft legislation is not concerned with sex, but is an EU-level directive designed to improve gender balance in decision-making positions. As a compromise, the intention was to implement this with minimal intervention, specifically targeting listed companies that already adhere to strict transparency and information-sharing requirements. This approach was chosen because it could symbolically trigger a larger change, and there are no plans to impose the same requirements on schools, prisons, or other work environments.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speaker asks Anti Poolamets to take the floor.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets criticizes the idea of regulating the business sector as excessive state intervention, emphasizing the autonomy of the private sector and the heavy tax burden, and questioning why this is permissible and why it is being done in conjunction with the European Union, while simultaneously referencing the party's internal problems.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut stressed that women in Estonia are predominant among those who have attained higher education, and a suitable woman can be found for every position—especially on the boards of listed companies—because this is a matter of equal opportunities, not a lack of competence.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Arvo Aller to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller asked whether the fine of up to 400,000 euros and 300 penalty units still applies for an offense committed by a legal entity, and whether the commission's representative confirms that these penalties will not be imposed.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut stressed that notifying the Financial Supervisory Authority about the gender balance obligations of listed companies and implementing those measures is important. If the notifications are correct and the measures have been taken, there is no reason to impose a penalty. However, if the information is not submitted correctly or on time, it is possible to impose a fine, and achieving the goal by July 1, 2026, does not mean an automatic fine.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits emphasizes the importance of gender balance in various institutions—from the management boards of companies to the leadership of political parties, from the prosecutor’s office to the security police, and from the Academy of Sciences to prisons. He then jokingly notes that there should be more women for the sake of domestic peace, and asks whether the principle of balance must be implemented as a directive or if political parties should submit broader draft legislation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Peeter Ernits to speak.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut stated that the balance of state intervention is important, and the European compromise—starting with listed companies and bringing greater transparency—is sensible. At the same time, the Social Democratic Party is not planning to implement gender balance in prisons or elsewhere. And although the labor market is segregated, improving this situation is sensible, and hopefully, we are moving in that direction, even with the help of this chamber.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi remarked that this draft bill would become the bill of the day, and invited Raimond Kaljulaid to take the floor.
Raimond Kaljulaid
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Raimond Kaljulaid stated that he personally did not consider the draft bill sensible, and to broaden the debate, he asked Riina to emphasize for the sake of the transcript that the draft bill and the explanatory memorandum make no mention of transgender admirals, and that the considerations are still confined to the two sexes. He then inquired whether he had understood correctly or if something had been missed.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut stated that the draft bill addresses the creation of equal conditions for men, women, and the underrepresented sex on the management boards of listed companies. Transgender issues were not discussed during the committee debates, and she believes this is a topic imported from across the ocean that has very little relevance to Estonian processes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Hanah Lahe to speak.
Hanah Lahe
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Hanah Lahe says she doesn't have the time or space to think about gender identity, notes her colleagues' concern, and asks what the exact cause of their fear is and whether identity questions are a major problem that needs to be addressed.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut said that during the proceedings of this bill, there was not a single aspect related to transgender issues, and she does not see its connection to other Parliament bills. Furthermore, it is difficult to understand why such topics are systematically raised and who benefits from this.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speaker addresses Evelin Poolamets and asks her to speak.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets emphasizes that the topic is not merely a discussion between men and women, but rather about gender balance, and that companies must consider both the demographic gender balance and the existence of various gender identities, including non-binary identities.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasized that while the draft legislation focuses on the representation of women on the boards of listed companies, other gender identities must also be taken into account. Furthermore, the 60:40 principle should be applied to both women and men in order to prevent the dominance of a single gender.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks for Mart Maastik to be called upon to speak.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik criticizes the coalition's pursuit of gender balance, reminding them that they previously dismantled the family model based on one man and one woman, and asks whether gender or competence should be prioritized in the Riigikogu and corporate leadership.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasizes the importance of gender balance in the Riigikogu and on the supervisory boards of listed companies, and calls on political parties to use zebra lists so that the representation of women is equal to that of men, thereby bringing diverse life experiences to the process of making major decisions.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik asked whether there were people in parliament who thought that Estonian women were dumber or less capable, or what the justification was for a situation where women were significantly underrepresented in leadership positions, even though educational indicators suggested the opposite.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Tanel Kiik to speak.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasizes that Estonia has a competent woman for every single position, but prejudiced attitudes and the perception that only smart men are appointed to boards prevent fair representation for women.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Helle-Moonika Helme to take the floor.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The report criticizes the fact that, in the context of the draft bill, gender is being treated as diversity and is being taught in schools, and questions whether Martin Helme shares the same science-based view as the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, or adheres to the US President's two-sex narrative, further claiming that underrepresented genders and social genders could be Trojan horses that will affect listed companies and society in the future.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut says that the bill’s goal is to improve gender balance and the representation of women in leadership positions, emphasizing that the "underrepresented gender" also applies to men, and that both men and women must be included for the sake of balance.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Arvo Aller was called to the stage at the beginning of the speech.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller criticizes the Social Democrats' government and emphasizes that although women are competent leaders, Estonian statistics point to the marginalized status of men, and the amendment to the Securities Market Act must not be used as an argument for including women on corporate boards.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut explains that the bill aims to improve gender balance in governing bodies. Although women make up about 70% of graduates and are generally better educated, men still account for roughly 89% of management positions. Furthermore, the underrepresented gender is defined within the context of the specific company, rather than based on overall population statistics.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik expressed surprise and criticism, accusing the speaker of belittling women and creating special conditions and preferences, despite women being more highly educated and capable, and requested a justification for this contradiction.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a brief request to pose a second question to Mart Maastik.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasizes that even though candidates' CVs might be equal, historical attitudes favor men as leaders and impede the realization of women's competence. Consequently, the state may implement measures, and Estonia will adopt the European compromise, which establishes gender balance in the governing bodies of listed companies.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi called upon Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme argues that gender quotas on the boards of publicly listed companies constitute overregulation, and that regulations should be scaled back, not increased. She contends that such measures neither help the company nor boost motivation, and they raise questions among both men and women regarding qualifications and the overall sense of fairness.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasizes that gender balance is in everyone's interest, and the wider representation of women—both in politics and in corporate management—should spark a greater societal change.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Anti Poolamets is invited to speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets accuses the waiter of pushing ideological delusions into the business sector, citing LGBT demands and diversity quotas, and arguing that sector-specific differences make a woman unsuitable for some jobs, or vice versa, and that such an approach reduces the number of competent experts who could manage large sums of money and socially significant processes, which, according to him, is a bad and socialist direction.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut stated that bureaucracy needs to be cut down by abolishing outdated regulations while continuing to uphold necessary ones. She stressed the importance of fair representation for women on the management boards of business, listed, and state-owned companies, as well as in politics, adding that she does not support quotas for black homosexuals.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a brief request to invite Evelin Poolamets to speak.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speaker claims that the discussion focuses on women, but the draft bill never mentions women or men, referring only to the underrepresented gender. Since this definition could also encompass a transgender person, a clear answer is needed as to who exactly this underrepresented gender is.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut stated that underrepresentation occurs at the company level, and gender balance in governing bodies must be achieved by including the opposite sex. This means that if the board is predominantly female, men should be brought in, and if it is predominantly male, women should be brought in—stressing that this applies to a specific company, not society as a whole.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi congratulated Siim Pohlak on his birthday and said that it was now his turn to ask a question.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak criticizes the forced placement of women onto boards and stresses that the priority must be competence and expertise. He emphasizes that solutions should be achieved through a natural process, not through coercion.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut stated that management teams should not consist only of people with specialized education in the relevant field, emphasizing that at the supervisory board level, broader competence—such as environmental and competition law—is crucial, rather than merely the specific professional expertise of the particular company.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Siim Pohlak to pose the second question.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak asks whether, in the future, at least half of the management positions in standard private and public limited companies should be held by women, and whether you are prepared to proceed with this.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut stated that she supports the compromise at the European level, but believes the public sector and state-owned enterprises, rather than listed companies, should lead by example. She wants to see women included in politics through the use of gender-balanced lists and does not support imposing quotas on private limited companies (OÜs). Furthermore, she stressed that the primary changes must originate from the Riigikogu (Parliament) and the government.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi asked Tanel Kiik to come to the stage.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik asked if the rapporteur could help calm down his colleagues, assuring them that it is not difficult to create a balanced electoral list, and encourage women to participate in politics so that the faction's debates would be more diverse.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut emphasizes that the Riigikogu must be gender-balanced, and in the next elections, a minimum proportion of 40% women and 60% men must be achieved. Political parties are required to consciously compile their lists because competent women exist, but the top spots and general lists give an advantage to men and leave women excluded from decision-making.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked Riina and noted that the last answer might have been a bit harsh on some men, but he understands that. He added that Rain Epler has already used two questions and asked whether Riina had a third question or if she truly had a question for the presiding officer.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler stated that he would not comment on anything and that this was a purely procedural remark. He further noted for the transcript that the speaker had stated from the podium that he does not support the quota for Black homosexuals.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi stresses that even though there was a promise not to delve into the substance, it is now becoming clear that they are, in fact, doing exactly that.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler criticized the toxic remarks aimed at EKRE members and the chairman's failure to intervene. He stressed the necessity of the chairman stepping in and noted that Kaljulaid had not been polite toward her colleagues.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi stated that he had not defended Hanah Laht from the attack and asked that the matter be treated humorously for the time being. He emphasized that no one should differentiate between reasonable and unreasonable members of the Riigikogu, and the press must not interfere in this. He added that they have reached the negotiation stage, and at best, they are still only halfway there.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand urged the achievement of true gender balance, stressing that the issue resides in the system and prevailing attitudes. She argued that the state must set an example and lead the way, because simply imposing standards on companies will not guarantee equal opportunities.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience and asks to give the floor to Mart Maastik.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik criticizes the imposition of gender quotas on publicly traded companies, calling it a populist ideology imported from the West. He argues that it wastes time and completely ignores demographic decline and the crucial role of the traditional family and mothers in advancing the nation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi notes that the colleague is halfway through and asks if three additional minutes can be granted.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi requested three more minutes.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Maastik called for deeper consideration, arguing that forcing women onto boards via quotas is a political tactic designed to serve socialist interests. He/She emphasized the value of motherhood and women, asserting that people are equal in the marketplace, and confirmed opposition to the bill, stating that men are slightly different and various natural characteristics must be taken into account.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a brief expression of thanks and a request to give the floor to Peeter Ernits.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits said that while women are crucial in society and in companies, using a women's quota to gain a seat on the board is an embarrassing solution. He does not support this kind of draft legislation, criticizing the handling of both the directive and the conventions as illogical and inconsistent.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speaker assures his colleagues that we will still reach that goal.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits criticizes the parliament's substitute activities as a pointless waste of time and money, noting that we are currently facing high inflation, a stagnated economy, and a lack of funds, which makes such activity embarrassing.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked them, said he could speak more briefly, explained that his words were not a reproach to Anti Poolamets, and invited Anti Poolamets to speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets claims that US anti-discrimination laws destroyed merit-based hiring and created inequality, and that true justice consists of providing opportunities and education, and that university decisions must be based on exam results, not anti-discrimination legislation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi gave thanks, invited Helle-Moonika Helme, and emphasized that there are eight items on the agenda, and speeches should ideally fit within five minutes, although this is not a strict requirement.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He/She thanks the Chair and says that he/she will immediately take the extension, as he/she plans to speak for exactly eight minutes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks for three additional minutes.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme describes the draft bill as ideological and bureaucratic, arguing that it imposes time-bound restrictions on large listed companies and mandates increased female representation, while emphasizing that true equality is absent and that excessive regulation could lead to tyranny.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi emphasizes that in Estonia, justice is always administered through the courts, and therefore there is no reason to accuse any Riigikogu member.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helme claims that the process was initiated completely unfairly, solely due to a conservative viewpoint. He accuses his colleagues of bullying women and failing to protect Kert, and calls on others to look in the mirror, noting that the Riigikogu now has one fewer woman and one male replacement. He emphasizes that the current step—reducing bureaucracy and abolishing ideological regulations—will neither make anyone happy nor create justice, but rather limits freedoms and belongs in the dustbin of history.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi offered his thanks and called upon Tanel Kiik to take the floor.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik supported the gender balance bill, pointing out that the Social Democrats' faction has achieved 40% female representation, whereas the EKRE and Isamaa factions have less than 20% women. He emphasized that better balance leads to higher quality discussion and more reasonable decisions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the audience and invited Riina Sikkut to deliver her response statement.
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Riina Sikkut confirmed that everyone is equal before the law and that, regardless of gender, the requirements for management experience and education must be fulfilled. She also stressed that the Kert Kingo case was dealt with unanimously by the commission, and that the incident must not be leveraged publicly for political gain, because if a violation of the law is proven, the court and security institutions will deal with it.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The debate is closed: the Finance Committee submitted one amendment, and the lead committee recommends its full adoption; we have reviewed the amendments, and the second reading of Draft Act 588 is concluded.