Draft law on harmonizing the State Budget Act with the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia (580 SE) – first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-05-15 04:02
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 12
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 12/12 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The proposal initiated by the Isamaa faction to align the state budget law with the Estonian Republic’s constitution (bill 580) was presented, along with its first reading. The purpose of the bill is to increase the transparency and understandability of the state budget, to make the process of handling the state budget clearer, and to specify the allocation of expenditures. This type of legislative amendment intends to differentiate, within each state budget program, labor costs, maintenance costs, social benefits, investment subsidies, other subsidies, financial expenses, and other expenses (including depreciation), and to extend the same breakdown to the budgets of constitutional institutions. Furthermore, it is desired to specify the breakdown of state budget funds and to differentiate, for each legal entity, the state budget supports, limiting the authority of the minister and granting this right to a collective body – the Republic's Government. In this regard, it is foreseen that the same breakdown will be presented for all state budget programs and that the interpretation of the budget will be uniform and clear to all members of the Riigikogu.
Decisions Made 1
The steering committee submitted a proposal to reject draft 580 on the first reading. The draft's proceedings ended with its dropping. The voting result: 45 in favor, 13 against, 0 abstentions. This decision is collegiate and therefore does not bear a specific person's identifier. Draft 580 will not proceed to further proceedings.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was VTIO4yVEz1k (a representative of the Isamaa faction), who presented and discussed the main focus from the Isamaa perspective, and explained the aims of the bill and increasing the transparency of the state budget. The Isamaa faction belongs to the right-wing political spectrum.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Today, the first reading of Draft Law 580, initiated by the Isamaa faction, concerning the alignment of the State Budget Act with the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, is being debated. Riigikogu member Aivar Kokk will serve as the rapporteur.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The Isamaa faction proposes bringing the State Budget Act into compliance with the Constitution and separately specifying, for each program, labor costs, operating costs, social benefits, investment grants, other grants, financial costs, and other costs (depreciation), as well as a separate allocation for each legal entity. Furthermore, they propose ending the minister's right to change the distribution of limits—granting this right only to the Government of the Republic—in order to increase transparency and the Riigikogu's role in the handling of the state budget.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the esteemed presenter and announces that it is now time for questions, inviting Rain Epler to take the floor.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asks Aivar what he thinks the reason is for the Reform Party favoring a state budget that is not compliant with the constitution.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Even if the opposition submits proposals to the Riigikogu (Parliament), the amendments introduced by the coalition in the autumn may still prove to be sound. All members of the Riigikogu should understand and approve these changes to ensure the state budget is transparent and the minister cannot arbitrarily overturn the provisions. Furthermore, Ministry of Finance officials indicate that ministries are holding millions in surplus funds that ought to be utilized judiciously.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invites Evelin Poolamets to the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The Riigikogu debate centers on the fact that the state budget is unconstitutional and the Chancellor of Justice's observations are going unheeded.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk emphasized that the 2025 state budget must comply with the constitution. Isamaa has submitted a complete draft bill that details all expenditures and ensures that Riigikogu members understand what is being adopted and how the ministry will implement it, thereby preventing autumn surprises, such as the closure of the Kopli rescue station due to a supposed lack of 800,000 euros, when it later became clear there was a surplus of nearly two million.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked the rapporteur, announced that there were no questions, and then asked Maris Lauri, a member of the Finance Committee, to present the discussion that had taken place in the Riigikogu Finance Committee.
Maris Lauri
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
At the conclusion of the debate held in the Finance Committee, it was announced that the government does not support the draft legislation. Reference was made to an economic analysis, considering the current legal framework. Maris Lauri was then unanimously appointed as the representative of the lead committee, and a motion was made to reject the bill (5 votes in favor, 1 against, no abstentions). The inclusion of this motion on the agenda is scheduled for April 23.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar opened the discussions and announced that the lead committee’s proposal was to reject Draft Bill 580 at the first reading, and he called for a vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu supported the motion with 45 votes for, 13 against, and zero abstentions; Bill 580 was rejected and the legislative process was terminated.