Inquiry Regarding the Spread of Poverty in Estonia (No. 757)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-06-09 20:05
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 55
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 7m
AI Summaries: 55/55 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This agenda item focuses on the interpellation submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Riina Solman, Andres Metsoja, Priit Sibula, Helir-Valdor Seeder, and Tõnis Lukas regarding the prevalence of poverty in Estonia (interpellation number 757, submitted April 23, 2025). The document reflects concern over poverty and marginalization and makes observations regarding regional inequality, highlighting Ida-Virumaa and other rural areas where people live in relative poverty, and development must also take into account the impact of external visitors. The interpellation asks the Prime Minister what the government is doing to reduce poverty and alleviate regional inequality, and how to align measurable indicators with the UN 2030 goal of eradicating poverty. The second part focuses on government measures and their impact on people’s ability to cope: the progressive income tax referred to as a tax bracket, the distribution of income, and the role of livelihood support.
Decisions Made 1
Within the framework of the inquiry, no political decisions were made. While the inquiry was processed and answers were provided, and discussion continued, it did not result in the confirmation of any separate legal or budgetary decisions at the level of state power.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Riina Solman (Member of Parliament). She presented a statement and primarily participated as the presenter of a question, emphasizing the problems of peripheral development and regional inequality, as well as the necessary measures to reduce poverty. She belongs to the right-wing, or, in a socio-economic political context, a real opposition/political forces oriented towards right-wing trends; thus, she represents a typical right-wing profile in the context of emphasis on the rule of law and income formation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The second item on the agenda addresses the interpellation (No. 757) submitted on April 23, 2025, concerning the prevalence of poverty in Estonia, for which Riina Solman has been appointed as the rapporteur.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman emphasizes that poverty and the marginalization of regions are Estonia’s hidden problems, and she asks the Prime Minister how the government plans to improve the livelihood in these areas and achieve the goal of eradicating poverty by 2030, what metrics will be used to monitor progress, and why the issue of abolishing the tax hump remains on the agenda.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked you and invited the honorable Prime Minister to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer your questions.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal promises to reduce the tax burden, introduce a unified tax-free allowance of 700 euros, and abolish the progressive income tax to increase people's income and reduce poverty, as well as continue the indexing of pensions and regional development in rural areas.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Vice-Chair thanks [the previous speaker/group] and announces that there are questions, whereupon Peeter Ernits begins.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits asks the Prime Minister whether the lives of the Estonian people have improved during her term in office, despite the prolonged inflation, stagnation, and the discount price tags on groceries.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirms that lowering the tax burden will bring people more money, which—whether as extra funds or through loans—will be directed towards defense investments and road construction. Furthermore, relief measures will be implemented for families with children, people with disabilities, and those earning low to average wages, all while reducing bureaucracy—Estonia's largest program in history for abolishing bureaucratic requirements.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Riina Solman to ask the Prime Minister a question.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman asks when that procedural question may be presented.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites a question to the Prime Minister.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman claims that the government's tax reforms will not leave people with more money in their pockets, but will instead increase the cost of living and force residents to move from rural areas towards Tallinn and Harju County.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed the reduction of the tax burden, stating that it would leave more money available to people and the economy. He also criticized Isamaa’s plans to retain the progressive income tax, noting that while abolishing it would give people around 500 million euros, it would also cause damage to the state budget.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi asks Lauri Laats to come forward and speak.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats points out that while the government claims tax rates are falling, the actual tax burden has increased from 33.6% in 2022 to 36.8% today. He further emphasizes that the shrinking size of the food basket, caused by declining incomes, impacts both the physical and mental health of the population.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked [them].
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal confirmed that the progressive income tax will be abolished in 2026, leaving people with more money in their hands. Simultaneously, defense spending exceeds 5% of GDP and is being financed by a loan, but the government will continue simplifying the tax system and stresses that the reduction of the tax burden is a fact.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Helmen Kütt to speak.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt raised the point that tax benefits provide little or nothing for many people and emphasized the need to raise the threshold for the subsistence benefit. The Social Democrats have submitted an amendment proposal regarding this measure during the supplementary budget proceedings, given that food prices have climbed 40% over the last two years and the approaching heating season demands solutions.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
During the information session, Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that no other topics would be included in the supplementary budget related to security, and that the raising of the limit would definitely be discussed, if necessary, during the State Budget Strategy (RES) discussions starting in August.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Anti Allas to take the floor.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas, citing Kristi Saare's observation, points out that every subsequent coalition agreement increasingly targets those with lower incomes (such as rescuers and shop assistants). He then asks, addressing the Prime Minister, why a successful person thinks this way and views the process with such embarrassment and shame.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that abolishing the tax bulge and raising the income tax-free threshold will specifically benefit people with lower and medium incomes, and the government will stop taxing income from the first euro—this is stipulated in the coalition agreement.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas accuses the Prime Minister of lying, claiming that the tax burden has grown and continues to rise, prices and inflation are driving up the cost of living, and benefits are decreasing, which is causing people's purchasing power to drop, and asks if the Prime Minister feels no shame about this.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called upon Henn Põlluaas to speak.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that the debate was high-quality, that data from the Ministry of Finance indicates a decrease in the tax burden, and that the average income has risen faster in many counties than in Harju County. He added that the pension replacement rate and the minimum wage have increased, concluding that the debate should be based on facts, rather than focusing on labeling people.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the Prime Minister, announced that there were no further questions, and asked Riina Solman to put a question to the Chair.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She points out that the Prime Minister mentioned my name when giving the report, and repeatedly said 'Riina Solman'.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi emphasizes that these are not negotiations.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman's speech focuses solely on one question: "How?"
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Negotiations are not taking place right now; they are talking simultaneously.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman states that people can call her by her first name, but she is unable to respond to anything she deems inappropriate.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that the format for a rebuttal is not currently provided for, but that this option is available during the discussions. He then thanked his colleagues and opened the negotiations by calling upon Aleksandr Tšaplõgin.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin asserts that Estonia's problem is not poverty, but misplaced priorities: 15% of GDP is spent on social needs, there is excessive bureaucracy (one official for every 52 residents), the subsistence benefit is 200 euros per month, and there is an annual shortfall of 250 million euros for healthcare funding. Meanwhile, billions are being invested in subsidies for large-scale projects like Rail Baltica (2.7 billion) and wind farms (2.6 billion), which will never generate a profit. Furthermore, the tax system primarily burdens low and middle-income individuals, and only 5% of families own 95% of all household wealth. Therefore, what is needed is a new tax policy, fewer officials and more workers, resources redirected toward people instead of mega-projects, and a new government.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker thanks [the previous speaker] and invites Lauri Laats to speak.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats criticizes the tax policy of the Reform Party and the current government, which, according to him, increases poverty and inflation, resulting in a drop in real incomes and a smaller shopping basket. He further emphasizes that the abolition of the tax hump will not compensate for inflation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi requests two additional minutes.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats notes that since 2022, prices have soared, and inflation stands at 40%+ (with the cost of food rising even more steeply). The tax system and consumption taxes are exacerbating poverty and failing to compensate for inflation, a situation which international organizations have stated must be fundamentally revised because the current situation is poor.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi offers his thanks and addresses Riina Solman with a request.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman thanks the esteemed Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu and requests three minutes of extra time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech lasts eight minutes.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman accuses the government of raising taxes and inflation, deepening poverty, especially for young people and families, and calls for snap elections to restore Estonia's competitiveness, ensure families' economic stability, and bolster socio-political supports such as child benefits and housing policy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks everyone and invites Helmen Kütt to speak.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt emphasized that raising the subsistence benefit limit from 200 euros to 250 euros and implementing it on September 1st is of critical importance for families who have run into difficulties due to inflation and heating bills. She stressed that what is needed is quick consent from the coalition and confirmation of this amendment proposal, not its postponement until 2026.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked [the person/group] for the efficient use of time and praised Helmen for it, saying that it was a compliment.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The government's latest measures are increasing poverty among two vulnerable groups—large families and pensioners—because the cuts to child benefits, the removal of car tax exemptions, the income taxation of pensions, and the general decline in financial well-being will make their lives even more difficult, despite the fact that many pensioners are working.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech focuses on one question: How much more do you want?
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev pointed out that many pensioners are living at risk of poverty, and prices and taxes have risen, making life in Estonia even harder for families with children and pensioners. Therefore, the government should genuinely talk to people, instead of just dealing with Excel spreadsheets.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience and makes a request to Anti Allas.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas is calling for the reform of Estonia's tax structure, the implementation of a fair progressive income tax, and the abolition of the tax hump, arguing that the wealthy should contribute more and that the current system places the most severe burden on low-income individuals.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks [the body] for the efficient use of time and invites Peeter Ernits to take the floor.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits notes that while the government promises things will improve, the reality for the public is quite the opposite—people can't afford food, they buy cheap goods, they eat less, and trust in the government is very low.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi voiced concern that there wouldn't be enough time to go through the interpellations concerning the second item on the agenda. He stressed the importance of saving time and keeping contributions to five minutes, while simultaneously assuring everyone that he did not intend to formally restrict anyone's speaking time. He added that the Prime Minister would take the floor again at the conclusion of the debate.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that the tax burden will decrease going forward, and at the beginning of 2026, the tax-free minimum will rise to 700 euros, which will leave people with more money in hand and increase the incomes of middle-wage earners, such as teachers and police officers, by about 1,500 euros per month, and that the abolition of the progressive income tax is the right step.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks the Prime Minister and announces that the consideration of the second agenda item has been concluded.