Interpellation concerning the amendment of the Family Law (No. 256)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session.
Date: 2024-01-08 17:09
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 14
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 20m
AI Summaries: 14/14 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today's agenda item focused on interpellation No. 256, submitted by members of the Riigikogu, concerning amendments to the Family Law Act and the legalization of same-sex marriage. The submitters of the interpellation, led by Evelin Poolamets, accused the government (specifically Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo) of lying, because the Reform Party had previously claimed that the introduction of same-sex marriage was not planned. The opposition stressed that the law was pushed through using strong-arm tactics, allegedly ignoring society's predominantly negative attitude towards these value questions, and warned that expanding the definition of marriage could lead to the loss of constitutional protection.
Minister Riisalo responded to the ten questions posed by the interpellators, defending the government's actions as the fulfillment of the coalition agreement. She rejected claims that the will of the majority of the people was ignored, referencing 2023 surveys which showed growing support for marriage equality among the adult population of Estonia (53% in one study). Riisalo affirmed that the law guaranteed equal rights for everyone and refuted allegations that the quality of raising children in same-sex families was lower or that violence was more frequent. She emphasized that the marriage equality act has now been adopted and a referendum is no longer relevant. The debate was emotional, focusing primarily on the constitutional protection of marriage and family, and the welfare of children.
Decisions Made 1
Given that this was a discussion of an interpellation, no decisions were adopted, nor were any legislative bills voted upon, under this agenda item. The debate concluded following the Minister's responses and a round of negotiations, for which no requests to speak were submitted.
Most Active Speaker
The most active identifiable speaker was Riigikogu member Evelin Poolamets (PID: z3mw9YrDacg). Poolamets submitted an interpellation, thereby representing the conservative opposition. In her address, she accused the government of dividing society and disregarding the will of the majority on value-based issues, stressing that the legalization of same-sex marriage constitutes an unacceptable use of force. She also posed a supplementary question concerning the Artificial Insemination Act and the prevention of marriages between biological siblings, thereby keeping the debate focused on the traditional definition of family and marriage.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that the first two items on the agenda had been dropped, and the third item would be the interpellation (No. 256) submitted on May 13, 2023, concerning the amendment of the Family Law Act. Evelin Poolamets was invited to the Riigikogu rostrum to present it.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets submitted an inquiry to the Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo concerning the Family Law Bill, stressing that society must not be divided over such a crucial value question, arguing that its implementation serves the interests of a small, marginal minority, and further stating that same-sex marriage is neither a fundamental nor a human right, and the state has no obligation to legalize it. Ten questions were subsequently posed.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks the rapporteur and invites Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer the questions of the interpellators.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo stated that the Constitution guarantees the protection of the family regardless of the parents' gender, that the marriage equality law has been passed, and that same-sex and opposite-sex families are equal both in rights and in adoption. Furthermore, a referendum is not on the agenda because a democratic debate has already taken place and the law has been adopted.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi, the Deputy Chairman, thanked the Minister and announced that there were a few questions, before inviting Anti Poolamets to take the floor.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets asks the minister whether he supports polygamous marriage for Estonia's Islamic minority, and if he does not support it, why he persecutes them, and whether he intends to promote hate speech against them, citing the example of Jordan, where a man can have ten wives.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that under the Estonian Family Law Act, two adults may marry, and limitations regarding legal capacity do not rule out marriage. He did not take a stance on polygamy, but stressed that lifestyle is closely tied to the cultural environment, and polygamy is not inherent to the Estonian cultural environment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme is invited to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helme claims that the rosy narrative regarding widespread public support for same-sex marriage and adoption is untrue, and that the swift passing of the law will increase the bullying faced by children from traditional families.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that the 2023 survey indicated 53% of adults supported marriage equality, but the composition of parliament fails to reflect these actual attitudes. Furthermore, children's opinions and behavior are heavily dependent on their family, upbringing, and prevailing attitudes. Consequently, all children must be raised—starting right from home—so that they do not bully or label others.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi invites Evelin Poolamets to speak.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
In light of the new Artificial Insemination and Embryo Protection Act, Evelin Poolamets asks how a child's descent begins with the female spouse, and how it is ensured that marriages between biological sisters and brothers do not take place, or have these prohibitions now been abolished?
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo said that embryo creation is a separately regulated field of medicine, and there is a data register concerning it from which conclusions can be drawn.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the Minister, informed the chamber that the questioning period had ended and the proceedings for this agenda item were concluded, and noted that everyone had asked one question regarding the inquiry and there was no desire for debate.