Inquiry Regarding the Threat to the Independence of Press Publications (No. 345)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session.
Date: 2024-01-08 17:30
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 29
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 24m
AI Summaries: 29/29 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated Inquiry No. 345, submitted by Varro Vooglaid and Anti Poolamets, concerning the threat to the independence of journalistic publications. The inquirer, Anti Poolamets (TUVg0IZ3WkI), expressed concern that state financial support for private media, particularly Russian-language publications, could jeopardize their independence and objectivity by creating a psychological sense of gratitude toward the funder. He also criticized the Russian-language editorial staff of Delfi Meedia, where, in his estimation, journalists unfamiliar with Estonian conditions, having arrived from Russia, are employed, while pro-Estonian Russian journalists have been squeezed out of the media. Poolamets asked whether the government intends to continue financially supporting private media.
Minister of Culture Heidy Purga responded that Estonia ranks highly globally in terms of press freedom (8th place), which confirms the media's independence. She emphasized that supporting private media (1 million euros in 2024 for Russian-language newsrooms) is necessary to strengthen a common, trustworthy information space given the changed security situation. Regarding VAT, the minister explained that the government decided to raise the VAT rate for journalism from 5% to 9% starting in 2025 for the purpose of improving the state budget, but asserted that this does not endanger press freedom. Supplementary questions also addressed Estonia's decline in the media freedom index, the financing of the new ERR building via the Cultural Endowment (Kultuurkapital), and why support is distributed only to three large media groups rather than smaller county newspapers. Minister Purga confirmed that the ministry does not interfere with ERR's editorial policy and that the support measure has specific criteria that do not prohibit other publications from submitting applications.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Anti Poolamets was active as the submitter of the parliamentary query, highlighting the connections between state funding and media independence, as well as content issues within the Russian-language media. His position is right-wing/conservative.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The next item on the agenda, No. 5, concerns the query (Interpellation No. 345) submitted by Riigikogu members Varro Vooglaid and Anti Poolamets on May 13, 2023, regarding the threat to the independence of media outlets. Anti Poolamets is requested to serve as the rapporteur for this item.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets raises the issue that state support for journalism is highly relevant right now, and he asks whether government funding impacts the independence of publications and public trust, as well as how this affects Russian-language media and the objectivity of foreign news coverage regarding the war in Ukraine.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the colleague and calls Culture Minister Heidy Purga to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer the questions posed by the interpellators.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Minister of Culture Heidy Purga told the Riigikogu that Estonian journalism continues to rank at the top globally for press freedom (currently eighth). She stated that the government will continue to support private media (including approximately one million euros for Russian-language publications in 2024). Furthermore, starting in 2025, the VAT on journalism will increase from 5% to 9%, but she maintained that this does not endanger press freedom and is being implemented to streamline the state budget and ensure financial stability.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Great thanks are extended to the Honorable Minister, and it is noted that there are still further questions, which will be posed by Aleksandr Tšaplõgin.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He asks why anyone should believe that a government funding private media isn't trying to influence the media through that, and considers the response inadequate.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Minister of Culture Heidy Purga apologizes and asks what the question was when Aleksandr Chaplygin begins to speak.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi requests that the microphone be returned to Aleksandr Tšaplõgin.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She asks why I should believe that you are giving money to private media while simultaneously making no attempt to influence the media.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Purga confirmed that Estonia has strong journalism and a strong free press, as well as independent regulation that is not dependent on the state, and this has been the case in recent years and will remain so going forward.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Priit Sibul to the stage.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul raised a question concerning the amendment of the Cultural Endowment Act, noting that neither the draft legislation nor the committee's responses provided clarity regarding the construction of the national broadcaster's building, and furthermore, the body language of the session chair suggested confusion.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Purga emphasized that the amendment to the Cultural Endowment Act should be general and must not be tied solely to the new ERR building, so that even after the ERR building is completed, the incoming Cultural Endowment funds could be used to finance subsequent projects.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
That was simply the cue for Rene Kokk to come up on stage and take the floor.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Minister of Culture Heidy Purga said that she was not present at those negotiations and does not know for sure whether studies supported those decisions, adding that the basis is likely comparisons made with neighboring countries, but Estonia's free press must be protected during crises because access to information is important.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Rain Epler to the stage.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler stated that Estonia’s media freedom index has dropped from fourth to eighth place compared to 2022, and the separate indicators for the political environment and the legal framework have fallen to seventeenth and eighteenth place, respectively. He then asked what the reasons for these declines are and whether the coalition’s actions are related to this.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Culture Minister Heidy Purga stated that she is not yet familiar with the survey, and while the trends and the decline in position are surprising, they primarily affect one media organization, the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR), and result from events taking place outside Estonia, rather than political decisions or funding.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls Jaak Valge.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge emphasizes the importance of press freedom, citing a 2021 private study concerning the political balance of ERR, and asks whether such a study has been carried out, or if not, whether the Ministry of Culture could initiate it.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
The Ministry of Culture should not be the one to initiate this, since ERR is a public service broadcaster with its own laws, governance structure, ethics, and oversight mechanisms. All related issues must be discussed and addressed by the broadcasting council, as the council is responsible for the overall direction and any potential changes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Helle-Moonika Helme to take the floor.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme raises the question of whether the influence exerted by the ministry and the government, as well as the content of state-funded channels—especially ETV+—is permissible or ought to be allowed to influence [matters], and whether the funding of state propaganda is justified.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
The Ministry of Culture does not interfere with ERR's editorial choices or decisions. Complaints are reviewed by the ERR Broadcasting Council, not at the ministerial level, as the minister has no right to intervene.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi greets his colleague Aivar Kokk and asks for something.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Speaker Aivar Kokk criticizes the funding of private media and asks why the subsidy is distributed only between two large media groups and one newspaper, leaving seven privately owned regional newspapers without any funding.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Culture Minister Heidy Purga confirmed that the one-million-euro grant for private media—aimed at balancing the Russian-language information space and creating a common information space—is open according to the criteria. Previously, three publications (or two media houses and Põhjarannik) have received funding from this support measure. Other private media outlets may also apply if they meet the requirements, but the funding for ERR's ETV+ remains separate.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the Minister, announced that the questioning period was over, opened the floor for debate, but since there was no desire for discussion, he concluded the handling of this agenda item.