Draft law amending the Mandatory Traffic Insurance Act (Insurance of Light Electric Vehicle Users) – First Reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary sitting.
Date: 2025-09-17 22:02
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 68
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 48m
AI Summaries: 68/68 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the first reading of Bill 631, the Act supplementing the Motor Insurance Act (Insurance of Light Personal Mobility Devices), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party faction. The bill's objective was to extend mandatory motor insurance to all rented light personal mobility devices, regardless of their weight, in order to ensure adequate protection for victims and create equal competitive conditions in the market. Presenter Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart (Centre Party) sharply criticized the current law, which requires insurance only for light personal mobility devices weighing over 25 kg. She pointed out that this limit was specifically set so that the scooters of market leader Bolt (which weigh 24.8 kg) are exempt from the insurance obligation, while other companies (such as Tuul) must obtain insurance. Kovalenko-Kõlvart cited support for uniform regulation from officials at the Ministry of Finance, the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), the Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa), and the Competition Authority. She accused the government of making a political decision that favors Bolt, referencing large donations made by the company's founders to the ruling parties.
Mario Kadastik (Reform Party), representing the Economic Affairs Committee, presented the committee's proposal to reject the bill in the first reading (5 in favor, 2 against). The committee's position was that the bill went too far beyond the EU directive and could stifle innovation. Kadastik argued that the real problem lies with private scooters, where accident statistics are growing exponentially, and he deemed the submitted bill a narrow "patchwork bill" that fails to address the sector's broader regulatory needs. He dismissed the accusations of political influence as a "coincidence." The Riigikogu voted in favor of the leading committee's proposal to reject the bill.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 631 (Draft Act on the Supplementation of the Traffic Insurance Act) was rejected on the first reading (36 in favor, 11 against, 0 abstentions).
Most Active Speaker
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart was the most active speaker; she introduced the draft bill and took an active part in the debate, defending her views and stressing the issues of political corruption and unfair competition. She represents the opposition (the Centre Party).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Riigikogu will address the first reading of Draft Act 631 on amending the Traffic Insurance Act, initiated by the Estonian Centre Party faction, as the sixth item on the agenda. The rapporteur will be Riigikogu member Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He introduced a draft bill that mandates unified traffic insurance for rental scooters, applying the requirement to all rental operators. The goal is to protect consumers, reduce costs for the Health Insurance Fund, and ensure a level playing field for competition.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart introduced a draft bill aimed at extending the mandatory traffic insurance requirement to all companies offering rental scooters. She emphasized that the current 25 kg weight limit is a politically motivated exception that exempts market leader Bolt from the insurance obligation, thereby distorting competition and leaving those injured in accidents without adequate protection and compensation. This situation consequently also increases the costs borne by the Health Insurance Fund.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Deputy Chairman expresses his thanks, announces that there are questions, and invites Vladimir Arkhipov to speak.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov thanked the chair of the session and Anastasia, and brought up Bolt’s previous lobbying efforts concerning the rights of digital platform workers. He then asked whether this current situation was similar, and why Bolt seems to have such great love for our government.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov commends the presentation but voices concern regarding Bolt's extensive lobbying efforts directed at the Estonian government. He references a previous incident where Estonia, acting in Bolt's interest, blocked a directive designed to protect the rights of platform workers, and inquires about the reasons behind the "great love" shared by the government and Bolt.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart is raising concerns regarding Bolt's hidden lobbying and conflicts of interest. She points to a previous incident where the company's influence led to Estonia remaining neutral during the vote on the directive concerning digital platform workers. She further suspects that this same pattern of political favoritism and party support is currently obstructing the passage of a vital traffic insurance bill, effectively prioritizing one specific business entity over the recommendations made by the state and its officials.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart highlights Bolt's lobbying and conflict of interest, questioning why the passing of a simple, unified motor insurance bill is being tied to political favoritism toward Bolt.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller makes a procedural remark to Lauri Laats and asks what needs to be said to the Chair of the sitting.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Lauri Laats so that he could present a procedural remark or question to the presiding officer of the session.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats said that he tried to retrieve the draft bill from the shelf to quickly refresh his memory on a few aspects, but it hadn't been printed out. He asked whether the problem was related to the new control panels or other technical issues.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats pointed out that the printed version of the bill under discussion was missing from its usual shelf, and asked the session chair whether this represented a new practice of discontinuing the printing of drafts due to new technical solutions, or if it was caused by today's technical problems.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller dismissed concerns regarding the lack of materials, confirming that everything could be found with the help of colleagues, whether from the left or the right, and recommended using the assistance of a page if necessary, before turning with a question to the rapporteur, Vadim Belobrovtsev.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller stated that the issue is not technical; everything is available, and if something is not on the left row, it is on the right. Sometimes, the help of a comma can be used to indicate absence or presence, and the question will be presented to the rapporteur, Vadim Belobrovtsev.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev points out to his colleague that the coalition consistently votes down bills aimed at regulating electric scooters and mini-mopeds that are causing chaos on the streets, and asks for clarification on whether this pattern is due to interests connected with Bolt, and why that is the case.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He/She expresses concern that the coalition is constantly shooting down proposals to regulate electric scooters and mini-mopeds—vehicles that are causing chaos on the streets and are linked to Bolt.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart stressed the necessity of regulating light personal transporters and small mopeds, proposing that local governments be given the authority to limit their numbers and impose age and helmet requirements, while citing practices in other countries. She regretted, however, that these proposals are constantly being voted down, hinting that the decisions might be influenced by large donations made by Bolt's founders to specific political parties.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart emphasizes that the bill's purpose is to give local governments the right to limit the number of light personal vehicles and small mopeds on the streets, and to establish an age limit and requirements for helmet use, drawing on the practices of other countries. She also highlights Bolt's donations to political parties and the need to improve safety and control.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chair Arvo Aller said that they were currently working on amending the Traffic Insurance Act, and invited Peeter Ernits to ask his question.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller announced that the amendment of the Traffic Insurance Act is currently underway, and subsequently asked Peeter Ernits to present his question.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits requests that the Chairman and the Rapporteur provide a broader explanation of how the legislative process actually works or could work, and clarify the connections within this process and the relationships among the stakeholders.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits acknowledged the previous speaker for their thorough expertise concerning Bolt and e-scooters, and requested that they further enlighten the audience—including Mario and himself—on the broader topic of how intriguing connections within the legislative process actually work, or how they should work, to truly open the listeners' eyes.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart asserts that laws are passed to serve the interests of specific lobby groups, driven by political corruption. She points specifically to the amendment of the law concerning the appointment of the Secretary of State and the implementation of the motor insurance directive in a manner that would not damage the interests of one specific business entity.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart sharply criticizes the legislative process, arguing that laws are being passed in a manner that primarily serves the interests of specific lobby groups. She cites the transposition of the Motor Insurance Directive as an example, noting that certain types of scooters were exempted from mandatory insurance—amid suspicions of political corruption—thereby disregarding the ministry's earlier proposals and creating a less favorable situation for other parties.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller calls upon Lauri Laats to speak.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasized that the draft legislation is crucial for ensuring fair competition, but central to the discussion is the 25-kilogram weight restriction for insurance purposes and the need to consider whether that limit could be higher. At the same time, the regulation of scooters operating on sidewalks must be clearly addressed, as the feedback received has been alarming and dangerous.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats considered the bill under deliberation important, but criticized the 25 kg weight limit for electric scooters required for insurance purposes, viewing it as arbitrary from the standpoint of fair competition. He also stressed that the most important and problematic issue is the danger posed by scooters moving on sidewalks, about which negative feedback is constantly being received.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart argues that the current legislation regarding scooters is discriminatory and unconstitutional, as the 25-kilogram weight threshold provides an unfair advantage to certain businesses and fails to achieve the objective of mandatory motor insurance.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart sharply criticizes the amendments to the traffic insurance law concerning scooters, arguing that the imposition of the 25 kg weight limit was unfair and violated the constitutional principle of equal treatment, favoring large operators at the expense of smaller ones (e.g., Tuul). Furthermore, she notes that the law exempted from mandatory insurance precisely those scooters involved in the most serious accidents in urban areas, meaning the legislation fails to achieve its goal of protecting consumers and reducing the costs of the Health Insurance Fund.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller invites Peeter Ernits to speak.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits thanked them for the compliment and asked whether the Security Police or the Central Criminal Police had already looked into it, and whether a formal report had been filed, or if this information could not be disclosed.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits welcomed the brilliant analysis that had been presented, but immediately pivoted to the question of whether representatives of the relevant authorities (the Security Police or the Central Criminal Police) had already begun dealing with the matter, and whether an official report had been filed regarding it.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, criticizing issues related to political corruption, the ideological nature of donations, and the modification of laws for personal gain, emphasizes the necessity of protecting Estonian businesses and preventing sponsors from influencing legislation. She specifically referenced the difficulties faced by the Tuul company and its subsequent sale to a Latvian firm.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart criticizes the government for governing with political corruption and a "technically legal" attitude, where donations masked as ideological contributions to ruling parties and the changing of laws to benefit specific entrepreneurs lead to a situation where the Estonian state loses its companies, as happened with Tuul. She stressed that such unethical behavior is extremely difficult to define and prove.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concludes the questions and announces that Mario Kadastik, a member of the Economic Affairs Committee, will provide an overview of the discussion held in the leading committee.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concluded the questioning, thanked the participants, and introduced the next item on the agenda, which was an overview of the discussion held in the lead committee, for the presentation of which he gave the floor to Mario Kadastik, a member of the Economic Affairs Committee.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mario Kadastik provided an overview of the draft bill discussed in the committee, to which the Ministry of Finance gave a negative assessment because it exceeds the scope of the EU directive and fails to address the actual problem: private-use scooters ignoring the law, which has led to a sharp increase in accident statistics. Consequently, the committee proposed rejecting the draft bill at the first reading (5 in favor, 2 against).
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The draft bill was debated during two committee sessions, and the Ministry of Finance's position was that the government does not support it, and that the topic should be revisited after next year's statistics become available, addressing a comprehensive solution for the regulation of e-scooters. However, the committee decided to reject the draft bill during the first reading (5 votes in favor, 2 against).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller clarified the date, emphasizing that the June 18th referred to is not today.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller clarifies the date and notes that the deadline is June 18th, which is not today.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mario Kadastik confirmed emphatically, but with slight hesitation, that today's date is probably the 17th.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He ponders the date and concludes that today is likely the 17th, not the 18th.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller points out that it is currently September.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mario Kadastik addressed the date inaccuracies in response to an audience question, admitting that the year had been left out and the event, originally planned for the summer, was postponed. He added that the similarity between the numbers 6 and 9 caused additional confusion in determining the exact time/date.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He explains that the year wasn't noted, that moment was omitted, and the date seemed similar, and 6 and 9 are just reversed.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
He notes that even though it is clear, questions can provide clarity, and invites Vladimir Arhipov to speak.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov asks the commission's rapporteur for clarification on how a 200-gram weight difference means insurance applies to one scooter but not the other, and whether this is fair.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov addressed the commission's representative, requesting an explanation for why a situation has arisen where a mere 200-gram difference in weight determines the mandatory insurance requirement for scooters, and whether this rule is considered fair.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speaker recalls the initial implementation of the European Union directive and the debate over whether to adopt it more stringently, stressing that Estonia preferred to avoid undue strictness. They also highlight Bolt’s arguments concerning the differing weights of electric scooters (under and over 25 kg), noting that 25 kg is a figure established at the European level based on statistics, which fuels the discussion surrounding registration and stricter regulation.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mario Kadastik explained that the 25-kilogram weight restriction for electric scooters stems from an European Union directive, which was established based on statistics concerning the severity of accidents. He also emphasized that Estonia initially chose not to adopt this restriction more strictly to avoid over-regulating the directives, even though Bolt has claimed that it uses scooters of varying weights.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller called Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to the stage.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart criticizes the narrow transposition of the directive, emphasizing that the regulation must be based on the reality of the Estonian market, where rental scooters cause the majority of accidents. She demands to know whether the coalition is prepared to offer a broader solution for regulating light vehicles, including micro-mopeds—a pressing issue that has been sharply debated since spring—should the current bill be voted down.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart said that the directive should not be interpreted narrowly, and we must proceed based on what is happening in the market, because Bolt's 24-kilogram scooters make up the majority and are the cause of accidents. If the coalition votes the bill down, a broader solution should be presented for regulating light personal vehicles, one that would also cover micro-mopeds and the general regulatory question.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kadastik said that the issue of electric scooters must be viewed more broadly, alongside changes to regulation and motor insurance, and discussed with the ministry, as the statistics on damages are relatively small so far.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mario Kadastik emphasizes the need to look at the regulation of electric scooters more broadly than simply through the lens of mandatory traffic insurance. This is because, although the LKF's statistics show that insurance claims are relatively low (especially when compared to small mopeds), the problem of damages primarily involves privately owned scooters, and the entire issue requires a thorough overhaul in collaboration with the relevant ministry.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller addresses Vadim Belobrovtsev and asks him.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev asks the commission member to assess the situation in which political parties, having received donations from Bolt's founders, fail to support legislative initiatives that would alter Bolt's favorable market position. He asks rhetorically whether this is merely a coincidence or something deeper, suggesting a potential conflict of interest.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He asks his colleague on the committee whether the donations given to political parties by Bolt's founders, coupled with their lack of support for the current legislative initiative—which seeks to change the situation favorable to Bolt in the Estonian market—is merely a coincidence or something more.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mario Kadastik confirms that the discussions held in the committee were standard, with market participants simply arguing their viewpoints. He refutes the claims of undue influence, explaining that the decision to adopt the directive without making it stricter was a deliberate choice by the Economic Affairs Committee to avoid the overregulation that is characteristic of Estonia.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
In summary, Mario Kadastik stated that no pressure was observed within the committee, and market participants merely presented their positions. Consequently, the Economic Affairs Committee decided to simply transpose the directive for now, rather than adopting stricter transposition, because there were no specific elements (to warrant stricter measures).
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He denies the claim of coincidence and emphasizes the necessity of ensuring equal conditions for all market participants, including motor insurance, just as Latvia did.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Demanding transparency and action, it requires knowing why there is opposition to establishing equal traffic insurance conditions for all scooters, as Latvia did. It emphasizes that officials originally intended to ensure equal treatment for market participants, and the current voluntary insurance is insufficient in many cases, including accidents caused by intoxicated drivers.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart is invited to appear.
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mario Kadastik criticizes the current draft bill as a narrow and propagandistic attempt to attack Bolt for political points, emphasizing that the actual set of issues—which also includes privately owned scooters and their registration—requires broader analysis, not merely a "band-aid bill."
Mario Kadastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mario Kadastik believes that the current draft bill does not solve the problem, is too narrow, and is even similar to a propaganda issue. He argues that the registration of privately owned electric scooters and other related topics need to be addressed more broadly.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Arvo Aller announced that the lead committee's proposal is to reject Bill 631 during the first reading, and he is now putting the proposal to a vote.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller announces that the Riigikogu overwhelmingly supported the proposal, 36 votes in favor to 11 against, resulting in the corresponding bill being dropped from the proceedings.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
In the Riigikogu, the proposal received 36 votes in favor, 11 against, and there were no abstentions, meaning the draft bill is dropped from the proceedings.