First reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Value Added Tax Act (220 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Date: 2024-01-10 17:37
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 9
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 6m
AI Summaries: 9/9 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item concerned the first reading of Bill 220, the draft Act amending the Value-Added Tax Act, initiated by Riigikogu members Helle-Moonika Helme, Mart Helme, and Kalle Grünthal. The main objective of the bill was the reduction of VAT, which initiator Helle-Moonika Helme (WP2Ws2FDJU0) considered an essential step for revitalizing the Estonian economy and improving people's well-being. Helme expressed regret that the bill did not find support in the leading committee but called upon the plenary session to support it.
Annely Akkermann (GdIiJfFcmac), Chairman of the Finance Committee, presented the leading committee's position, noting that the bill was discussed on September 25. She confirmed that the government did not support the bill and the committee proposed to the Riigikogu that the bill be rejected in the first reading. During a short round of debate, Mart Helme (K6f_RslJ3xs) posed a question to Akkermann regarding the impact of the government's planned tax increases on the rising cost of connections to small islands (including Kihnu), to which Akkermann replied that the relevant calculations had not been made. Since no further negotiations were requested, the leading committee's proposal was put to a vote.
Decisions Made 1
The responsible committee's proposal to reject Draft Law 220 during its first reading was put to a vote. The bill was subsequently rejected by 38 votes in favor (13 against), causing it to be dropped from the legislative proceedings.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Annely Akkermann (GdIiJfFcmac), the Chair of the Finance Committee. She presented the lead committee's report, which proposed rejecting the draft bill, and answered Mart Helme's question regarding the impact of tax increases. Akkermann represented the lead committee's position, which was negative toward the draft legislation.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas proceeds to the eleventh item on the agenda and invites Helle-Moonika Helme to introduce the first reading of Draft Act 220, which concerns the amendment of the Value Added Tax Act.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme called upon the large hall to support the VAT reduction bill, saying that it would benefit the economy, the state, and the people.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas announced that there were no further questions and invited Annely Akkermann, the Chair of the Finance Committee, to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Regarding the bill discussed in the Finance Committee on September 25th, a proposal was made to include it in the plenary session agenda for October 10th, which satisfied the seven-week rule, but the plenary session has brought it forward to be discussed today. I, the current speaker, was appointed as the representative of the lead committee, and a motion has been put forward to reject the bill. The government did not support the bill, and no questions were posed in the committee to Martin Helme, who introduced the draft legislation.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Ratas thanks [the previous speaker] and asks [the next person] to pose a question to Mart Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme asks whether calculations have been performed to determine how much the taxes and tax increases implemented by your government will boost the state budget and potentially impact consumers on small islands, including Kihnu.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Annely Akkermann said she hadn't taken that into account.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas said that the debate would not be opened, that preparations for voting on the proposal would commence, and he asked that the lead committee's draft bill 220 be rejected during the first reading, and that everyone take a position and cast their vote.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
In the first reading, Bill 220 received 38 votes in favor and 13 against, with no abstentions. Consequently, it is removed from the legislative procedure, and the consideration of agenda item 11 is hereby concluded.