Interpellation regarding the capability to ensure internal security in the new situation where uncontrolled immigration has made the people of Estonia worried about their property and their lives (No. 536)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session.
Date: 2024-01-15 22:36
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 50
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 57m
AI Summaries: 50/50 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debate centered on Interpellation No. 536, submitted to Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets, concerning the capacity to ensure internal security in connection with so-called uncontrolled immigration. The interpellators (EKRE faction) voiced concerns that increased migration, particularly the movement of vehicles bearing Ukrainian and other foreign license plates, has heightened the risk of property crimes and diminished the sense of security among the Estonian populace. The interpellation was prompted by a specific incident in Lääne-Viru County, where individuals with suspicious backgrounds were mapping residential buildings. Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets (SDE) responded that PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) statistics do not confirm a rise in property crimes, especially burglaries from dwellings, which have actually decreased in recent years. He stressed that the police check all vehicles and individuals moving within Estonia regardless of their country of origin, and that security structures are actively working to identify potential security threats and Russian influence agents among the arrivals. The Minister also highlighted the government's plans to increase the volume of police training and improve infrastructure, promising to prioritize the salaries of police officers in the next budget.
Decisions Made 1
The query was discussed, but no formal decisions were adopted as a result.
Most Active Speaker
The most active participant was Mart Helme (EKRE, right-wing opposition), who posed sharp questions to the minister and delivered long speeches during the negotiations. Helme criticized the government's immigration policy, claiming that 100,000–150,000 immigrants constitute clear mass immigration, which threatens Estonian security and constitutional order. He linked the influx of immigrants to an inevitable rise in crime (with a time lag) and warned that Russian special services are exploiting this situation to bring in agents. Helme accused the government of naivety and the irresponsible pursuit of rose-tinted fantasies.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The Riigikogu is debating an interpellation concerning the capacity to ensure internal security in the new situation, where uncontrolled immigration is causing Estonians to worry about their property and lives; the Minister of the Interior, Lauri Läänemets, will respond to the inquiry.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets said that due to delays in answering interpellations and the maze of the constitution and European Union directives, the topic has gone sour. He cited as examples Raivo Olev’s assistance to Ukraine and local warnings regarding foreign-looking people and cars with Ukrainian license plates, asking how people can protect themselves against such dangers.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invited Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets to the Riigikogu rostrum to respond to interpellation No. 536.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Before the Riigikogu, Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets confirmed that the PPA monitors the level of property crimes and that a separate analysis regarding transit criminals is not being conducted. The police check vehicles with license plates from all countries in traffic, provided there is a legal basis, and Schengen compensatory measures allow for internal surveillance. Foreigners may leave if they do not meet the conditions for staying in Estonia. Furthermore, although mass immigration is a topic of discussion, the level of property offenses has changed little, people's sense of security remains at approximately 72–73%, and thefts from dwellings have fallen, particularly concerning summer cottages and farmhouses.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas thanks the Honourable Minister and calls upon Jaak Valge to ask questions.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge stated that while the 2023 crime statistics are not public and cannot be verified, data from several objective sources, including Ergo Kindlustus and Viking Security, suggest a sharp rise in crime over the past year or year and a half. He further added that due to the political correctness of the opposing side, they do not want to connect the increase in crime to mass migration.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas welcomes the listener.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Lauri Läänemets emphasized that the rise in housing debt is primarily due to people's socio-economic circumstances and is not linked to nationality. He added that the state must address this, pointing to an increase in the minimum wage as a crucial solution that would help both low- and middle-income earners ease their situation following inflation.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas calls upon Martin Helme.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that there are no facts linking mass immigration to crime, but notes that the issue is inherently tied to the economic situation. He points out that approximately 100,000 immigrants—which he defines as mass immigration—have arrived over the last year and a half to two years. Furthermore, he raises pointed questions regarding people who have come from Ukraine: whether or not they are subject to military service, why checks are being conducted to ensure these individuals are not Russian agents of influence, and why they are not being sent back to Ukraine.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that mass immigration is considered a situation where people massively seek protection, but in the case of those arriving from Ukraine, thorough checks are carried out and the work of the Security Police continues. Furthermore, Estonia's position regarding mobilization is that it must originate from Ukraine itself, and we will not do anything without Ukraine expressing its will.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Jüri Ratas invited Kert Kingo to speak.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
In her speech, Kert Kingo stresses that ensuring national security requires a sufficient number of police officers. She criticizes the changes made to the special pension scheme and the dismissal of officers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and asks what the concrete plan is for resolving the situation, arguing that auxiliary police officers cannot replace actual police officers.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that there are no plans to replace police officers with auxiliary police. The primary concern is the workload, which is why the focus is shifting to training: in 2024, the volume of courses will be doubled, and the training methodology will be revised. New training centers will be constructed in Paikuse and Väike-Maarja, with total investments in police and rescue training exceeding 100 million euros. After these steps, the focus in the next fiscal year will be on increasing salaries.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar calls on Rain Epler.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler noted that the positions of the Estonian government and the people have differed significantly, and asked whether Estonian statistics view the individual as a general whole, or if parameters such as sex, nationality, age, and citizenship are collected and published, and whether this data is available.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that to his knowledge, no such restrictions have been imposed, and he has not issued such a task to anyone. He added that from the perspective of internal security, it is crucial to know the nationality of the individual involved, and while gender and age can be relevant in certain cases, he does not support generalization or concealment.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Mart Helme to speak.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme claimed that massive immigration threatens Estonia's security, and that a large number of people have arrived here who were sent to jeopardize Estonia's safety, and furthermore, that special services and domestic agencies are seeking contacts where the decision-makers and information reside, for example, in the Security Police and the Ministry of the Interior.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This is your time—step forward and seize your opportunities.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He claims that they have long possessed contacts, networks, and strike groups.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar tells Mart Helme directly that it is his time.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme asks what steps are planned to be taken to prevent the activation of these networks and the overthrow of Estonia’s constitutional order.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets confirmed that there have not been 100,000 refugees in Estonia, emphasized the increased role and excellent work of the Security Police (KAPO) in ensuring security, and stated that if the situation changes, more resources must be used, rather than changing tactics, because the principles remain the same.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar calls upon Anti Poolamets.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets cited examples from the Narva border crossing, stressing the importance of security checks, and discussed access to background checks and the criminal records of people of Ukrainian origin, claiming that the spectrum of their crimes could be shocking.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
“Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that individuals known to pose a threat to Estonia’s security or who are pro-Putin or pro-Russian are not permitted to reside in Estonia. They will not be granted international protection and, if necessary, they will be sent back or expelled from the country. In cooperation with Ukraine, the backgrounds of those arriving at the border will be vetted, and the admission of persons making false claims or harboring pro-Russian sentiments will be stopped.”
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Kalle Grünthal to the stage.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal is using the armed robbery that occurred in Väätsa as an allegory to emphasize that internal security must first be strengthened and police officers' salaries increased, rather than waiting for the next budget, in order to protect one's home region.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that robbery must not be allowed to happen, and internal security must be just as important as it is elsewhere. He emphasized the further improvement of the training and salaries of police officers and rescuers, and noted that approximately 100 million euros were allocated to internal security last year, adding that salary and training are his priorities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Leo Kunnas to the stage.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas debated the concept of migration, asking how many people had arrived in Estonia for various reasons over the last five years, and how many of those needed to be permanently integrated. He asserted that over the course of a century, approximately 130,000 people should be permanently settled, in addition to the roughly 150,000 who arrived during the Soviet era. These individuals tend to concentrate into communities, thereby complicating the task.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
I don't want to say that what we've seen over the last five years amounts to mass immigration, even though the movements have been significant and many people have passed through. Our situation is different; Italy is experiencing mass immigration.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Evelin Poolamets to the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets is asking the minister how monitoring is conducted to ensure that the recipient of temporary protection is actually staying in Estonia, and that their status is not terminated or revoked if the person has not resided in Estonia for an extended period.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that checks are being carried out using state databases and employment contract information to verify whether an individual is residing in Estonia and intends to stay for another year. Those for whom no data is found will be asked to report to the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) for verification. Following this verification, they will no longer be provided with state services or opportunities designated for recipients of temporary protection.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar explains that in order to respond to interpellations, every member of the Riigikogu is allowed to ask one oral question, and the floor is next given to Arvo Aller to pose his question.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The presentation of the figures depends on the database used, but internal security is also reflected in intimate partner violence (IPV); has the arrival of over 100,000 people in Estonia and the provision of shelter increased intimate partner violence, is this reflected in the statistics, and what measures are being proposed?
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Lauri Läänemets noted that accurate data on intimate partner violence is lacking, and the impact of refugee reception on any changes has not been observed. However, the issue is being addressed: a survey has been conducted among Police and Border Guard Board employees, the SISAK curriculum is being updated, and further training sessions are being introduced into the PPA to ensure the topic is handled more effectively.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the Minister, states that there are no further questions, opens the floor for debate, and invites Mart Helme to the podium first.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme warns against mass immigration, claiming that people who have received international protection are immigrants and could bring crime and burden Estonia’s resources. He also envisions a mass exodus occurring in the event of a Ukrainian crisis, for which Estonia is unprepared—a situation illustrated by the decline in the number of police officers.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar requests three minutes of extra time.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme warned that thousands of people could enter the country by crossing the Russian border—potentially presenting themselves as Ukrainians—and if their background is not clear, they might be GRU or FSB agents. This, he stated, poses a security risk because intelligence services actively recruit and utilize such individuals.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The core message of the address is that now is your time to step up and prove yourselves.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme mentions various categories in his speech—pedophiles, people who take strange photos, gamblers, and people with debts.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar urged the audience to take action, saying that their time has come.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme describes people who are struggling with drugs and who have other weaknesses.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
During the speech, the esteemed Mart Helme was told that his time was up.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme claims that mass immigration constitutes a security threat, and people must not overlook it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the discussion of the agenda item and the ensuing debate, and asked if the minister wished to take the floor; the minister declined.