Inquiry Concerning the Imposition of the Motor Vehicle Tax (No. 310)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-01-22 21:00
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 63
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 13m
AI Summaries: 63/63 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the replies given by Minister of Finance Mart Võrklaev to interpellation No. 310, submitted by Evelin Poolamets, Anti Poolamets, and Alar Laneman, concerning the establishment of a car tax. The representative of the interpellators, Anti Poolamets (EKRE), sharply criticized the tax, calling it yet another restriction on freedoms and accusing the government of deceiving voters, referencing the Reform Party's earlier promises to avoid tax hikes. He highlighted that the tax pushes rural residents towards a harder life and could lead to the aging of the vehicle fleet.
Minister Mart Võrklaev (Reform Party) defended the tax, emphasizing its two main objectives: curbing car dependency (especially in cities), increasing sustainable mobility and favoring more environmentally friendly vehicles, and covering the large deficit in the state budget. He denied that the tax would significantly worsen the situation, but conceded that there would be an impact, and stressed that the tax design took low-income households into account (lower tax for older cars). The opposition accused the minister of a communist approach and restricting private property. The debate was highly emotional, particularly due to the criticism from members of the EKRE faction (including Martin Helme, Helle-Moonika Helme, Kalle Grünthal), culminating in a short recess announced by the presiding officer of the session. The Minister repeatedly refuted claims that people were being forced to give up their cars, emphasizing freedom of choice, and clarified that support for people with disabilities is automatic and needs-based.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made
Most Active Speaker
Martin Helme (right-wing) was extremely active and critical, accusing the minister and the government of lying, adopting a communist approach, and implementing a globalist plan whose goal is to seize private property from the people.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announces the next item on the agenda, which is Interpellation No. 310, submitted by Evelin Poolamets, Anti Poolamets, and Alar Laneman on May 13, 2023, concerning the establishment of the motor vehicle tax. Anti Poolamets will present it.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets criticizes the car tax as a restriction on freedoms, poses three substantive questions, and asks the government for clarification on why people should have to give up a decent car and how this fits with the ideas of sustainable mobility and the 15-minute city, citing examples and his own personal example.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invited Minister of Finance Mart Võrklaev to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer Interpellation No. 310.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev stated that the goal of the motor vehicle tax is to curb car dependency, increase sustainable mobility and the use of environmentally friendly vehicles, and cover the state budget. However, the tax has both positive and negative impacts, and additional support and compensation measures are planned for people with special needs.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas thanks the Honourable Minister and asks that the questions be directed to Martin Helme.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that the purpose of this current tax and law is to reduce the amount people drive and the overall number of cars, and he asks when the Reform Party became communist—a party that believes private property is superfluous and everything must be seized.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
The Reform Party stresses that they respect private property and do not wish to take anything from people, asserting that private property is sacred and individuals must have the freedom to decide.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Rene Kokk is called to the stage.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk criticizes the car tax, warning that it will lead to the aging of the vehicle fleet, an increased risk of serious traffic accidents, and widespread panic in the country. He also demands an explanation regarding the principle of how a person is deemed wealthy enough to purchase a car and pay the tax, given that many people buy vehicles costing up to 1,000 euros and live from hand to mouth.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev emphasized that the motor vehicle tax constitutes only 5–15% of a car's total running costs. He noted that if the tax seems excessive, it is worthwhile to look at the vehicle's overall expenses and emissions and opt for a more economical or a used vehicle, as this can save money and reduce emissions, especially since the tax is structured to decrease based on the age component.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invites Jaak Valge to take the floor.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He thanks the esteemed Chairman and the Minister.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The main focus of the address is certainly welcoming the chairman.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She politely asks how to do something.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas said that we welcome the Speaker, but we must move forward.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge emphasizes that the birth rate is higher in rural areas and small towns than in cities, and since the car tax could encourage urbanization, he wants the car tax formula to take into account family size and the owner's place of residence.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
He invites the questioner to speak and notes that his time has come.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev stated that car usage must be reduced primarily in cities, and while a car is certainly necessary in the countryside, we shouldn't look too hard for a connection between the motor vehicle tax and the birth rate. He explained that social security, good school and kindergarten opportunities, and providing parents with a sense of stability are far more important. He also confirmed that the motor vehicle tax is primarily intended to generate additional state budget revenue and promote sustainable mobility, as the state budget's fixed costs need to be covered.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accused the respondent and officials of taking a communist approach, stressing that the choice of car is his personal business and the state has no right to restrict it. He also criticized their promotion of walking and cycling, pointing out that they themselves use taxpayer-funded cars, and concluded by calling for help in defense of Mother Earth.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The speech is an appeal directed specifically at Mart Helme.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev accused the audience of having sympathies for Russia and communism, stating that this was evident in every question and answer. Whereupon, angry voices were raised in the hall and the presiding officer rang the bell.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas called for order in the chamber, Mart Helme protested, and the presiding officer subsequently announced a five-minute recess for EKRE to calm down.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The Chairman ended the break and asked Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev to return to the Riigikogu rostrum. We will now continue with questions, and I call upon Varro Vooglaid.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid stressed that as the country moves towards abandoning car usage, the government itself must set an example, referencing the case of Pärtel-Peeter Pere, who commutes to work on Toompea using a cargo bike regardless of the weather, and asked whether the government had discussed how this exemplary behavior could be implemented more effectively.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev confirms that the purpose of the motor vehicle tax is not to force anyone to own or give up a car; rather, it is a voluntary choice that encourages people to consider car ownership and prioritize environmentally friendly and cost-effective options.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invites Kalle Grünthal to come forward.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal raised concerns regarding residents of rural areas, for whom a car is the primary mode of transport, and for whom limited bus service and the burden of the car tax could make commuting to work and managing daily life difficult.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev stresses that people cannot be generalized, and the age component of the motor vehicle tax takes different income levels into account—the tax is lower for older cars—and the revenue collected through the tax helps the state budget, while simultaneously, a strong social safety net ensures aid for those with limited means.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invites Arvo Aller to take the floor.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller believes that introducing a car tax is unnecessary because a registration entry itself does not pollute the environment, and the tax will hit the pockets of people living in the remotest regions the hardest. He also calls on the state to set an example by promoting the use of electric vehicles and sustainable alternatives.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev stated that already during the compilation of the 2024 budget, ministries were instructed to cut transport costs. This involved reducing the number of vehicles if necessary, or finding more economical or alternative modes of transport, because stationary cars pollute the environment, cause visual clutter, and can pose a danger.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invites Evelin Poolamets to come and speak.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets stated that the car tax is intended to curb car usage, but in rural areas—where the nearest center is 15 to 20 kilometers away and public transport is virtually nonexistent—it raises the question of whether the tax should be dependent on a person's place of residence.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
The government is implementing a mobility reform aimed at improving transportation options in rural areas and increasing the accessibility of public transport. It is allocating approximately 40–45 million euros for 2024 to provide alternatives to private vehicles and prevent parents from being forced into the role of taxi drivers. However, using regional exceptions would increase inequality and fail to solve the problem.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invites Helle-Moonika Helme to the stage.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helme criticized the plan to reduce urban car-centricity as utterly illogical, linking it directly to restrictions on private property and freedom, while simultaneously questioning how reducing the number of cars in rural areas is supposed to function at all.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
He/She says it is now time for the questioner to speak.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev clarifies that he did not say that people shouldn't buy cars, that he hasn't restricted private property, and that he didn't understand the question that was posed.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo has voiced skepticism about the practicality of electric vehicles, arguing that they are too costly for commuting from Tartu County to Tallinn, and that issues with charging and snow conditions make the trip entirely impractical.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas addresses Kert Kingo and asks her to speak.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
It is emphasized that commuting from Tartu to Tallinn doesn't require a specific mode of transport; one is free to choose between a car, train, bus, or electric car. Furthermore, the roads are maintained jointly by both the local municipality and the state.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
The idea of being able to travel from Tallinn to Tartu on foot was discussed, but that possibility hadn't been mentioned earlier.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ants Frosch pointed out that rural people once used motorized bicycles, which the common folk called a 'punnvõrr' (a simple, often homemade moped), and now microcars could become an affordable means of transport, which raises safety concerns. He then specifically asked what tax category such a vehicle would fall under and whether the Reform Party had started 'punnvõrristama' Estonia—effectively turning the country into a land of cheap, unreliable transport.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev said that moped cars, whose engine displacement is under 50 cubic centimeters, are exempt from taxation. If the displacement exceeds 50 cubic centimeters, they fall into the motorcycle category. The draft motor vehicle tax law specifies the power ranges and corresponding tax brackets, but these lighter means of transport—those under 50 cubic centimeters—are tax-exempt, exactly the same way electric scooters are.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Siim Pohlak is requested to come to the stage during the address.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak expresses concern over the unfairness of the tax system, describing how taxes are paid multiple times on the purchase, use, and fuel of a car. Ultimately, people are constantly burdened by ever-increasing taxes, which simply doesn't seem fair.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
This is a brief address to the questioner, stating that it is now their turn to speak.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev stresses that taxes serve both environmental and state budget objectives, but the state budget is running a large deficit and fixed costs are unbalanced, meaning they must be covered either by cutting expenditures or raising taxes. Increasing revenue is also seen as an alternative. At the same time, he does not support tracking people's movements and emphasizes that before fulfilling any promises, one must always ask where the money will come from.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas called upon Kert Kingo to present a procedural question and gave her the microphone.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo thanked the speaker, noting that this was a procedural matter. He then recalled the saying, "smoke coming out of one's mouth," and asked whether every time the minister responded, he saw the chamber filled with smoke, and whether others noticed it too.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas thanked the minister, expressed his belief in the effectiveness of smoke alarms, and opened negotiations. He invited Martin Helme to the podium and noted that the representative of the interpellators did not wish to take the floor, requesting an eight-minute extension.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme accuses the government of lying and claims that under the guise of the car tax and the green transition, there is an attempt to strip people of their cars and turn the nation into serfs, which, he says, is the intention of the globalists.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas thanked Kalle Grünthal and invited him to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal accuses Kaja Kallas’s government and Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev of liquidating private property through the car tax and other levies. He compares this to Stalinism and the forced collectivization that occurred during the Soviet era, and calls on the people to unite to overthrow the government.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Riigikogu Vice-Speaker Jüri Ratas invited Helle-Moonika Helme to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He suggests that the time might be extended, and three more minutes are added.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
He is asking for eight minutes.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme is criticizing the government over the car tax and other tax hikes, arguing that these measures will worsen people's economic situation, restrict their freedom of movement, and force those living in rural areas to give up their cars and move to the cities.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas announces that the time for speeches has ended.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme said that if the car tax reaches the Riigikogu, the debate will continue here.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas offered his thanks and invited Minister of Finance Mart Võrklaev to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Rahandusminister Mart Võrklaev
AI Summary
He stressed that automatic supports, which enhance the mobility and independence of people with disabilities, should not require applying to the local government or having to beg for them, and these supports must be available regardless of whether the person owns a car.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas thanks those present and announces that there are no further requests to speak, the debate is closed, and the interpellation has been answered.