Communication
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-01-24 15:32
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 9
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 7m
AI Summaries: 9/9 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This discussion focused on the communication practices of the Competition Authority, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, particularly concerning the post-analysis of the pharmacy reform. Riigikogu member Tõnis Mölder criticized the Competition Authority for premature and biased communication. According to Mölder, the preliminary results and conclusions of the analysis were published in the public media before the final document was made available to politicians or market participants. This created a situation where members of parliament could not comment on the issue to journalists because they had not yet seen the analysis, which in turn fostered one-sided media coverage.
Minister of Justice Kalle Laanet agreed with the questioner that the Competition Authority should have only presented the analysis results to the public once the full text and conclusions were complete. The Minister admitted that he would have acted differently had he been the Director General of the Competition Authority. Furthermore, Mölder raised a question of transparency regarding Maris Jesse, who was responsible for implementing the pharmacy reform at the Ministry of Social Affairs and who is now allegedly commenting on or participating in the preparation of the analysis of that very reform. Laanet confirmed that he had no knowledge of Jesse’s employment relationship with the Competition Authority but promised to verify the matter, noting simultaneously that evaluating one's previous work is not inherently bad practice.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made; this was a query presented to the Minister of Justice during a session of the Riigikogu.
Most Active Speaker
The most active politician was Tõnis Mölder, a member of the Riigikogu and the initiator of the query. On his initiative, the communication principles and transparency of the Competition Authority were discussed. He submitted both the main question and a clarifying follow-up question concerning Maris Jesse’s role.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The eighth question is addressed to Justice Minister Kalle Laanet, and it will be asked by Riigikogu member Tõnis Mölder. The subject is communication.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He directs his question primarily toward the activities of the Competition Authority and apologizes to the presiding officer of the session, noting that two people are clearly disrupting the work of the Riigikogu.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar commends the accurate observation and requests that Tõnis Mölder be allowed to ask his question, after which Mölder continues.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She criticized the Competition Authority for releasing assessments to the public regarding the subsequent impact of the pharmacy reform before the final analysis was complete. This created a one-sided media narrative and complicated the situation for politicians, given that the full analysis has not yet been made public.
Justiitsminister Kalle Laanet
AI Summary
Minister of Justice Kalle Laanet said that the follow-up analysis of the 2020 pharmacy reform has been ongoing from 2021 until 2024, focusing on the market rather than individual entrepreneurs, and that he should have presented the results to the public only when the analysis was fully completed.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks [the previous speaker] and asks Tõnis Mölder to pose a clarifying question.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tõnis Mölder stressed the importance of transparency, noting that no assessment should be made regarding a specific analysis until it has actually been reviewed. He then cited an ERR news segment as an example and questioned whether former Deputy Secretary-General Maris Jesse currently works for the Competition Authority or has financial ties to the Competition Authority.
Justiitsminister Kalle Laanet
AI Summary
Minister of Justice Kalle Laanet said that, to his knowledge, Maris Jesse does not work at the Competition Authority, and he needs to check whether she has any other employment relationship, but he cannot say right now.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman concludes the consideration of today's eighth item.