Nordica Special Audit
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-02-07 14:16
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 17
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 13m
AI Summaries: 17/17 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This session focused on the interpellation submitted by Riigikogu member Martin Helme (EKRE) to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform Party) concerning the public release of the results of the special audit conducted on the state-owned airline Nordica (Nordic Aviation Group). Helme expressed deep concern about Nordica's financial status, drawing parallels with the bankruptcy of Estonian Air, and sharply criticized the potential squandering of state budget funds (totaling over 110 million euros). He urgently demanded that the interim report of the special audit, which was due by the end of November, be made fully accessible to Riigikogu members, especially those on the Special Committee Against Corruption. Helme deemed the concealment of the report under the label of a business secret scandalous and a potential violation of the law.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas acknowledged the seriousness of Nordica's situation, agreeing that previous expansion plans led to the company's decline. She emphasized that the final special audit report should be completed in February. Kallas shared her personal view that the report should be shared with parliament members, excluding only those business secrets whose disclosure would result in contractual penalties for the state. She confirmed that the government is not planning to inject additional funds into Nordica but is actively pursuing the company's partial or full privatization. Economic issues were also briefly addressed, during which Kallas listed the government's steps to stabilize the economic environment (tax reform, energy, research and development).
Decisions Made 1
No new decisions were adopted during the session. Prime Minister Kallas confirmed and stressed the government's previous decision not to inject additional funds into Nordica and to initiate the company's privatization process in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Climate.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Riigikogu member Martin Helme (EKRE), who submitted the initial interpellation and a clarifying question. Helme represented the right wing of the opposition and was extremely critical of the government's handling of Nordica's financial management and the subsequent concealment of the special audit results. He demanded full transparency, citing the legal right of the Special Committee Against Corruption to review the materials, and speculated that the concealment of the report might be due to financial or criminal misconduct on the part of officials or board members.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Member of the Riigikogu Martin Helme is submitting a second question to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, and the topic is the special audit of Nordica.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that increasing taxes will not solve the state's financial problems, arguing that the losses of Nordica and Estonian Air demonstrate wasteful spending. He demands that the Riigikogu see the interim report of the special audit and that the Prime Minister ensure its publication.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas noted that although she did not support the allocation of 40 million, improving Nordica's management requires waiting for the special audit report to be completed and then taking the necessary steps based on its findings, while also considering the possibility of privatization in cooperation between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Climate. She further emphasized that information not related to business secrets should be shared with Riigikogu members, as it is crucial to know what was done and where management errors were made.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called for a clarifying question to Martin Helme.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme stresses that the special anti-corruption committee and members of the Riigikogu have the right to view all the material in its entirety, including the report concerning state secrets, and that the government is not permitted to forbid this.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that she has not seen the report and will not speculate. She confirmed that the state does not plan to inject additional funds into Nordica, and the privatization process is currently underway. She also noted that the goal is to attract as many airlines as possible to Tallinn Airport, and passenger numbers have increased. While her personal position is that the disclosed portion should be as open as possible, exceptions and business secrets must be taken into account. The Ministry of Climate will make the final decision regarding the documents, but the general desire is for these reports to be made public to the greatest extent possible.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar expresses his thanks and asks Aleksandr Tšaplõgin to pose an additional question.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksandr Chaplygin notes that Estonian entrepreneurs consider the current government to be one of the biggest risks, and asks whether this is normal and what the government plans to do to ensure that entrepreneurs feel secure.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, stated that the topic was not about the special audit of Nordica, and requested that Prime Minister Kaja Kallas respond, if she wished.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is pledging a simple tax system and income tax reform for the sake of economic stability. She also promises to ensure cheaper electricity for businesses, open doors via business diplomacy, and boost research, development, and innovation to increase added value. All these measures will be supported by a 1.9 billion euro state budget investment and the faster allocation of EU funding in critical areas.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that today’s second item has been concluded, and before discussing the third item, we will address the procedure for conducting the sitting. Mart Helme, please.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme said that the Ministry of Climate is the Riigikogu's contractor, not its superior, and therefore it does not decide what Riigikogu members need, but only fulfills the requests submitted by the Riigikogu members.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme claims that none of the current members of the special committee against corruption are involved in aviation or intend to establish any competing aviation company, which is why the talk of a business secret is unfounded.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Thanks are expressed to Mart Helme in the speech.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme claims that this is absolutely not serious.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar said that it was not a procedural question but a substantive objection, which the procedure does not allow for, and that we must adhere to that rule.