First Reading of the Draft Act on Amendments to the Value-Added Tax Act (264 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary sitting.
Date: 2024-02-07 20:40
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 8
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 4m
AI Summaries: 8/8 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu session today focused primarily on tax-related bills but turned out to be unexpectedly short and unproductive. There were a total of eight items on the agenda, running from item 13 to item 20, all of which concerned amendments to either the Value Added Tax Act or the Income Tax Act. The bills were mainly initiated by members of the EKRE faction and other opposition deputies.
The session began with the discussion of Bill 264, an amendment to the VAT Act aimed at reducing the VAT rate to 18.4 percent. However, after this bill was rejected, an unexpected situation arose: the rapporteurs for the subsequent agenda items left the chamber, creating an "impossibility of debate." This meant that the remaining seven bills were left undiscussed and will be postponed until next week. This behavior suggests a protest by the EKRE faction, although the exact reasons for it were not clarified during the session.
Decisions Made 2
The Riigikogu adopted the proposal put forward by the Finance Committee to reject Bill 264 (Amendment of the Value Added Tax Act) during its first reading. The vote tally was 29 in favor, 3 against, with zero abstentions. Consequently, the bill was dropped from the proceedings.
The remaining seven bills (286, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270) were not discussed due to the impossibility of holding a debate, and they will be postponed until next week.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Annely Akkermann, who was representing the Riigikogu Finance Committee as its Chair. She provided an overview of the committee's decisions and recommended rejecting Bill 264, noting that the government does not support the bill either. Akkermann holds a centrist political position, as she is a member of the governing coalition.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu is discussing agenda item 13, which is draft Act No. 264 on the amendment of the Value Added Tax Act, initiated by Leo Kunnas, Alar Laneman, and Ants Frosch. Riigikogu member Leo Kunnas is invited to present the draft Act.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The purpose of this bill is to reduce the VAT rate to 18.4%.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gave his thanks, announced that there were no questions, and invited Annely Akkermann, the Chair of the Riigikogu Finance Committee, to give her speech.
Annely Akkermann
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The committee decided to place the draft bill on the agenda, appoint the current speaker as the representative, and reject the bill; furthermore, the government does not support this draft bill either.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar declared the debate closed and put forward a proposal to reject Draft Bill 264 during its first reading, urging his colleagues to proceed to a vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman announced that Bill 264 had been rejected during the first reading and withdrawn from the proceedings. Furthermore, due to the impossibility of holding a debate, neither agenda item 14 nor item 15 could be opened. Finally, regarding item 16, Erkki Keldo raised a point of order.
Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
He/She asks for clarification and an explanation regarding the protests by the EKRE faction, specifically whether, if debate proves impossible, the bills are dropped entirely from the proceedings, or if they must be brought back to the main chamber for consideration next week.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that he would not comment on the behavior of the EKRE faction, and stated that if debate proves impossible, the draft legislation amending the Income Tax Act will return to the main chamber next week. He added that all agenda items 266–270 have rendered discussion impossible and will therefore not be opened, concluding the sitting with a peaceful evening.