Inquiry regarding the promotion of gender equality and equal treatment in private and family life (No. 268)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-03-04 21:22
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 48
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 31m
AI Summaries: 48/48 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debate centered on Interpellation No. 268, submitted by Riigikogu members Helle-Moonika Helme, Siim Pohlak, Alar Laneman, Rain Epler, Arvo Aller, Varro Vooglaid, and Jaak Valge, concerning the promotion of gender equality and equal treatment in private and family life. The representative of the interpellators, Helle-Moonika Helme (EKRE), emphasized that the government's actions, including the recent change to the definition of marriage and the planned so-called trans law, constitute a violation of Article 26 of the Constitution by unduly interfering with people's family and private lives. The interpellators sought to know the constitutional basis upon which Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo (Reform Party) intends to interfere in private life, and whether the Gender Equality Act is planned to be amended to regulate family relationships.
Minister Signe Riisalo responded that the current Gender Equality Act does not regulate family or private life relationships, and the government has no intention of amending it in a way that would create a basis for interference in private life. She also denied the existence of plans to introduce a so-called trans law to the Riigikogu that would abolish genders or change gender-based concepts in laws, such as "mother" and "father." However, the debate quickly shifted to ideological topics, such as the participation of transgender athletes in women's competitions and the use of gender-neutral terminology, to which the Minister repeatedly replied that these issues were outside her competence or fell under the responsibility of the Minister of Health.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made, as this was a response to an inquiry.
Most Active Speaker
The most active and influential participant was Riigikogu member Varro Vooglaid (EKRE). He not only posed questions to the minister but also utilized the debate round to deliver a lengthy and ideologically charged address. Vooglaid represented a strong right-wing and conservative position, criticizing the minister’s alleged neutrality and emphasizing that biological sex is an objective scientific fact that a person cannot change. He labeled the idea of gender reassignment "irrational" and "divorced from common sense," contrasting it with living in touch with reality.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Jüri Ratas announced that we would now proceed to the discussion of the seventh interpellation (Interpellation No. 268) concerning the promotion of gender equality and equal treatment in private and family life, which will be answered by the Minister of Social Protection, Signe Riisalo. He then asked Helle-Moonika Helme, as the representative, to present the interpellation to the public.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme emphasized that the interpellation aims to raise the issue of state interference in private life (e.g., through the car tax). She also recalled the law distorting the definition of marriage and referenced the possible intention to introduce a trans law, asking the minister for clarification on the promotion of gender equality in private and family life.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invites the Minister of Social Protection, Signe Riisalo, to the Riigikogu podium to answer interpellation No. 268.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
During a speech at the Riigikogu session, Signe Riisalo confirmed that the government is preparing an Equal Treatment and Gender Equality Act. She noted that this preparation involves incorporating the views of women’s organizations, but stressed that the government does not intend to promote gender diversity or change linguistic usage. Furthermore, she stated that family life issues are regulated by separate legislation, and disputes regarding these matters do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Gender Equality Commissioner—a matter which the Riigikogu will ultimately decide.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Jüri Ratas thanked the Minister and called upon Helle-Moonika Helme to pose a question.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He/She accuses the respondent of lying, stating that the terms "mother" and "father" have already been replaced in documents with "person one" and "person two" (or "parent one" and "parent two"), and asks whether amending the Gender Equality Act effectively means introducing the trans law.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo explains that the terms "mother" and "father" are being changed only in documents related to same-sex parents, which are not laws, and that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Estonian Constitution refer to parents, not separately to mother and father.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invited Varro Vooglaid to speak.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo said that she had not answered the second half of the question.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas apologized and asked the minister.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that the government will not submit legislative changes concerning transgender individuals to the Riigikogu, and that these issues must continue to be addressed within society. Further steps will depend on the subsequent ministers and the composition of the Riigikogu.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Jüri Ratas invites Varro Vooglaid to the stage.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid asks whether a male person who transitions into a woman and gains a female identity in the eyes of the state should participate in women’s sports competitions on the same basis, and whether he has changed his position on this issue, arguing that the dignity and interests of women do not permit physically and genetically stronger men to dominate women’s competition and claim the top prizes.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that he is not an expert in this field and therefore cannot offer any substantive evaluations. He noted that gender transition exists both from male to female and vice versa—female to male. Responding to the question of whether a woman who has undergone gender reassignment could compete against men, he replied that answering that question is outside his purview, adding that these issues are not currently being addressed, and no new legislation will be introduced to the Riigikogu to alter the subject matter.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Jüri Ratas calls upon Mart Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme questions what gender equality even is, recalls traditional roles, and calls current developments a perversion, claiming that it is detrimental both to society and to the development of young people in schools.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
He turned to the questioner and said that the questioner's time had come.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme asks if you haven't reached the same conclusion.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that they operate from fundamentally different value systems: in his worldview, people are equal regardless of gender and can realize their potential through work, education, or parenthood, whereas the opposing side wishes to keep traditional gender roles unchanged. He added that they are not trying to convince each other or pass judgment on which perspective is correct.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas asked Evelin Poolamets to come here.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asks how ethical the sterilization performed during gender transition is, given that it renders the person who has undergone the transition unable to have children later in life.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo said that gender reassignment and sterilization do not fall under her competence, and she would decline to comment on those topics.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
To begin the address, Henn Põlluaas is invited to speak.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas emphasizes women's equality and describes the EKRE-submitted bill—which bans the niqab and burqa in public spaces—as a measure against the discrimination of women. He asserts that this practice originates from extremist Islamism, which is neither supported by the Quran nor by Islam itself, and is not considered normal in our cultural space.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stressed that the constitutional prohibition of discrimination and freedom of religion remain in effect, and visually extreme clothing can stigmatize women. Therefore, the appropriateness of such gender-based distinctions must be seriously considered in educational institutions.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invited Anti Poolamets to speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets noted that several countries, including France, have imposed strict restrictions to protect women, and he warned against siding with the defenders of extremes, referring to Finland's 2020 gender-neutral traffic sign and asking whether a similar solution could also be implemented in Estonia.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that his previous comment was a personal opinion, not the government's official position, and that he has not studied traffic signs or semiotics. However, he stressed that the goal of traffic signs is safety and expressed hope that the impact of their psychological nuances on safety would be thoroughly weighed.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas calls on Martin Helme.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme says that the purpose of regulating traffic signs is not just traffic, but that the signs have become rainbow-colored and gender-neutral, adding that there is no need for experts to state the obvious, pointing out that the experts during the COVID and war eras have messed up life.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that he is not answering the question as a provocation and is not taking a stance, because the topic is not within his competence, and the Minister of Health deals with gender reassignment issues. Furthermore, he lacks knowledge regarding any additional changes, and therefore has no basis to take a position on behalf of the government.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Kert Kingo is called to the stage.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo presents the minister with a real-life example: a teenage boy who identifies as a girl and wishes to use the girls' shower room after gymnastics, and asks whether doing so is appropriate in the name of equality or if it infringes upon someone else's rights or privacy.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo confirmed that gender transition is a long process, and merely identifying does not change a person's sex or grant them separate rights. He cited as an example the Haapsalu spa swimming pool and its single-person changing rooms, adding that the organization of schools remains up to the schools themselves to decide.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas called Rain Epler to the stage.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
During the query, Rain Epler raised the question of whether the current government intends to withhold answers, and what exactly the minister meant by the statement, "I will not go along with the provocation."
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that he has prepared the answers to the questions raised in the inquiry, but he is not ready today to discuss broader topics, stressing that everything concerning gender reassignment falls under the Minister of Health's portfolio.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Jüri Ratas invited Arvo Aller to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller asked whether the Equal Opportunities Commissioner would start intervening in family matters and whether their authority in the context of the climate transition would lead to greater equality.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Signe Riisalo stated in the Riigikogu that climate warming and green policies affect all areas of life. She also signed a decision authorizing a supplementary payment for the Commissioner for Equal Treatment, referencing an international conference and noting that this was not the only additional activity worthy of recognition.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invites Siim Pohlak to the stage.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak criticizes the trend toward gender neutrality and emphasizes that its accompanying consequences—for example, gender-neutral toilets and shower rooms, as well as sports competitions—must be carefully thought through and explained.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo said that although the questions are irrelevant, the government is not regulating gender neutrality beyond what is already stipulated in the laws, and does not intend to analyze it in depth or change anything.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo suspects yet another lie in the government's promises regarding the definition of marriage and equality, and calls for clarity and for them to take a stand on the matter.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas called on Kert Kingo to raise a procedural question.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas decides to open the debate and invites Varro Vooglaid, the representative of the interpellators, to the Riigikogu rostrum to speak.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid asserted that a person's sex is biologically fixed, and self-identifying as the opposite sex does not actually turn that person into a man or a woman. He labeled such worldviews as irrational and false.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas thanked [the participants] and announced that there were no further requests to speak, that he was closing the debate, and that the interpellation had been answered.