The Prime Minister's Messages
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, press briefing
Date: 2024-03-06 14:58
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 31
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 26m
AI Summaries: 31/31 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item discussed concerned the messages of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, which were presented by Riigikogu member Kert Kingo (EKRE). The information session became extremely tense and focused on two main topics: Estonia's security and allied relations, and the state of the nation's finances. Kingo questioned the Prime Minister's assurance that Estonia would never be alone again, citing the warning from Ministry of Defence Secretary-General Kusti Salm that Ukraine might lose the war and that Europe and the USA might not be prepared to finance it, leaving Estonia isolated. Prime Minister Kallas defended the government's pro-Western course (NATO and the EU) as the only viable option, emphasizing that supporting Ukraine is directly defending Estonia's security.
In a follow-up question, Varro Vooglaid (EKRE) posed three specific questions to the Prime Minister, the sharpest of which concerned the promise that Estonia would not send its defense forces personnel into military operations in Ukraine, thereby avoiding direct entry into war with Russia. Kallas refused to answer the specific questions, stating that she would answer however she chooses to answer, and that the deployment of ground troops was not discussed in Paris. This response led to an extensive procedural dispute and protests from opposition members (Vooglaid, Helme, Grünthal), who accused both the Prime Minister and the presiding officer of violating the Rules of Procedure and internal working order, arguing that adequate answers had not been provided to the questions.
Decisions Made 1
No political decisions were adopted during the information session. The presiding officer of the session repeatedly made procedural rulings to call the members to order and proceed with the agenda, but these were not substantive decisions.
Most Active Speaker
The most active participant was Riigikogu member Varro Vooglaid (EKRE), who belongs to the opposition (right-wing/conservative). Vooglaid initially posed a sharp follow-up question to the Prime Minister concerning the deployment of Estonian forces to Ukraine, demanding a specific commitment, which Kallas sidestepped. Vooglaid subsequently dominated the procedural debate, repeatedly protesting the actions of the session chair, accusing the chair of protecting a coalition colleague and allowing the Prime Minister to avoid answering questions. His activism was aimed at criticizing both the Prime Minister and the way the session was being managed.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Member of the Riigikogu Kert Kingo presents the fifth question to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on the topic of the Prime Minister's messages.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
The report accuses the government and Kaja Kallas of justifying tax hikes and the Russification of the state, claiming that Estonia will never be left alone thanks to the support of NATO and Europe. However, the scenario described in the interview with Kusti Salm, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense—according to which the US and Europe might abandon the financing of Ukraine—would leave Estonia isolated. The report then asks which of them is lying.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas stressed that Estonia must choose in favor of the Western world and its allies—NATO and the European Union—and not side with Russia, and that Ukraine's victory in the war is critical for European security, for which purpose we are working to aid Ukraine, persuade our allies, and strengthen the isolation and sanctions against Russia.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks and asks Varro Vooglaid to pose a follow-up question.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid presented a formal request to the Prime Minister asking for clear and concrete answers to three questions: Have members of the Estonian Defence Forces participated in military operations in Ukraine? Will the Defence Forces refrain from intervening in the conflict in Ukraine until the end of your term? And, if the war reaches Estonia, will they be evacuated, or will they remain in solidarity with the Estonian people?
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas emphasized that ground troops would not be sent to Ukraine, and that Estonia and the allies would provide Ukraine with the necessary aid in the form of ammunition and air defense. She added that as long as Ukraine is able to hold out, Russia will not move forward.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman asks the Prime Minister to respond and grants him 40 seconds for his reply. Varro Vooglaid is then called, and the Prime Minister is permitted to continue his answer if necessary.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas confirms that despite the fact that "you do not like my answers," she will answer all questions, will not resign, and has previously affirmed this.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that the Prime Minister had 40 seconds remaining to answer the questions, and if she wished to provide clarification, she would have 40 seconds to do so, after which Kert Kingo posed a follow-up question.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo thanks the audience.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar asks Kert Kingo to pose a clarifying question.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo accuses Kaja Kallas of failing to answer and asks her directly whether she lied about Keit Pentus-Rosimannus handing over the state finances in good order, or about the poor state of the state finances, which she attributes to the work of other governments.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stopped the disruptors, asking Kalle Grünthal to leave, and continued the information hour, thanking Mrs. Kert Kingo for the question and addressing the Prime Minister.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
In 2021, when we were able to form the government, the state budget was in very poor shape, and consequently, necessary steps were taken.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked Mart Helme not to interrupt or shout, and emphasized that the Madam Prime Minister was currently answering, requesting everyone to adhere to the rules of the session.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
The fragmented speech addresses the topics of children and money, and it is noted that Mart Helme is speaking in the hall.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar emphasizes that the protocol stipulates hearing the answers first, followed only then by the submission of questions, and the Prime Minister is currently responding.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Kaja Kallas says that she is trying to answer calmly and does not want to shout, noting that there are protests in the chamber (Kert Kingo is protesting from the chamber).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar warned he would call a recess if the debate did not proceed civilly, and requested the Prime Minister to provide an answer so that Question Time could move forward.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas explains that in 2021, large cuts—around 600 million—were initiated in the state budget. To achieve balance, there have been three options: cutting expenditures, raising taxes, or taking out a loan. Although economic growth helped improve the situation, a loan does not improve the balance, and she has consistently told the truth regarding the budget.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concludes the discussion of today's fifth item. Before proceeding, he raises a procedural question regarding the conduct of the session. Varro Vooglaid, please.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid accuses the presiding officer of the sitting and the coalition of the fact that the prime minister is not answering the three specific and clear questions put to him, and the presiding officer is not intervening, which raises the fear that the government's actions might specifically bring this war here.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stated that as long as the Prime Minister remains on topic, the chair of the sitting will not intervene in the substance of the replies. During the information hour, a question may be posed twice, and one supplementary question may be asked by another Riigikogu member. Furthermore, to achieve a meaningful outcome, members must pose the questions themselves, and simple yes/no answers are not permitted. He concluded by noting that Kert Kingo had raised the issue regarding the rules for conducting the sitting.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo asks whether the principle of the Information Hour, whereby members of parliament receive answers from members of the government, has changed, and whether speaking with guests on the Prime Minister's balcony while failing to answer MPs' questions constitutes a new working format for the Riigikogu.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Riigikogu Chairman Lauri Hussar explains how the format for questions operates, stresses that today there are 11 questions directed to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, and adds that he will not be spending any more time on procedural questions. He further notes that Mart Helme will be posing a question concerning the rules for conducting the sitting.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme emphasizes that in the question-and-answer format, the respondent must not disseminate false information or distort facts, nor accuse the questioner, because otherwise, immediate on-site intervention and calling the person to order are unavoidable so that the false information does not reach the camera, and the presiding officer must not trample on the rules of procedure and house rules.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Presiding Officer Lauri Hussar stressed that he does not evaluate responses or dictate the content of the answers, but instead conducts the information session in accordance with the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, and allows his colleagues to pose questions.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid stated that he disagreed with the Prime Minister's general response, and presented a specific question: whether the Estonian Defence Forces would not go to war with Russia in Ukraine until the end of the Prime Minister's term in office. He emphasized that an answer must be provided, or the question must be repeated if necessary.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar explained to Varro Vooglaid that the Prime Minister determines the answer, and the presiding officer cannot intervene as long as the Prime Minister remains on topic. He added that there is always the opportunity to come to the Riigikogu hall for the information hour and ask those questions again.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal emphasizes that the presiding officer must adhere to the work and internal regulations, assess whether Varro Vooglaid’s question has received a sufficient answer, and if not, terminate its consideration as described in point 3 on page 507 of the yellow book.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman states that the rules governing the submission of questions restrict the endless accumulation of follow-up questions: regarding one topic, a clarifying question may be asked, and if necessary, one supplementary question, but procedural questions must not drag on indefinitely. There are 11 people on the list, and we have currently reached the fifth question. Therefore, in order to move forward to the sixth question, we must conclude this matter, as Aivar Kokk has been waiting a long time to ask his question about energy.