Interpellation Concerning the Negative Impacts of the Motor Vehicle Tax on Families with Children (No. 602)
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-03-11 20:30
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 53
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 50m
AI Summaries: 53/53 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This sitting focused on Inquiry No. 602, submitted by Riigikogu members Riina Solman, Priit Sibul, Mart Maastik, and Jüri Ratas, which addressed the negative impacts of the planned motor vehicle tax on families with children, especially large families. Riina Solman (Isamaa), who submitted the inquiry, sharply criticized the government's policy, which she believes undermines the economic security of families with children, citing both the earlier removal of income tax benefits and the new car tax. Solman emphasized that a car is an essential necessity for large families, especially in rural areas, and that the actions of the governing coalition contradict the state's obligation to provide special care for large families, as stipulated in Section 28 of the Constitution.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas defended the government's position, refuting the claim that the car tax would force families to give up their vehicles. She stressed that the tax is necessary to put the state finances in order and to steer people toward more environmentally friendly choices. The Prime Minister explained that social policy is implemented through benefits, not tax incentives, and highlighted that Estonian family benefits are already very generous in the European context for large families, compensating for potential car expenses as well. Kallas also argued that the availability of public transport in rural areas is better than critics claim, and that the most vulnerable groups are single parents, not large families. The debate was emotional, with the opposition accusing the government of hostility towards property ownership and pitting families against each other.
Decisions Made 1
No legislative decisions or motions for amendment were adopted during the response to the inquiry. It was an informative discussion.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Riina Solman (pid: FzaS_DdTVAI), the representative of the interpellators, who submitted the interpellation and utilized the debate time on two occasions. Solman clearly represented the stance of the right-wing opposition (Isamaa), being extremely critical of both the car tax and the government's family policy. She accused the government of breaking its word, creating divisions among families, and disregarding its constitutional obligations. Solman’s addresses were lengthy and included sharp personal attacks directed at both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Social Protection, accusing them of being hostile towards children and families. Her activity was aimed at discrediting the government’s policies and drawing attention to the plight of large families.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu will consider, as the final item on today's agenda, the interpellation (No. 602) submitted by Riina Solman, Priit Sibul, Mart Maastik, and Jüri Ratas on February 8, 2024, regarding the impact of the car tax on families with children.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman criticizes the government’s motor vehicle tax bill, arguing that it forces people to give up their cars and increases the economic insecurity of large families, particularly in rural areas. She states that the bill contradicts Article 28 of the Constitution, which mandates the care of large families. She calls on the government to analyze the impacts and ensure that children have access to schooling, extracurricular activities, and healthcare services, as well as functioning public transportation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi expresses his thanks and informs the assembly of the immediate change of the Chair. He accepts Mart Helme's question directed to the presiding officer before the next Chair arrives, and invites the Prime Minister to the rostrum.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme questions whether the presiding officer has a special obligation to cater to those seated in the government gallery, or if his primary focus should be presiding over the session and managing the chamber.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi affirmed his commitment to serve everyone, recalled that the presiding officer had announced the last item on the agenda, even though, according to him and the original schedule, there should have been one more interpellation pending, and promised to serve both the Prime Minister and his colleagues, and requested attention for the Prime Minister.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas confirmed that the government will reduce bureaucracy, carry out a four-year budget revision accompanied by cost savings, launch a mobility reform, increase family benefits aimed at large families, and ensure the special care of families with many children in accordance with the constitution.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the Prime Minister and announces that he has several questions, the first of which is Siim Pohlak.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak asks the Prime Minister whether the impact of large families has been considered in the car tax analysis, and how much it would cost the state budget if families with four or more children were exempted from both the acquisition tax and the subsequent tax.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
In Estonia, child benefits per child are higher, and the concessions offered to large families, including car tax exemptions, are generally more favorable than in other countries.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman calls upon Jaak Valge to speak.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge argues that the proposed structure of the car tax would be discriminatory and could encourage urbanization if it failed to take family size or location into account. He also asks whether any analysis exists regarding its potential impact on the birth rate.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that people in rural areas do not automatically need to use a car, because all residents in 610 settlements had good access to public transport, and these settlements were classified as rural areas.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar calls upon Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme is criticizing the car tax bill, labeling it a social burden that would force roughly 3% of car owners to give up their vehicles. She highlights that it would particularly affect large families and residents of rural areas lacking public transportation, and questions what these families and their children are expected to do when mobility is essential.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that single-parent families are the most vulnerable, and the vehicle tax constitutes a very small fraction of the total cost of owning a car. Meanwhile, the increase in fuel prices impacted people significantly more and still didn't cause them to give up their vehicles.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar calls upon Martin Helme to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that the government's car tax plan is an anti-property and anti-freedom leftist program that attacks families and rural regions, threatens the future of Estonians, and leaves open the question of whose interests are actually being served by this, given that Estonians are dying out.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stresses that their objective is the preservation of the Estonian state, its people, language, and culture. She also dismisses accusations regarding the abolition of the car tax, pointing out that a car tax exists in all EU countries, including Lithuania, whereas Hungary does not offer car tax concessions for families with children.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman asked Riina Solman to take the floor.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
In her speech, Riina Solman criticizes the views held by government ministers regarding people with disabilities and large families, questioning their competence and empathy. She cites as examples the objective behind the finance minister's car tax and the social protection minister's attitude, which leaves large families in a precarious situation.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
These ministers are deeply committed to ensuring the survival and perpetuation of the Estonian state, culture, and nation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks Mart Helme to come and speak.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme criticizes the excessive meddling by officials in people’s lives, which has led to the imposition of mandatory choices regarding car purchases, usage, and pricing, and questions how an ordinary Estonian person is supposed to make decisions in such a situation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speech emphasizes that this is the listeners' time, and their moment is now.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme believes that someone is trying to forcibly compel the Estonian people to do something, and he questions where that person got the authority to do so.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The address is directed at Mart Helme and announces that his time has come.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
At the heart of the speech is the request to answer this question.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Kaja Kallas emphasizes that everyone makes their own decisions and nobody else makes them for them.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invites Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to the stage.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
In the presentation, the speaker criticizes the abolition of free public transport on railway lines and the inclusion of a reference to the car tax, arguing that it forces environmentally friendly choices to become costly. Furthermore, they question why single parents are not granted an exemption, given that they face the highest risk of poverty. The Centre Party has submitted an amendment proposal regarding these issues, but the Reform Party does not intend to support it.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas stated that services are covered by taxes, and the core problem with public transport is that it fails to take people to the right place at the right time, the solution for which is the mobility reform. She also stressed the importance of a simple tax system and directing social benefits specifically to those who genuinely need them, rather than to everyone.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This is simply a request directed at Ants Frosch.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ants Frosch raises the issue that school transport in rural areas is not working, and children are primarily taken to school by car. He also invites the Prime Minister to the flag celebration in Otepää on June 4th so that he can speak with genuine rural people there.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stresses that people's concerns must be heard and that ceremonies should not be tainted by day-to-day politics, all while planning a multi-day visit to Southeast Estonia and simultaneously asking who the "real people" are, emphasizing the importance of including everyone.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Next, Rain Epler was invited to speak, and he was asked to take the floor.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asked the Prime Minister if she understands that the car tax places a particularly heavy burden on large families and those who live far from urban centers and require a larger vehicle out of necessity, given the lack of adequate public transport in those regions, especially when they have children.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that family benefits will be higher for families with three children (237 euros per child), schools in rural areas will be funded, and a mobility reform will be launched. She also noted that while there will be no general car tax, a very small tax (about 4 euros per month) is being considered as a regional component specifically for older cars.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Jüri Ratas asked Evelin Poolamets to take the floor.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rapporteur Evelin Poolamets asks whether the actual objective of the motor vehicle tax is the reduction of environmental impacts, and whether it is an attempt, in the context of the demographic crisis, to discourage families from having many children.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that nothing is happening.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas thanked the Prime Minister for the presentation, announced that there were no questions, opened the debates, and invited Riina Solman, the representative of the interpellators, to the rostrum.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman criticizes the government, claiming that the prime minister and ministers are more hostile to children and families and fail to support families. She demands automatic tax relief for large families and single parents, as well as an end to the polarization of different family types.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
He asks for three minutes.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman criticizes Signe Riisalo and the government’s approach to the principle of supporting large families, stressing that approximately 14% of families receive 40% of all family benefits, and that creating suitable living conditions for them is essential. She argues that the 31% cuts already implemented for large families are unjustified, and even deeper cuts are expected in the autumn, as the ministry is obligated to implement 50 million euros worth of reductions.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Jüri Ratas said the speech would last two minutes.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman asserts that the constitution stipulates general protection of family life (Section 27) and separate aid intended for large families (Section 28), because large families face a higher risk of poverty and their living conditions in rural areas, coupled with limited public transport, necessitate additional support. She criticizes political differentiation and calls for a review of the constitutional text.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas thanks [the assembly/previous speaker] and invites Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to the Riigikogu podium.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart asserts that implementing the car tax in the current economic situation is unfair and disproportionately harms the most vulnerable groups—large families, single parents, pensioners, and rural residents—and constitutes a violation of the state's constitutional social welfare principles and the framework of European social rights, as no special benefits are offered and mitigating measures are absent. The Centre Party has submitted over 300 amendments to the car tax bill to protect these groups.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Jüri Ratas requests two additional minutes.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart stated that she was given three minutes to present substantive amendments regarding the car tax. She emphasized that they want to terminate the car tax proceedings and replace it with a windfall profit tax for banks, and invited people to attend the demonstration organized by the Centre Party, where they plan to gift an Audi 80 to Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invites Rain Epler to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler argues that the car tax is a levy being implemented under the guise of the green transition, which will not solve climate or mobility issues. Instead, it primarily burdens families raising children and those with low incomes. He highlights wage data, citing examples both nationally and in Võru County, showing that the disposable income per family member is less than what is generally considered acceptable, and that the more children a family has, the harder it is for them to cope.
Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Jüri Ratas thanked the participants and informed the assembly that there were no further requests to speak, that the debate was closed, and that the interpellation had been answered.