First Reading of the Draft Act Amending the Local Government Organization Act (Bill 289 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd plenary sitting
Date: 2024-03-12 12:38
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 56
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 0m
AI Summaries: 56/56 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated Draft Act 289, initiated by the parliamentary group of the Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE), concerning amendments to the Local Government Organization Act. The bill aimed to restore the possibility of popular initiatives and binding referendums at the local level. The rapporteur, Jaak Valge (EKRE), began his address with a symbolic historical parallel, noting that the session took place 90 years after the coup d'état of March 12, 1934, which abolished the right to popular initiative. Valge emphasized that the draft bill offers a solution to the current crisis of parliamentarianism and representative democracy by giving citizens the opportunity to correct the actions of their elected representatives.
According to the bill, a referendum could have been initiated either by the local council or by at least 10% of the eligible voters residing in the municipality or city. The result of the referendum would have been legally binding if at least 30% of the residents entitled to vote participated. During the debate, it was highlighted that the possibility of referendums would help prevent decisions that divide communities (such as the closure of Metsküla school) and alleviate political tensions by providing a legitimate channel for protest. Critics (whose arguments were mainly presented by those asking questions) feared that this could create instability and interfere with governance. The Constitutional Committee recommended rejecting the bill, citing the government's position, which foresaw a series of unforeseen problems for local governments.
Decisions Made 2
The Lead Committee (the Constitutional Committee) proposed rejecting the draft bill at the first reading (6 in favor, 1 against, 2 abstentions).
The Riigikogu voted in favor of rejecting Bill 289 at the first reading (48 in favor, 13 against, 0 abstentions). The bill was dropped from the proceedings.
Most Active Speaker
The most active politician was the bill’s rapporteur, Jaak Valge (EKRE). Valge delivered a comprehensive introduction focusing on the historical and theoretical foundations of democracy in Estonia, highlighting the consequences of the 1934 coup d'état. He answered 10 questions, staunchly defending the necessity of holding referendums at both the local and national levels. Valge represented the opposition faction of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia, serving as the bill’s primary advocate and defender.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He announced the commencement of the third item on the agenda and asked Jaak Valge to present the first reading of Bill 289, the draft act amending the Local Government Organization Act, which was initiated by the EKRE faction.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge recalls the coup d'état and the crisis of democracy that occurred 90 years ago, and proposes local referenda as a solution, which could be initiated by the local council or by at least 10% of the eligible voting population, and whose binding nature would depend on a 30% turnout and balanced public information.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi confirms that this is an entirely rational path, and asks Varro Vooglaid to present his questions.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid asks listeners to find rational counterarguments to the draft bill, noting that although people want Estonian society to be organized according to democratic principles, they do not consider the bill reasonable. He then asks what weighty counterarguments, even slightly considerable ones, could possibly exist.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge says that local council politicians fear losing the independence of their decisions and being controlled, which makes their work harder and facilitates the pursuit of factional interests and potential corruption. Furthermore, the system currently functions primarily due to people's inertia, a fact that EKRE, as an extreme populist party, is aggressively promoting.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speaker addresses Anti Poolamets and asks him to speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets discusses the fears that accompany the introduction of new things, suggesting that the number of referendums held during a local government's four-year term could cause confusion. Drawing on the example of Switzerland, he asks whether three or four referendums is excessive, while simultaneously emphasizing that even a country with four official languages manages to remain cohesive.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He cites Switzerland as an example, noting that several nationwide referendums are held there every year, which studies show does not impede the country's functioning. He further adds that Slovenia is the happiest of the post-communist states, and that it is impossible to identify any negative impact from referendums in any country.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Ants Frosch to speak.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ants Frosch thanks the chairman and his colleague, refers to a symbolic historical parallel, asks for the committee's assessment, and notes that the draft bill will probably be rejected, asking what such a decision says about Estonian democracy and popular sovereignty.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge asserts that the most promising way out of the parliamentary crisis is a reform of national and local governments that would allow for referendums, and he believes that the people are mature enough for democracy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi called upon Martin Helme to take the floor.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that a system of local government referendums would ensure the legitimacy of decisions and prevent incidents similar to the closure of the Metsküla school, because anti-democratic arguments aimed at maintaining central power are actually contrary to the people's mandate.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge points out that although their arguments are rational, not a single representative of the government coalition will come forward to speak against the draft legislation. This is because these assertions are uncomfortable to present, and it appears that politicians do not trust the citizens, treating democracy as nothing more than a mere buzzword.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas stresses that the people constitute the supreme authority, but the current constitution fails to grant the populace sufficient democratic self-determination. Consequently, he is weighing the restoration of the popular initiative and the ability to amend the constitution, harkening back to the democratic era of the 1920s and 1930s.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Henn Põlluaas to speak.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge claims that the current crisis clearly shows that the only solution is a return to the roots of democracy, where popular initiatives and referendums are standard practice. Latvia and Lithuania have had dozens of these, while we have had only one.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that automatic snap elections triggered by a conflict between the will of the people (via referendum) and the will of the parliament are highly likely a myth, even though such a mechanism exists in some countries, such as Switzerland. He then asks how this mechanism would function in the case of a specific bill if the people initiate the bill and the council rejects it.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Martin Helme.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge stated that the dissolution of a local council is not provided for, but in the case of a binding referendum, the council must implement the outcome. At the national level, the constitution contains a provision that if the Riigikogu (Parliament) disagrees with the results of a referendum, it must dissolve, and in his opinion, this is justified because the Riigikogu no longer represents the majority of the citizenry. However, if this stems from fiscal interests, this clause could be omitted when drafting the nationwide legislation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Siim Pohlak to speak.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak criticizes Estonia’s liberal democracy, labeling it a post-servitude system. He argues that citizens are kept out of the decision-making process and are only engaged during elections, and he questions how this specific problem is addressed in other European nations.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge points out that the possibility of initiating a local authority referendum exists in about half or more European countries, where these can be binding or non-binding, and the initiation quorums vary from 5 to 20%.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Anti Allast.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The Speaker asks the Presiding Officer and the Rapporteur whether they observe any contradiction here between the bill proposing the prohibition of electoral alliances and the explanations repeatedly put forward by the party.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The rapporteur's message is that even though political parties in Estonia are not popular, they are vital for democracy, and the instability of electoral alliances should be addressed by strengthening the political parties themselves.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Helmen Kütt to speak.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt stated that the draft bill is welcome, and she supports both seeking public opinion and ensuring wider participation in local municipal politics, including the opportunity to run without a party affiliation. However, she pointed out that party ties could still exist, and consequently, she sees a contradiction in the bill that ought to be justified by studies.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge stresses that referendums increase citizen participation even outside of party membership, and the proposed bill would give women better opportunities in politics, given that women constitute a majority of the population.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asks why protests have erupted on the streets against the backdrop of the influence of European technocrats and the draft legislation, and whether there are restrictions on the possibility of holding referendums or on the required population size, and why this has reached the streets instead of leading to major referendums.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge emphasizes that historically, it is not possible to initiate referendums in Germany, and they are viewed with great distrust, as the undemocratic referendums of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union did not set a positive precedent. He also embarrassingly admits that he does not know the French referendum thresholds, and that the limitations on channeling legitimate protest might be too high.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech is merely a request to Anti Allas.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas expresses concern that the 10% threshold of voting-age residents is too easy to achieve, allowing the opposition to constantly maintain momentum, and questions whether the percentage required for initiators should be higher.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge said that an approximately 10% threshold is the European average, and it must be determined whether this is sufficient to avoid reckless proposals. He believes in the maturity of the people and pointed to poll results which show the sense of responsibility among Estonians and their lack of support for tripling pensions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
A brief request to Rain Epler is made in the speech.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler notes that in a democracy, action must be taken according to the mandate, criticizes Allas’s totalitarian assumptions, cites the example of Germany where blocking protests can turn into a de facto referendum, and emphasizes that the more restrictions are imposed, the greater the need to spend more to keep the populace in check, and ultimately the situation may still boil over, adding that the French protests seem more like a lifestyle.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge stresses that protests should be channeled into legitimate avenues, and the option of holding referendums could preempt the passing of legislation that runs contrary to the will of the majority, because history teaches us that it is better to implement reforms based on public opinion than to allow revolutions to occur.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Varro Vooglaid to speak.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vooglaid thanks the audience and asks whether there have been any specific, particularly bad examples of binding referendums in the democratic world. He then requests examples from the listeners so they can analyze them in more detail and discuss whether taking such steps is sensible.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge refutes the claims that it was easy to initiate referendums in Estonia during the 1930s. He further states that the economic crisis that occurred at the time was so severe that very few people remember it, and he stresses that discontent must be managed through legal means; otherwise, civil war could have broken out.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Evelin Poolamets to speak.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asks if the current law can resolve the situation surrounding Metsküla school, and whether it would provide a solution for the community.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He cites the Metsküla school as a good example and believes that if the Local Government Organization Act had included such an option, that kind of confrontation would not have arisen in Metsküla.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He/She thanked everyone and stated that there were no further questions, then invited Timo Suslov, a member of the Constitutional Committee, to take the floor and present the positions and decisions of the Steering Committee.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Overall, the committee held a brief discussion and decided to reject the draft bill and appoint Timo Suslov, a member of the Constitutional Committee, as the representative of the lead committee.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speaker thanks [the previous person], says he has a couple of questions, and asks Henn Põlluaas to take the floor.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas expresses his astonishment regarding the committee meeting, noting that there was no thorough discussion or reasoned decision, and the rejection was carried out without any justification whatsoever.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
A bill on the same topic had previously been under consideration; it was rejected by the full assembly on September 20, 2023, and a slightly more serious discussion followed. But since the topic was now before the committee in exactly the same form, there was apparently no extended debate.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The address contains only the request to call Evelin Poolamets to the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He thanks you and would like to know the reason why the bill was rejected.
Timo Suslov
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The proposed amendment to the Referendum Act leaves local governments with a binding obligation that is unbalanced and could lead to unforeseen problems. The government representative has already explained this, having also done so during the discussion of the previous draft bill.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi offered his thanks, announced the conclusion of the question period, opened the floor for debate, and invited Varro Vooglaid to speak on behalf of the EKRE faction. Vooglaid requested additional time and was granted three minutes.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid points out that while the ideals of democracy have been declared in Estonia, the reality reveals a significant disconnect: the rights to popular initiative and referendums disappeared following the 1934 coup d'état, and not a single referendum has been held for over twenty years. Consequently, the will of the people cannot practically exercise state power.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that the negotiations are concluding, and the leading committee's proposal to reject Bill 289 at the first reading will be put to a vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Forty-eight members of the Riigikogu voted in favor of the proposal, 13 voted against, and there were no abstentions; Draft Law 289 was rejected in the first reading and is removed from the legislative procedure.