Suffrage
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, press briefing.
Date: 2024-03-20 15:14
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 16m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today's sixth question during the Riigikogu information hour focused on the topic of voting rights. It was posed by Riina Solman (Isamaa) to Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200), who was fulfilling the duties of the Prime Minister. Solman criticized the coalition's inability to implement the point stipulated in the coalition agreement regarding the suspension of voting rights for citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus in local elections, stressing that experts deem a constitutional amendment unavoidable. She asked when the change would be realized, given the limited time available. Minister Tsahkna affirmed his and the Eesti 200 party's support for restricting the voting rights of citizens of the aggressor state but admitted that no legal solution has been found that avoids amending the constitution. He warned that passing legislation without constitutional certainty would cause greater disruption (Supreme Court review) and strain society at a time when the reform for transitioning to Estonian-language schooling is being implemented. In Tsahkna's assessment, the only certain path is amending the constitution, which requires 81 votes and is challenging time-wise, considering the local elections scheduled for October 2025. Additionally, Solman brought up the idea of granting voting rights to children from birth (to be exercised by a parent), which Tsahkna enthusiastically supported, seeing it as an opportunity to increase the political influence of families with children.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Riina Solman was an active questioner who first brought up the failure to implement the coalition agreement (specifically, restricting the voting rights of citizens from aggressor states) and then presented the innovative idea of granting children the right to vote from birth (to be exercised by the parent). Minister Tsahkna provided a long and supportive response to this. Solman represents the opposition (Isamaa party).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Today in the Riigikogu, Riina Solman questioned Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, who was acting in the capacity of the Prime Minister, regarding the right to vote.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman emphasized the need to quickly implement the legal framework outlined in the coalition agreement for suspending the voting rights of Russian and Belarusian citizens in local and presidential elections, doing so without amending the constitution, because time is running out.
Välisminister Margus Tsahkna
AI Summary
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stressed that Estonia must consider revoking or suspending the voting rights of citizens of the aggressor state in local government elections. However, he noted that there is no definitive solution without amending the constitution, and the only sure path forward is a constitutional amendment, which the coalition needs to debate.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked [the previous speaker/the situation] and asked Riina Solman to pose a clarifying question.
Riina Solman
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Riina Solman criticized the government for ignoring the interests of large families and relegating their special protection to the background, and she reiterated the idea that a child's voice should be heard in politics through their parents, achieving which would require changing the election law.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the questioner and notes that the topic does not concern voting rights, requesting the minister’s answer if necessary.
Välisminister Margus Tsahkna
AI Summary
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna proposed granting voting rights starting from birth, noting that this right could apply at age 16 for local elections and age 18 for Riigikogu (parliamentary) elections. He also introduced a mechanism under which a child's voting rights would be exercised through their parents until they reach the age of majority, emphasizing the necessity of a debate and the continuation of cooperation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar called upon Mart Maastik to ask a follow-up question.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik voiced surprise and criticism regarding the coalition agreement's plan to strip voting rights from third-country nationals. He pointed out that this requires a constitutional amendment and 81 votes, and demanded a short, impactful, and rapid plan for how to quickly pass it in the Riigikogu, arguing that since there is a war raging in Europe, there is no time to wait.
Välisminister Margus Tsahkna
AI Summary
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that the coalition is considering restricting the voting rights of citizens of the aggressor state through constitutional amendment, but the decision is difficult given the requirement for 81 votes and the tight timeframe, and must be made before the 2025 local elections. At the same time, the major reform of Estonian-language schools continues, and there are disagreements between the political parties.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Thank you. I conclude the handling of today's sixth question, and before moving on to the seventh question, Rain Epler has his hand raised, asking about the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Rain Epler
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Rain Epler criticizes his colleagues for attempting to dictate the wording of the questions and interfere with the minister’s explanation. He emphasizes that the debate must proceed because the question posed regarding voting rights has been answered, and in his view, the quibbling was inappropriate.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked his colleague for drawing attention to the necessity of clarifying the question, noted that there are members in the faction who precisely define general questions in order to reduce confusion and allow the minister to prepare better, and conceded that linking the number of children to the weight of a vote might be an electoral rights issue that will be discussed further, although the central issue is the right to vote granted to citizens of aggressor states in local elections.