First reading of the Draft Act amending the Riigikogu Member's Status Act (339 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-03-20 19:59
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 61
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 42m
AI Summaries: 61/61 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The next item on the agenda involved debating Bill 339, initiated by the faction of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia, concerning the amendment of the Law on the Status of a Member of the Riigikogu. The bill aimed to repeal Section 30 of the Law on the Status of a Member of the Riigikogu, thereby abolishing parliamentary expense reimbursements. It was argued that the resulting savings of 1.4 million euros could be directed toward rural development, for instance, covering the maintenance costs of 25 rural schools for a year. During the review, participants cited both fairness and the current economic situation as justifications: while the government is implementing layoffs and budget cuts, the coalition side was advised to consider a more global distribution of resources and the bill's suitability within the contemporary context.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 339 is rejected at the first reading; the bill is dropped from the proceedings. Voting result: 32 in favor, 9 against.
Most Active Speaker
The most active representative who addressed the issue was Siim Pohlak (pid "Nm6t5Eds7aw"), a member of the EKRE faction, whose speeches focused on the political and ethical dimension of abolishing expense reimbursements. His position can be described as right-wing (right).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
We will now consider today's ninth item on the agenda: Bill 339, amending the Status of Riigikogu Member Act, initiated by the EKRE faction. Riigikogu member Siim Pohlak will present the bill as the rapporteur from the rostrum.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak stressed that the draft bill eliminates the expense allowances for Riigikogu members, which has a financial impact of 1.4 million euros, and that this money could be directed toward the development of rural areas—for example, to maintain 25 small rural schools for a year. He called on the coalition not to blindly adopt the bill, but rather to send it to the next reading so that the debate could continue and amendments could be made if necessary.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the presenter and announced that there were several questions, the first of which would be put to Mart Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme asks Siim how he himself leads by example and what his practice is regarding the use of expense allowances.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He has not used his expense reimbursements.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Next up is Arvo Aller.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller emphasizes that the Parliament should set an example during the current difficulties. We need to discuss the total volume of approximately 1.4 million euros and ask whether this amount was calculated before the salary increase or included it. Furthermore, abolishing expense allowances would be a demonstration of solidarity, because we stand with the people and are making efforts.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
This is still the old figure, and it does not account for the salary increase coming at the end of April or the effect of abolishing the tax bracket. Consequently, the total expense reimbursements will likely increase by about 600–800 euros.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The announcement states that Erkki Keldo is next.
Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Erkki Keldo commends the server for keeping their promise not to utilize expense reimbursements. He then highlights the EKRE faction’s “super-spenders,” Martin Helme and Rain Epler, and questions whether support for that stance still exists within the faction, simultaneously noting that EKRE abandoned its principles long ago and its members have turned into super-spenders.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak emphasized that everyone must be given an equal zero and that personal accusations must be avoided. He criticized the Reform Party and EKRE, using the comparison of "doping-clogs," and stated that the discussion could continue personally, species by species, until midnight.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invited Anti Allas to take the floor.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas notes that he is willing to allocate more funds to rural areas, but he questions whether permitted expenditures should be prohibited and how a member of the Riigikogu can cover the travel expenses necessary for carrying out their duties.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak stated that the draft bill needs to be moved from the floor to the next reading because there is extensive debate and a lack of consensus. Various solutions were proposed (such as establishing a budget for faction travel/delegations and legal assistance), and he called on everyone to contribute their thoughts, allow the bill to pass today, and continue the discussion later.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Evelin Poolamets to the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets voiced concern that the use of expense allowances has deteriorated significantly, drawing comparisons to doping. She simultaneously asked whether it might be possible to find a solution or alternative so that this practice would not be viewed in such a negative light.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
This is a matter for further discussion, where doping and Mr. Keldo are mentioned, and it is recalled that around two o'clock at night he took a taxi to meet with voters, paid for by expense reimbursements, and hope is expressed that the coalition will not vote the bill down.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called upon Rene Kokk to speak.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk recalled a humorous example of the Reform Party's lobbying efforts, which involved recommending that the car leasing limit be raised from 450 to 650. He then asked Siim if the draft legislation could proceed through the next readings instead of being rejected, confirming at the same time that the government had indeed submitted the car tax bill.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak believes in the goodness of people, hopes for the bill to move to the next readings, and thinks that the issue of car leasing could show the deputies firsthand how the car tax actually affects things. As long as expense compensations are being paid, it might not be too painful, but perhaps it will finally hit their own pockets, and that kind of practical experience might not be a bad thing.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks Varro Vooglaid to speak.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid points out that due to this year's 10% indexation, the salaries of the President, the Speaker of the Riigikogu, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and all members of the Riigikogu will increase. He denounces the subsequent potential waiver of expense allowances as unfair against the backdrop of the economic recession, while simultaneously seeking clarity on the meaning of Article 75 of the Constitution and whether it limits only the salary or also the expense allowances.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak said that the issue only concerns salary.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
He/She thanks and asks Karmen Joller.
Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Karmen Joller asks how the funding method could be fair and transparent and avoid creating the impression of hidden control or manipulation by political parties, pointing to the possibility that it might be connected to a party member who resigned due to the misuse of expense claims, and emphasizes that, to ensure honesty, the disclosure of costs arising from private business should be mandatory, even in the business activities related to her own professional background.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak said that his answer to Mr. Allas was improvised and is not the official position of the faction, stating that the matter should be discussed. He offered various solutions and hopes that others will also present proposals, rather than simply voting down our draft bill. He added that the less bureaucracy and fewer obligations there are for entrepreneurs, the better it is, noting that the administrative costs of expense compensations are large and this whole system could be left out of parliament entirely.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that there would be a round of questions, and he would first take Varro Vooglaid’s question concerning the procedure for conducting the sitting, followed by the questions from Henn Põlluaas and Karmen Joller.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid requests procedural advice and asks Mr. Keldo what different videos he has produced concerning expense reimbursements, asserting that he has only made one video—an overview of the Riigikogu’s previous working year—and wishes to know what the problem entails.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stated that it is not possible to conduct procedural discussions here, and those must instead be carried out during a committee debate, which the committee chairman will present. Furthermore, according to the House Rules and Procedures Act, we do not have such an option available to us. Henn Põlluaas is next.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas stated that the coalition responds very actively and immediately to the issue of expense reimbursements. He recalled EKRE’s long-standing demand over many years to reduce these payments and asked whether the new draft bill would actually yield any benefit, such as a reduction in car leasing costs.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak said that the discussion devolved into personal attacks, and the substantive discussion was lacking when addressing the topic. He hopes that the bill reaches the next reading and that the matter can be discussed further, because the current procedure is problematic, and most of the chamber agrees with that.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Karmen Joller to speak.
Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Karmen Joller said she was pleased that EKRE hadn't walked out of the hall and that a discussion was possible, but she remained skeptical about whether their goal was to make expense reimbursements invisible so that taxpayers wouldn't see what Riigikogu members are spending money on.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak emphasized that expense allowances must be abolished, recalling that his party colleague Kivimägi wanted to make them "blind" (i.e., untraceable lump sums), but his primary wish is to eliminate them altogether.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
At the beginning of the speech, Mart Helme is requested to be called.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme said that the draft bill to abolish expense compensations is clear, and if the format is unsuitable, it needs to be processed and a solution must be found. However, the opposition is mocking and accusing, asking, "Why are you so utterly ridiculous?"
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He urged everyone not to immediately press the red button if they didn't want the green one, but instead to let the draft bill proceed and see what we can do with it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked the rapporteur, said that there were no further questions, and noted that before Hendrik Terras, the Chairman of the Constitutional Committee, he requests a discussion of the procedure for conducting the sitting; Rene Kokk, please.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk noted that the situation requires resolution and review, promised to offer solutions regarding expense reimbursements, and asked the board whether the draft bill would receive support today and whether the board would get on board with us.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar stated that the board is considering and assessing the situation, and is very actively monitoring whether Riigikogu members incur work-related expenses. Following this, he invited Hendrik Johannes Terras, the Chairman of the Riigikogu Constitutional Committee, to the speaker's rostrum.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
The commission decided to reject the draft bill and emphasized that the complete abolition of expense reimbursements could interfere with the work of the Riigikogu, therefore the focus should be on restrictions on reasonable expenses and considering specific measures, such as ending car leasing, as well as emphasizing ethical behavior and media oversight.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the presenter, says there are still a few questions, and asks Siim Pohlak to pose them.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak asks the chairman of the Constitutional Committee to give his word of honor that the draft bill, if it passes the chamber, will move forward at a normal pace and won't be shelved somewhere for two months.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras said that the topic is important, but the format of the discussion is not the best, and the Council of Elders should be the place to find an agreement. Furthermore, the fact that the bill reached this chamber right now is definitely not the fault of the Constitutional Committee, and we processed the bill entirely in a timely manner.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman addresses Evelin Poolamets and asks her to speak.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asked the chair of the session and the rapporteur how far along the negotiations with the Council of Elders were, whether the topic had already been discussed, and what the general direction or outlook was there.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Unfortunately, I am not a member of the Parents' Council, and therefore I cannot comment on their internal discussion. However, following that discussion, I raised the issue and spoke with the members of the Parents' Council.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Arvo Aller to deliver a speech.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller said that the bill is good and must be moved forward, but the committee seems to be looking for reasons not to support it. He pointed to the problems associated with abolishing expense allowances, stated that solutions exist, and asked whether the committee had discussed supporting the draft legislation submitted by EKRE.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Hendrik Johannes Terras points out that the bill is essentially a single line and genuinely requires more extensive discussion. Given that the initiator has already stated the matter needs further deliberation, the current structure becomes pointless. Consequently, the Council of Elders should first hold a discussion, and only then, based on those findings, should the amendment be introduced to this chamber, as it impacts everyone’s work, and it would be proper if all factions were in consensus.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman asks Rene Kokk to take the floor.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk points out that e-voting in Estonia should not be abolished simply out of fear of public backlash, and asks whether the same argument could be used to obstruct further discussion of this bill, since many parliament members might become angry.
Hendrik Johannes Terras
AI Summary
Terras said that it was not a sound argument, but rather a part of the committee's discussion, and was neutral in its nature. He added that he currently cannot assess the mood of the Riigikogu members should the bill pass.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the rapporteur, announces that there are no further questions, and before opening the debate, he raises a question regarding the procedure for conducting the sitting and calls upon Siim Pohlak.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak noted that the draft bill reached the chamber late, possibly because the board had stalled, and proposed annulling the paragraph under the current procedure in order to address the topic again and avoid a debate lasting several years without a solution.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that the draft legislation had been placed on the agenda for today's discussion. He then opened the floor for debate and invited Anti Allas of the Social Democratic Party faction to speak, requesting an additional three minutes of time for him.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas emphasized that although the draft bill appears populist and raises questions about the Riigikogu’s reputation, the necessary work-related expense compensation should not be removed from the legislation. Instead, the board should adjust the expense items and take regional policy objectives into consideration, noting that while some expenditures could be eliminated or covered differently, many expenses are still essential for performing the job.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar, responding to a question from Siim Pohlak, explained that the draft bill sent to the Riigikogu chamber on January 10th could not be included that day due to the tight schedule, but it is present today and will be debated during the discussions. He then invited Rene Koka, representing the EKRE faction, to the podium.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk urged the coalition and the opposition to jointly adopt and implement regulations regarding expense reimbursements and car leasing. He recalled instances of past lobbying and misuse, and emphasized the necessity of seeking consensus.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar announced that the negotiations have concluded, and the Riigikogu will vote on the leading committee's proposal to reject draft bill 339 at the first reading.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman announced that Bill 339 received 32 votes in favor and 9 against, and is therefore dropped from the proceedings. Furthermore, because the draft resolution submitted by the EKRE faction could not be brought to the floor due to the absence of its representative, the agenda item could not be opened, and the session concluded peacefully for the evening.