Interpellation Concerning the Undermining of the State's Foundations (No. 523)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-04-01 18:26
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 57
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 47m
AI Summaries: 57/57 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item was the interpellation submitted to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas by Riigikogu members Mart Maastik, Riina Solman, and others on May 22, 2023, concerning the destruction of the state's foundations, which focused on redefining the concept of marriage. The interpellation was introduced by Varro Vooglaid, who posed three questions: why the Reform Party's desire to destroy the concept of marriage was concealed before the elections; why the gender-neutral marriage bill was pushed through in an expedited manner, even though polls showed opposition; and whether the Prime Minister understands that voters did not give a mandate for this, and such activity divides society.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas responded, emphasizing the principle of representative democracy, where a mandate is not given for specific promises. She argued that by legalizing marriage equality, the concept of marriage was brought into compliance with the Constitution, citing Supreme Court rulings that protect the right of same-sex persons to family life. Kallas denied the claim that the majority of the population opposed the law, and justified linking the bill to a vote of confidence by citing the 728 amendment proposals submitted by the opposition. During the debate, the opposition (Varro Vooglaid, Martin Helme, Mart Helme, Anti Poolamets) sharply criticized the Prime Minister's legal argumentation, especially the claim that the previous definition of marriage was not in compliance with the Constitution. Kallas was also reproached for evading the questions, implementing "cultural Marxist" ideas, and refusing to put minority rights to a referendum, citing the demographic crisis and the traditional role of the family as the foundation of society.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made
Most Active Speaker
Varro Vooglaid (right) was the most active speaker as the representative of the interpellators, submitting the inquiry, asking a clarifying question, and delivering a long, critical speech during the debate concerning the Prime Minister's responses.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Today, we are discussing the interpellation concerning the destruction of the foundations of the state, which was submitted on May 22nd last year. Riigikogu member Varro Vooglaid has been invited to give the presentation.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vooglaid submitted an interpellation, framed in the spirit of Easter, in which he raised three questions concerning the Reform Party’s marriage plans: why the intention to destroy the concept of traditional marriage was concealed, why the gender-neutral marriage bill is being hastily pushed through, and whether voters have actually given a mandate to alter marriage in a way that could divide Estonian society.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked [the participants/the house] and invited Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to the Riigikogu rostrum to respond to the interpellation.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas confirmed that Estonia is a representative democracy and that ensuring marriage equality is grounded in the Constitution and Supreme Court rulings. Voters have not given a mandate to change the definition of marriage, and therefore, rushing the bill would have been a forced move, even though the issue continues to generate ongoing debate in society and the media.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks everyone and announces that the Prime Minister has at least one question, and asks Jaak Valge to present his question.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge notes that historically, attitudes towards family and homosexuality have been variable, and asks how long the current left-wing stance, which favors homosexuality and devalues the family, will last.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stresses that families can be diverse and that same-sex couples can also marry, which will lead to an increase in marriages and stronger family ties.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar addresses Varro Vooglaid and says, "Please."
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vooglaid asks whether the definition of marriage between a man and a woman, which had been in force for 32 years, was unconstitutional, and whether bringing it into compliance after the 1992 Constitution entered into effect was the right step.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasized, in light of the Supreme Court's rulings, that the constitution protects family life and the right of same-sex individuals to live together in Estonia, and that restrictions must not depend on sex or sexual orientation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Martin Helme to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme asserts that the actions taken by liberals in the Supreme Court constitute an attempt to redefine the family and replace the traditional family. He emphasizes the importance of the family consisting of one man, one woman, and their children, and questions how same-sex marriages and the re-conceptualization of the family will help resolve Estonia's birth crisis.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasizes that the registration of marriage for homosexual couples does not affect heterosexual marriage or the nature of families, and that the rights of all families are equal, citing Hungarian and Estonian demographic data.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Kert Kingo to the stage.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo accuses Kaja Kallas, claiming that before the last elections she confirmed that the definition of marriage would not be changed and that it was already sufficiently regulated, and she asks why Kallas lied to the public.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Kaja Kallas confirms that she has not lied to the Estonian people.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman calls upon Mart Helme to speak.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme says that withholding the truth is not the same as lying, confirms that Kert spoke the truth, and warns that people should not stick their noses into other people's family business.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas asks jokingly what others want to do themselves.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme claims that politicians invoke “European values” but are actually preoccupied with domestic social issues, citing the legalization of cannabis in Germany and same-sex marriages as examples, and questioning whether these are the true values they are fighting to uphold.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speech says it is your time to act.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker suggests that polygyny or polyandry could soon be included among European values, because Arab and Islamic influence is penetrating Europe very powerfully.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman announces that it is now time for Mart Helme to act.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme asks you to explain what European values are, at least in terms of family.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announces that Mart Helme will take the floor, and he calls upon the Madam Prime Minister.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stresses that people shouldn't poke their noses into the family matters of others, and since the marriage registration of existing couples doesn't impact anyone, we need to agree to simply stay out of it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Priit Sibul to the stage.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul asks whether the state and society should idealize certain themes and what those themes ought to be, pointing out that, in his view, the family as an ideal has been lost today, and questioning what we should value at all.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that while the ideal is a two-parent family, in reality there are different kinds of families, and they must have the same rights as everyone else, and the pursuit of that ideal must not ignore them.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller is asking why a referendum wasn't organized concerning the redefinition of the concept of marriage and the designation of same-sex partnerships as marriage, asserting that holding a referendum would settle the issue once and for all.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Arvo Aller to take the floor.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that minority rights will not be put to a referendum because they concern people who live in a partnership and do not concern your family or mine; the rest align with their own ideals.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal asks Kaja Kallas to list the "European values," claiming that there are six of them.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman called Kalle Grünthal to speak.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Kaja Kallas says that she is not in some kind of school lesson here where she has to answer, and the audience's behavior feels like a test to her.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar asks Anti Poolamets to come and speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets accused the prime minister of misleading us on the topic of same-sex marriage, claiming that referendums held on the matter are, in her opinion, contradictory to democracy. He further stated that this issue is rooted in Marxism and Communism, which have undermined Western societies, and asked for a justification.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
He/She emphasizes that he/she does not idealize the communist era and is not that interested in studying the history of same-sex marriages, because he/she has different interests.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the Prime Minister and announces that before the debate begins, there are two questions regarding the procedure for conducting the sitting, and he calls upon Kert Kingo.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo asks the chairperson whether Kaja Kallas's claim that minority rights are not put to a referendum is correct, where exactly this is regulated, and where he could learn more about the topic.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker of the Riigikogu, Lauri Hussar, stated that in the given case, this was the Prime Minister's answer to a question from a member of the Riigikogu, and it must be taken as such: the Speaker does not provide assessments of questions or answers, and the procedure does not allow for such an assessment; Jaak Valge, a question regarding the procedure for conducting the session.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge proposes that if the Prime Minister answers the question evasively, attention should be drawn to this and a direct answer demanded, and furthermore, that referendums should not be held on the topic of minority rights, while citing examples that 14 European countries have held referendums on same-sex marriage.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked the colleague, noting that the presiding officer intervenes only when questions stray off-topic, and if the discussion remains relevant, he opens the floor for debate and asks the representative of the interpellators at the Riigikogu podium, Mr. Varro Vooglaid, to speak first.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid claims that the Prime Minister's assertion regarding the constitutionality of legalizing same-sex marriage is inadequate and laughable, arguing that while defining marriage exclusively between a man and a woman was not in conflict with the constitution, it was not explicitly in accordance with it either, and the Supreme Court has never, in any situation, stated that this definition must be redefined.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks if the audience wants extra time.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid is accusing someone of a knowing and intentional lie, and says he doesn't want any extra time, thank you.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
He thanked them and asked to give the floor to Martin Helme.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He wants to take eight minutes right now.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar requests three minutes of extra time.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme accuses the Reform Party of cultural Marxism, stressing the need to protect the traditional family and the continuity of the Estonian nation, and promises to revert the definition of the family—whether through a referendum or by other means.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanks [the previous speaker] and invites Mart Helme to the Riigikogu rostrum.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accused the Reform Party of having a communist tint and suppressing democracy. He demanded concrete answers regarding European values and the definition of victory in the war, and also made a joke about Germany legalizing cannabis, stressing that more substance and less propaganda are required.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offers his sincere thanks and invites Anti Poolamets to step up to the Riigikogu podium.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets is asking for more time.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar requested three minutes of extra time.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets warned that a program for dismantling Western society—implemented through the 1848 Communist Party Manifesto and the ideas of Herbert Marcuse—is restricting freedom of speech and destroying families and traditional values, a program he accuses the current coalition and the prime minister of carrying out, while calling for resistance and its termination.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concludes the handling of today's second agenda item, as there are no further requests to speak and Madam Prime Minister does not wish to take the floor.