By Months: Urmas Reinsalu
Total Months: 11
Fully Profiled: 11
12.2024
78 Speeches
The legislative focus is on opposing the 2025 state budget and associated tax legislation (including the car tax and excises), by voting against these measures. He/She actively submits amendments, seeking to propose alternatives to the planned tax hikes. Furthermore, he/she criticizes the government for incorporating a provision into the car tax law that restricts property rights (specifically, the right of the holder of vehicles deleted from the register to scrap them). He/She also initiated changes to the State Budget Base Law aimed at restoring parliamentary oversight regarding the transparency of expenditures.
11.2024
100 Speeches
The legislative focus is primarily on the 2025 state budget bill and tax legislation, including the submission of bills to abolish the motor vehicle tax and the land tax. A significant priority is also amending the Constitution to restrict voting rights in local elections exclusively to Estonian citizens, opposing the coalition's proposal to retain these rights for stateless persons. [The subject] criticizes the government for the poor quality preparation of legislative bills (such as the Climate Act) and the lack of proper engagement.
10.2024
57 Speeches
The legislative focus is on budget and finance laws, where the speaker is the primary opponent, demanding cuts in government expenditure and the rejection of the supplementary budget. Also prioritized is the formal enactment of the national defense investment plan (long-range ammunition worth 1.6 billion euros) through a parliamentary decision. He/She is an active opponent of draft legislation that increases bureaucracy (the sustainability report) and changes to social policy (parental benefits).
09.2024
27 Speeches
The main legislative focus is on the submission of the draft bill for the repeal of the car tax law. He sharply criticizes the government's budget draft and the vital services bill, as it results in up to 400 additional jobs in the private sector and hundreds in the public sector, violating the government's promise to reduce bureaucracy. He also demands compliance with the Rules of Procedure Act concerning the questioning of the Prime Minister and the European Commission candidate.
07.2024
23 Speeches
The primary focus is challenging the proposed car tax legislation, highlighting its unconstitutionality (citing the required six-month advance notification). [The group/party] is demanding the adoption of a negative supplementary budget to reduce government spending, as well as the postponement of the Reform Party's planned tax hike. Furthermore, they initiated a motion of no confidence against Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet over his previous political positions.
06.2024
40 Speeches
The main legislative priorities involve opposing the Motor Vehicle Tax Act and the Land Tax Act by submitting numerous amendments and procedural obstacles. It presented an alternative supplementary budget package that proposed reducing government expenditures and postponing the Reform Party's tax hike. It initiated a draft resolution to declare the results of the Russian presidential elections illegitimate.
05.2024
63 Speeches
The speaker is an active proponent and opponent in the legislative process. He supports the swift implementation of the law concerning the use of Russian frozen assets. Furthermore, he has proposed amendments aimed at cutting government spending and delaying the planned tax bracket increase (or "tax hump"). He is vehemently opposed to the government's proposed tax hikes and sharply criticizes the Riigikogu board's handling of legislation (for example, the practice of bundling amendments).
04.2024
11 Speeches
The legislative focus is on opposing the government's tax package (including the sugary drinks tax and the abolition of the pension income tax exemption) and proposing the removal of these bills from the agenda. An important priority is also ensuring compliance with the Parliament's Rules of Procedure Act when processing amendments, specifically referencing the bill for the transposition of the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive.
03.2024
10 Speeches
The primary legislative focus is on overseeing and restraining the government's actions. A draft resolution is being submitted for the formation of a Riigikogu investigative committee to look into circumstances related to the activities of the Minister of Justice and the Prosecutor's Office. Furthermore, it proposes that the government formulate a decision not to recognize Vladimir Putin’s mandate as legitimate.
02.2024
33 Speeches
The speaker is primarily an opponent of government bills (such as the car tax law) and a proponent of procedural requirements (specifically, addressing the lack of an impact analysis). He has filed an interpellation concerning the Prime Minister's family business, proposed the formation of a Riigikogu investigative committee to look into business activities connected with Russia, and submitted an energy security proposal.
01.2024
5 Speeches
The primary legislative and strategic focus is on developing the new state budget strategy for the next four years and critically reviewing the proposed tax increases. Furthermore, there is an emphasis on the need to accelerate the utilization of European Union funds and other investments.