The Riigikogu discussed points of order

The members focused on the question of whether the agenda could be approved on Tuesday’s sitting in so far as, according to the law, the Riigikogu approves the agenda for the working week at the first sitting of the working week of the plenary assembly. When replying to questions, Vice-President of the Riigikogu Toomas Kivimägi, who chaired the sitting of the Riigikogu, said that, within the meaning of the Act, the Riigikogu approved the agenda at the first opportunity.

The Riigikogu also discussed how to find a compromise between the opposition and the coalition. Kivimägi admitted that, as to the Bill concerning the proposed tax changes, there was a theoretical possibility for the Government to withdraw it and to submit the proposals again as separate Bills in order to discuss every tax separately. In his words, that was highly likely if that helped to end the obstruction in the Riigikogu. Kivimägi also noted that willingness from both sides was needed for a compromise.

Vice-President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas who began chairing the sitting at noon said that in his opinion the situation that had arisen could be overcome through a discussion in the Council of Elders. However, even if the Council were not to convene, the Board of the Riigikogu was due to convene after the sitting to discuss the situation.

According to the draft agenda for this working week, the Bill on Amendments to the Family Benefits Act and to the Act on Amendments to the Family Benefits Act, the Family Law Act and the Employment Contracts Act (17 SE), initiated by the Government, should have been at the first reading at yesterday’s sitting of the Riigikogu.

The interpellations concerning the reduction of benefits to large families (No. 6) and the means-tested basis of family benefits (No. 8), submitted by members of the Riigikogu, should have been on the agenda for today’s sitting according to plan.

The next sitting of the Riigikogu will start at 2 pm tomorrow. The sitting will continue until all items on the agenda will have been dealt with, but no longer than until the beginning of the sitting on Thursday.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
Phone: +372 631 6592, +372 510 6179
E-mail: merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu discussed points of order

Source: Parliament of Estonia