The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the Bill on amendments to the Family Law Act

The Bill on Amendments to the Family Law Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (207 SE), initiated by the Government, provides that two adults will be allowed to contract marriage regardless of their gender. The Bill also provides for the adoption of the implementing acts of the Registered Partnership Act.

The Bill will specify the regulation on filiation in the Family Law Act in connection with same-sex couples’ right to adopt. Same-sex spouses will get the right to adopt together through marriage equality. A spouse of the same sex will be able to adopt a child with the consent of the biological parent of the child. The Bill sets out the principle that a child may not have more than two parents. The principle that in particular the biological parents have the rights and obligations relating to the child will be maintained. The female spouse of the mother will have the relationship of filiation with the child when she grants her consent to the artificial insemination of the mother.

The Bill will also adopt the amendments so that the rights and obligations arising from the Registered Partnership Act adopted in 2014 could be realised to the full extent in practice. According to the Bill, the rights and obligations arising directly from registered partnership contract will remain the same compared to the current law. It will be possible for a registered partner to adopt only their registered partner’s child.

Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo who made a report answered questions during several hours. Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee Eduard Odinets gave an overview of the discussion that had been held in the Social Affairs Committee.

During the debate, representatives of parliamentary groups Riina Solman (Isamaa), Liisa-Ly Pakosta (Estonia 200), Varro Vooglaid (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Eduard Odinets (Social Democratic Party), Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart (Centre Party) and Yoko Alender (Reform Party) took the floor.

The whole discussion took place in a tense atmosphere that was accompanied by numerous points of order.

Isamaa Parliamentary Group and the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. The result of voting: 27 votes in favour, 53 against. The motion was not supported. The first reading was concluded and the deadline for motions to amend was set for 5 June.

The Riigikogu passed two Resolutions

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Removal of Members and Appointment of New Members of the Supervisory Board of the Foundation Environmental Investment Centre” (209 OE), initiated by the Environment Committee, removes Kalvi Kõva, Kaido Höövelson, Erkki Keldo and Üllar Saaremäe from the Supervisory Board of the Foundation Environmental Investment Centre and appoints members of the Riigikogu Reili Rand, Maido Ruusmann, Tarmo Tamm and Mart Maastik to the Supervisory Board of the Foundation Environmental Investment Centre.

According to the Environmental Charges Act, four of the members of the Supervisory Board of the Foundation Environmental Investment Centre are appointed by a decision of the Riigikogu on a proposal of the Environmental Committee. Besides the members of the Riigikogu, the Foundation Environmental Investment Centre also includes four other members appointed by the authority exercising the founder’s rights. The Minister of the Environment is a member of the Supervisory Board of the Foundation by virtue of their post. Members of the supervisory board are appointed to office for five years. The appointing authority has the right to remove a member of the supervisory board at any time.

Rain Epler (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor during the debate.

75 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution, one was against and there was one abstention.

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Appointment of Members of the Supervisory Board of the State Forest Management Centre” (210 OE), initiated by the Environment Committee, appoints members of the Riigikogu Yoko Alender and Jevgeni Ossinovski to the Supervisory Board of the State Forest Management Centre.

According to the Forest Act, the supervisory board of the State Forest Management Centre comprises of nine members, including two members appointed by a resolution of the Riigikogu. The term of office of a member of the supervisory board appointed by the Riigikogu terminates upon the termination of the term of office of the person as a member of the Riigikogu.

Rain Epler (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor during the debate.

73 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.

Prime Minister began replying to interpellations.

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas replied to the interpellation concerning the record low birth rate and the plan to reduce allowances related to children, submitted by members of the Riigikogu.

Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting, the hearing of answers to questions will continue at tomorrow’s sitting.

Tomorrow, Prime Minister will also reply to the interpellations concerning the population crisis and Ukrainian men of mobilisation age who have received temporary and international protection in Estonia, submitted by members of the Riigikogu.

Substitute member Züleyxa Izmailova took the oath of office at the sitting of the Riigikogu.

Today’s sitting of the Riigikogu started at 3 p.m. and again began with the delivery of Bills and draft Resolutions, submission of interpellations, and numerous points of order.

After the opening of sitting had lasted for two hours and a quarter, the Board of the Riigikogu discussed on the initiative of President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar how it would be possible for the Riigikogu to also perform its other functions arising from the Constitution, among other things to adopt laws and Resolutions. In order that it would be possible to start discussing today’s agenda, two members of the Board of the Riigikogu, Lauri Hussar and Toomas Kivimägi, proposed to stop the delivery of Bills and draft Resolutions and interpellations for today’s sitting, the plenary sitting of 22 May.

Chair of the sitting, Vice-President of the Riigikogu Toomas Kivimägi explained: “The initiation of Bills and draft Resolutions and the submission of interpellations is a right of a member of the Riigikogu which is guaranteed by the Constitution. At the same time, the right to submit interpellations must not hinder the Riigikogu from performing other work.” He noted that, therefore two members of the Board had proposed to stop the accepting of Bills and draft Resolutions and interpellations for that day under clause 18 of subsection 2 of § 13 of the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act. The Board did not reach a consensus on this issue. As is known, Resolutions of the Board enter into force if the resolutions are based on consensus. “Member of the Board Jüri Ratas reiterated his position of 15 and 16 May this year that he did not support such a proposal and he did not agree to holding a vote on such an issue,” Kivimägi said. Ratas supported the practice that the delivery of Bills and draft Resolutions and interpellations was not limited.

As the Board did not reach a consensus, members of the Board Lauri Hussar and Toomas Kivimägi wished to put the issue to the vote at the sitting of the Riigikogu without including it in the agenda under the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act.

The result of voting: 50 votes in favour, one abstention. After that, at 5.45 p.m., the Riigikogu began to discuss the items on its agenda

The sitting ended at 11.59pm.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recordings of the sittings of the Riigikogu can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/riigikogu. (Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Riigikogu Press Service 
Gunnar Paal, +372 631 6351, +372 5190 2837
gunnar.paal@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the Bill on amendments to the Family Law Act

Source: Parliament of Estonia