The Riigikogu resumed the deliberation of the Motor Vehicle Tax Act and elected two Vice-Presidents

NordenBladet —

The Riigikogu decided not to pass again without amendments the  Motor Vehicle Tax Act (364 UA) which the President of the Republic had refused to promulgate. The Act was initiated by the Government and was passed on 12 June. It is intended to establish a motor vehicle tax which will consist of a component to be paid every year by motor vehicle owners on vehicles registered in the motor register and a component formed by the motor vehicle registration fee which will have to be paid upon the registration of passenger cars and vans in the motor register. The purpose of the motor vehicle tax will be to direct people to make more environmentally friendly choices when acquiring new vehicles and to support the use of old cars until the end of their useful life.

President Alar Karis refused to promulgate the Act on 25 June on account of its provisions violating the principle of equal treatment. He noted that although, under the Act, motor vehicles belonging to natural persons which had been specially  converted or adapted for the transport of disabled people or for use by disabled people were not subject to motor vehicle tax and no registration fee had to be paid for such vehicles, neither of the exemptions extended to people who had a mobility impairment that did not necessitate  conversion or adaptation of the vehicle. The President saw it necessary to discuss the Act again and to bring it into conformity with the Constitution.

During the debate, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, Vadim Belobrovtsev and Lauri Laats from the Centre Party Group, Martin Helme, Rain Epler and Rene Kokk from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group and Aivar Kokk from Isamaa Parliamentary Group took the floor. Non-attached Members of the Riigikogu Kalle Grünthal and Henn Põlluaas also made speeches.

No member of the Riigikogu supported the passing of the Act again without amendments and 93 voted against it. As the Riigikogu did not pass the Act again without amendments, the deadline for submission of motions to amend the Act was set, which is 4 p.m. on 19 July, and the further proceedings on it will continue pursuant to the general procedure.

The Riigikogu elected two Vice-Presidents at an extraordinary election

After the renewed deliberation of the Act, the Riigikogu elected Vice-Presidents at an extraordinary election. The election of the Vice-Presidents was held because the former Second Vice-President Jüri Ratas became a member of the European Parliament.

Chairman of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group Martin Helme nominated Arvo Aller as a candidate for a Vice-President, Chairman of the Reform Party Group Erkki Keldo nominated Toomas Kivimägi and Chairman of Isamaa Parliamentary Group Helir-Valdor Seeder nominated Urmas Reinsalu.

In a secret ballot, Aller gained 20 votes, Kivimägi 58 and Reinsalu 17. Thus, Toomas Kivimägi was elected as the First Vice-President of the Riigikogu and Arvo Aller was elected as the Second Vice-President. In total, 96 members of the Riigikogu took part in the secret ballot. One ballot paper was invalid.

At the beginning of the sitting, Member of the Riigikogu Vladimir Arhipov took the oath of office before the Riigikogu.

The sitting ended at 1.39 p.m.

Photos (Author: Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu resumed the deliberation of the Motor Vehicle Tax Act and elected two Vice-Presidents

Source: Parliament of Estonia