NordenBladet — The Riigikogu celebrated its 100th anniversary with a special sitting, where the President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas and President of the Republic Kersti Kaljulaid made speeches.

The President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas pointed out that just around the same time one hundred years ago, 117 men and women had convened in the Estonia Concert Hall. They could rightfully consider themselves the first people’s representatives in Estonia.

“Those brave men and women had no way of taking a lead from external models to solve their complicated tasks, unlike us.  There simply were no good role models. Europe was only just coming out of a devastating world war,” Põlluaas noted. He emphasised: “They made their decisions fearlessly and independently. They did not think about the opinions of others. They thought about what the decisions should be like to serve the best interests of the Estonian state and nation. Their support base was their own people, the greatest possible foundation.”

In his speech, Põlluaas stressed the importance of public initiative. “Public initiatives and referendums were viewed as instruments of democracy, not as means for political parties to push their agendas. Just as it is in every country where direct democracy complements representative democracy,” Põlluaas said.

The Constituent Assembly existed for 19 months and 28 days, holding 170 sittings in five sessions. The Constituent Assembly had a wide grasp. “However, the main focus was on two topics: the passing of the Land Act, and, second, the drafting of the Constitution, the foundation of our nationhood, on which to build up the Republic of Estonia and to cement the everlasting dream of our nation – to be the masters in our own country,” Põlluaas noted.

“We have survived destructive historical storms; we persevered and restored our country. We have something to be proud of. I really hope that the members of the current Riigikogu will not forget the democratic and noble principles of the founders of the Republic of Estonia and the Constituent Assembly,” the President of the Riigikogu stressed.

President of the Republic Kersti Kaljulaid said that the parliament was a place to which different opinions convened. “They must be debated and discussed here. The parliament is a place where the people’s representatives most reasonably find their points of agreement, because we all have different wishes and opinions, and our points of agreement can indeed come out only in the course of reasonable discussions,” the President underlined.

“The Riigikogu is the representation of our people, and thus a model for our people. Your every word and opinion is under heightened scrutiny, and shapes the attitude towards not only you but the whole of our country,” the President said. She added that the same also went for the decisions taken in that session hall. If a representative body of a country has turned a hundred years old, citizens require great maturity and a greater responsibility of it, a deeper work on decisions.

“A hundred years ago, there was a lot of enthusiasm and, understandably, little parliamentary experience in the “Estonia” concert hall. By now, we have a sufficient experience, and I would very much like to hope that enthusiasm will never be lacking. We will have a more steadfast Estonia when we respect each other,” Kaljulaid emphasised.

In conclusion, the President repeated what had been said in that session hall at the beginning of April: the spirit of our Constitution is alive when we use democratic values as citizens and patriots of Estonia and let others use them as well.

Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, Chairman of the Administrative Chamber Ivo Pilving, Auditor General Janar Holm and Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise made welcoming speeches, discussing various aspects of the history and activity of the parliament.

On 23 April 1919, the first representative body elected by the people in independent Estonia – the Constituent Assembly – convened in Tallinn. The representative body who adopted the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Land Act, and solved other issues of vital importance for the Republic of Estonia, acted as a parliament. The decisions of the Constituent Assembly laid the foundation for the Republic of Estonia.

At the special sitting, the chamber choir “Collegium Musicale” under conductor Kristel Marandi created a festive atmosphere.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet —

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — Today at 12 noon, the Riigikogu is holding a special sitting to celebrate its 100th anniversary. This will begin with an opening address by Henn Põlluaas.

“The Constituent Assembly shaped Estonia’s developmental avenues as the first representative body. It declared that the people of Estonia wanted to live independently in a nation state. Forever, as our Constitution also confirms,” said Põlluaas. He emphasised that we have survived destructive historical storms, we have persevered and restored our country. “We have something to be proud of. I really hope that the members of the current Riigikogu will not forget the democratic and noble principles of the founders of the Republic of Estonia and the Constituent Assembly,” the President of the Riigikogu stressed.

President of the Republic Kersti Kaljulaid will also speak at the sitting, as will Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, Chairman of the Administrative Law Chamber Ivo Pilving, Auditor General Janar Holm, and Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise.

On 23 April 1919, the first representative body elected by the independent Estonian nation – the Constituent Assembly – convened in Tallinn. The Assembly was essentially our first parliament, passing the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of Estonia, and the Land Act, and solving other issues of vital importance for the Republic of Estonia. The decisions of the Constituent Assembly formed the foundation of the Republic of Estonia.

The festive spirit is heightened by the chamber choir Collegium Musicale, under conductor Kristel Marandi.

The sitting will be streamed live.

More information on the anniversary week of the Riigikogu can be found on the home page of the Riigikogu.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — Today at 1 p.m., the President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas will open the travelling exhibition Riigikogu 100, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Riigikogu, in the Governor’s Garden. The exhibition presents the century-long history of the Estonian representative bodies, and covers the activities of the Estonian Provincial Assembly, the Constituent Assembly, and the Riigikogu.

Põlluaas said that the Riigikogu is starting its anniversary week with a homage to the one hundred years long parliamentary history. “The exhibition will remind us of the significant contribution of the Constituent Assembly and the Riigikogu to the building of the Republic of Estonia and its parliament,” the President of the Riigikogu noted. He invited everyone to visit the exhibition, which will remain open in the Governor’s Garden until 27 May.

The exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the parliament is designed as a street, with pairs of houses on both sides representing the decades in the history of the national assemblies. The exhibition is accompanied by texts and pictures in the styles of the time. Historical figures and events can be seen through the doors and windows.

The exhibition covers two long periods: the years 1917–1940, and 1991–2018. These are separated by a gap of 50 years, when the Estonian representative body was unable to convene. At the exhibition, this is represented by empty houses.

On 23 April 1919, the first representative body elected by the independent Estonian nation – the Constituent Assembly – convened in Tallinn. The Assembly was essentially our first parliament, passing the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of Estonia, and the Land Act, and solving other issues of vital importance for the Republic of Estonia. The decisions of the Constituent Assembly formed the foundation of the Republic of Estonia.

The exhibition area is 10.5 metres long, and 3 metres wide and high. The exhibition is transportable and lit by LED lamps. It has been designed by design agencies Identity and Ruumilabor, and built by design agencies Ruutu6 and Red Hat. The curator of the exhibition is the Parliamentary Information Centre of the National Library of Estonia.

Images: 6x Riigikogu fotoarhiiv/Erik Peinar
Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — The Board of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) approved the number of members in its ten standing committees, and decided how many seats each faction would have in the committees.

The allocation of seats in the committees depends on the size of the factions and the proposals made by the factions. It is also necessary to take into account that each member of the Riigikogu can belong to only one committee, and the members of the Board of the Riigikogu cannot serve on standing committees, with the exception of the European Union Affairs Committee.

When distributing the seats in committees between the factions, the Board of the Riigikogu also had to keep in mind that the composition of the committees should reflect the true correlation of political forces in the Riigikogu, or the proportions of the coalition and the opposition. The Board will approve the specific membership of the committees after receiving the proposals from the factions.

The Environment Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 2 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.

The Cultural Affairs Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 2 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.

The Rural Affairs Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 3 members from the Centre Party Faction, 1 member from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.

The Economic Affairs Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 2 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.

The Constitutional Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 2 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.

The Finance Committee (11 members) will have 4 members from the Reform Party Faction, 3 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.

The National Defence Committee (11 members) will have 4 members from the Reform Party Faction, 3 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.

The Social Affairs Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 3 members from the Centre Party Faction, 1 member from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.

The Foreign Affairs Committee (13 members) will have 4 members from the Reform Party Faction, 3 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 2 members from the Faction Isamaa, 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction, and there will be 1 seat for independent member.

The Legal Affairs Committee (9 members) will have 3 members from the Reform Party Faction, 2 members from the Centre Party Faction, 2 members from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, 1 member from the Faction Isamaa and 1 member from the Social Democratic Party Faction.

The membership and the allocation of seats between the factions in the European Union Affairs Committee will be determined later. Under the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, the European Union Affairs Committee must have not less than15 members, including at least one member from each of the other standing committees.

Select committees are formed after the Riigikogu has passed the relevant resolutions. The previous Riigikogu had the Security Authorities Surveillance Committee, the Anti-Corruption Select Committee and the State Budget Control Select Committee.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu did not support authorising the candidate for Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to form a Government. 45 members of the Riigikogu supported Kallas and 53 were against.

At the beginning of her speech, Kallas admitted that she would not become Prime Minister that day. “We all know that. At this point, I might put a full stop, congratulate the coalition and go back to my seat in the fourth row, and keep my mouth shut in the future. However, I will not do that. No one in my Party or among the Social Democrats is going to do that,” Kallas said. She spoke of the events of the recent weeks and meetings with supporters of various political parties, where anxious emotions had prevailed in various places. However, at peaceful and business-like meetings, there had been interest in finding solutions to the real concerns of the people.

Kallas said the following about the new coalition: “You are afraid of change. You will not change anything, and you are not even concealing it. Estonia needs reforms, however. Salary rise, development of business, labour shortage, increasing of competitiveness, keeping abreast of the developments in the global economy, the environment, development of a smart economic model, a modern education system − these are just a few of the challenges of which entrepreneurs and state officials, analysts and top-level managers have spoken to me. These are the problems to which solutions are needed, but you are not offering any. Instead of that, you speak of spending and borrowing, and you do that in a situation where the financial situation of the country is poor. And I will not even ask how your ideas of an Estonia absolutely independent of all others agree with loan slavery.”

Kallas went on to say: “You have read the document on our values which we published last weekend. Understandably, this is not a coalition agreement, but it sets out the values and principles on the basis of which our Government would act. Our task and your task before this country and its people is to aspire for a better future, and not for a new coalition at any cost. Every one of us has been elected here not to just press the green button, but to think, to listen and to take responsibility. For our voters, our children, and our county.”

Kallas said: “Voters all over Estonia, I want to assure you that Estonia is still a democratic country. The new coalition may be accused of lacking content, but it is democratic. And please do not blame anything on the voters of the new coalition. Their voice must be audible, their needs must be catered for, their concerns must be addressed − do not silence or label them. There is still very much that needs to be done in our country, and as the new coalition is indifferent to that need, many people feel ignored. This is real and true, and addressing these concerns must also be real and true. Then will we have hope. Because we do have hope.”

Kallas said that the speech she had made had not been an announcement of surrender and good-bye. “In a few days’ time, the beginning of government will be announced from this rostrum − I have just announced the beginning of our opposition. I am still ready to govern Estonia on an equal basis with most of you, but until this happens, we will not let Estonia to be destroyed. We will not let our country to be steered into hatred and stagnation,” she said.

After her speech, Kallas replied to questions from members of the Riigikogu.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Source: Parliament of Estonia