The Riigikogu passed three Acts:

The Public Service Act and State Public Servants Official Titles and Salary Scale Act (563 SE), initiated by Member of the Riigikogu Evelyn Sepp, was passed with 38 votes in favour (34 votes against). The Act eliminates obstacles for appointment to office of the Gender Equality Commissioner. For that purpose the Public Service Act as well as the State Public Servants Official Titles and Salary Scale Act is amended. The issues related to the selection and wages of the Commissioner are regulated by the Gender Equality Act. But for determining the Commissioner?s salary and for calculating the salary it is necessary to introduce the amendments fixed in the named Act, in the above Acts.

The Act on Amendments to § 13 (1) of the Persons Repressed by Occupying Powers Act (532 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, was passed with 67 votes in favour (1 abstention). The Act makes amendments to the procedure for the calculation of the years of pensionable service, according to which the time from when a repressed person was freed from custody, a custodial institution or returned from exile until she or he granted the permission to settle in Estonia, will be added to the years of pensionable service multified by three threefold, instead of one and a half as previously.

The Act on Amendments to § 2 of the Public and National Holidays Act and to § 25 of the Working and Rest Time Act (576 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, was passed with 69 votes in favour. Pursuant to the Act, Christmas Eve (24 December) will be a public holiday and a day off.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Riigikogu Internal Rules Act (613 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Väino Linde and Ain Seppik. The Isamaaliit Faction moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. The result of voting: 19 votes in favour, 43 votes against, 1 abstention. The Bill remained in the legislative proceeding.

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The initiators withdrew the Bill on Amendments to the District Heating Bill (591 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Vilja Savisaar, Toivo Tootsen, Küllo Arjakas, Mailis Reps, Eldar Efendijev, Vladimir Velman and Nelli Privalova.

The Riigikogu Press Service