Autumn session began in Riigikogu
At the opening sitting of the Riigikogu autumn session, the President of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma and President Toomas Hendrik Ilves made a speech.
Ergma stressed that the most important work of the autumn session at the Riigikogu is connected with the budget of our state for the next year. The President of the Riigikogu noted that the conservative budget policy and low national debt of Estonia form our safe haven should the unfavourable tendencies in global economy return. Signs of trouble have not yet disappeared and they force us also in the future to be reasonable in our decisions and expenses. “And we also should not forget that the state budget of Estonia, which is set as an example to the countries that are in trouble with their finances, is still in deficit and we are just on our way to balance,” Ergma admitted.
The President of the Riigikogu underlined that one of the important roles of the parliament is supervision of the activity of the executive power. During the last decade, 26 different development plans have been approved. “It is time to find out what has happened to them, what has been done to implement them and what should be changed in those development plans. The Riigikogu should have the same attitude towards its work as a farmer – if something is sown, it has to be taken care of,” said Ergma.
In his speech, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves dealt with several important issues in the life of our country, and the tasks faced by the Riigikogu in connection with them. He emphasized that the economic troubles were by far not over yet. Confusion is competing with clarity both in Europe and in Estonia. We have managed to keep our expenses and revenues in balance, we have done what was necessary to do, and what many others have either not wanted or not been able to do. But at the moment no economic expert knows whether doing things right is enough in the wider European context. “The general macroeconomic situation of Estonia is quite good at the moment, and the Parliament and the Government of Estonia certainly deserve recognition for that. But we all know that we do not live in isolation,” noted Ilves.
The President called the members of the Riigikogu to ask questions, to worry and to be interested, and in this way establish themselves even more as the shapers of life in Estonia. With full responsibility, with their own faces and names. “Let us keep in mind always: in all important issues concerning the life of the state and society, the decision maker is the Riigikogu, the directly elected representative body of the people, and not somebody else,” stressed Ilves.
After the festive opening of the autumn session, the Riigikogu discussed the issues in the agenda. The Minister of Justice Kristen Michal replied to the interpellation concerning the situation of health care services providers in ascertaining a state of intoxication (No 31), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Marika Tuus, Lembit Kaljuvee, Valeri Korb, Vladimir Velman, Peeter Võsa, Enn Eesmaa, Eldar Efendijev, Kalle Laanet, Tarmo Tamm, Priit Toobal, Ester Tuiksoo and Mailis Reps on 9 June, and the interpellation concerning suspicions of corruption in Võru county (No 32), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Peeter Võsa, Inara Luigas, Enn Eesmaa, Eldar Efendijev, Kalev Kallo, Priit Toobal, Ester Tuiksoo, Mailis Reps, Heimar Lenk and Vladimir Velman on 9 June.
During the open microphone, Mihhail Stalnuhhin took the floor.
The Riigikogu Press Service
