Minister of Social Affairs Jaak Aab made a political statement before the Riigikogu, in which he asked for support to the Bill on Amendments to § 61 of the State Pension Insurance Act, presented by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, Estonian People?s Union Faction and Estonian Centre Party Faction today. The Bill enables to increase pensions beginning from 1 July this year, also from 1 April next year and creates the basis for the increase in pensions in the future. The statement of the Minister of Social Affairs was followed by the comments of the representatives of factions.  

The Riigikogu passed the following Acts:

The Local Government Council Election Act Amendment Act (607 SE), initiated by the Constitutional Committee, was passed with 56 votes in favour (32 votes against). The Act establishes the possibility to vote electronically at the local government councils elections. 

The Riigikogu passed with 69 votes in favour (10 votes against) the Local Government Organisation Act Amendment Act (407 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, and with 58 votes in favour (22 votes against) the Riigikogu Internal Rules Act Amendment Act (613 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Väino Linde and Ain Seppik. The Acts abolish restrictions on simultaneous belonging of the members of the Riigikogu to local government councils. In addition, 613 SE regulates also the appointment of the Secretary General of the Riigikogu. In accordance with the new regulation, the Board of the Riigikogu appoints the Secretary General of the Riigikogu to office for a term of five years by way of public competition. 

The Riigikogu passed with 74 votes in favour the Act on Amendments to the Maritime Safety Act and Associated Acts (518 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The purpose of the Act is to update the standards of the maritime safety and to bring them into conformity with the legal acts of the European Union and the requirements of international conventions.

The Riigikogu passed with 75 votes in favour the Traffic Act and State Fees Act Amendment Act (617 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The purpose of the Act is to enhance traffic safety, and to ensure the competitive parity of carriers. Among other things, the Act provides for the obligatory possession of tachographs for the cars carrying travellers or cargos, or road trains. The Act regulates also the working and rest time of drivers of motor vehicles and their social guarantees.

The Riigikogu passed with 73 votes in favour the State Fees Act, Law of Ship Flag and Registers of Ships Act and Traffic Act Amendment Act (553 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act creates a new register of vehicles that enables to include the data of recreational crafts and their right to navigate in the existing traffic register.  In addition to recreational crafts, a jet register will also be included in the traffic register, other vehicles, e.g. hovercrafts, could also be entered in the traffic register.

On the motion of the Social Affairs Committee, the Riigikogu rejected the Bill on Amendments to the Parental Benefits Act (595 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, from the legislative proceeding. 44 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the rejection of the Bill from the legislative proceeding and 12 members of the Riigikogu against it.

On the motion of the Legal Affairs Committee the Bill on Amendments to the Code of Misdemeanour Procedure, Penal Code and Traffic Act (584 SE), which was initiated by the Legal Affairs Committee, and had reached its second reading, was removed from the agenda of the sitting. 

 The Riigikogu Press Service