The Riigikogu appointed Priit Pikamäe to the office of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court with 89 votes in favour at a secret ballot. Two members of the Riigikogu abstained in the voting. The relevant Resolution of the Riigikogu (416 OE) enters into force on 13 September 2013.

On the motion of the Social Affairs Committee, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Act on Amendments to the State Family Benefits Act, the Social Welfare Act and the Labour Market Services and Benefits Act (399 SE), initiated by Rainer Vakra, Lembit Kaljuvee, Inara Luigas, Deniss Boroditsh, Kalle Laanet and the Social Democratic Party Faction, was concluded. The purpose of the Bill is to extend the range of persons who receive the needs-based family benefit by including families whose income exceeds the relative poverty line but who only have an amount that remains below the subsistence level, after payment of housing expenses. The Bill is intended to put an end to the situation where some families are deprived of the needs-based family benefit. The initiator asserted that these are the families who need it the most – those who apply for the subsistence benefit. The Bill was sent to the second reading.

On the motion of the Rural Affairs Committee, the Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Organisation Act (401 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction, was rejected at the first reading. 65 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion to reject and 23 members voted against. Thus, the Bill was dropped from the legislative proceeding.

Photos of Pikamäe’s appointment to office: https://fotoalbum.riigikogu.ee/v/2013/Riigikogu/pikamae/

The Riigikogu Press Service