Santa Claus visited the Riigikogu
Today, at the last regular sitting of the Riigikogu this autumn session, there were no legislative proceedings on the agenda. Instead, the Riigikogu heard the address of the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Kornienko.
Kornienko thanked the Riigikogu for keeping the focus on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. “Right now, as we are speaking, Russia continues to bomb our cities – only yesterday there was an attack on Kyiv – killing peaceful Ukrainians with the only aim to destroy Ukraine and eliminate Ukrainians as a nation,” he said. The Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada emphasised that the time was right to embrace the goal of Ukrainian victory and work toward it collectively rather than looking for premature peace deals with Russia.
“Moscow has not changed its ultimatums and is not ready for serious negotiations right now. Their statements are just smokescreen for their continued aggression. What will bring real peace is the Ukrainian victory. This goal is fully achievable, and we have proved it with successful Kharkiv and Kherson counter offensives this autumn. Ukraine’s victory will also be the victory of Europe and the West. It will restore peace and security in our continent for decades to come,” assured Kornienko.
Following this, the Riigikogu received a visit from Santa Claus who said that he had been keeping an eye on the work of the MPs with the assistance of his little helpers, and assessed their activities through his personal lens. The MPs recited poems and sang songs to receive their Christmas gifts: a lion soft toy and a horseshoe shaped magnet.
“Why a lion, you ask. Because lion is brave, big, and smart. And of course, it is also on our national coat of arms. That’s why a lion! He is the type of animal you can confess all your worries to, anything you can think of,” Santa Claus explained.
The MPs also received a horseshoe shaped magnet. “I am giving you a practical tangible thing. A horseshoe magnet for good luck,” Santa Claus said. “This is an election magnet. When you go out to do fieldwork in the spring you should put it in your pocket, and I promise you that you will be swarmed by voters. You will have to beat them off with a stick,” Santa Claus promised.
Under the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act, the next regular sitting of the Riigikogu will take place on 9 January next year.
Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)
Photos of the (Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Video recordings of the sittings of the Riigikogu can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/riigikogu.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)
Riigikogu Press Service
Maris Meiessaar
Phone: +372 631 6353, +372 5558 3993
e-mail [email protected]
Questions [email protected]
