Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves called on the new composition of the Riigikogu to consider important security, e-state and the European Union as well as to carry out administrative and state reforms.
President calls on parlt to consider security, EU, e-state important
30th March 2015, 17:54
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Ilves said in his opening speech at the first sitting of the 13th Riigikogu that every composition of the parliament has faced different tasks which have always been big. According to the head of state the irrevocable reforms of the 7th and 8th compositions put the country on a fast track to development, while the work of the 9th Riigikogu took Estonia to the EU and NATO. The 10th composition mastered its new roles related to EU membership, and the ensuing four-year term the 11th parliament made a praiseworthy cooperative effort to bring Estonia out of the economic crisis.
«If we look at the record of the 12th parliament that has just left office, what do we see? Perhaps it will be remembered as a period in which citizens' voices started calling more assertively for the right to participate in the everyday work of parliament. The Citizen's Assembly helped to bring those voices into this chamber and to some extent those voices were heard. This is a sign of a mature society,» Ilves said.
«Unfortunately, Estonia's current political climate is rife with politicking, populism in the bad sense of the word, and saving one's own skin. There's too much excessive, profligate legislative drafting. The state budget process has become more bureaucratic and rigid. This also includes arguments about things that aren't worth arguing about, while issues that do deserve more discussion are quietly rubber-stamped on through,» the president said.
He expressed hope that the coalition currently being formed will be unanimous about laws being instruments not a goal on its own. «Rewriting laws just for their own sake will not help address people's concerns,» he added.
«I ask you to tackle the actual real-life problems one by one and look for the best solution, while respecting everyone's opinion. To do this, I believe we need more listening and only then more talking. We need to bring different interests and views to this place, to the halls of the parliament, into debates that respect deputies and their constituents. You will need to debate, be precisely up to date with the actions of the Cabinet, and if needed to ask questions and dispense criticism. As appropriate to any mature democracy, showing how things could be done better,» Ilves said to the member of the parliament.
«Anyone can say what not to do and what could go wrong. Instead, let there be competition between many visions of how to do it and how to succeed,» he added.
According to Ilves the implementation of a number of important reforms will coincide with the new parliament's term in office. «Bringing disabled people back to working life and the new Child Protection Act are just a few examples. I mention these separately because it is precisely the weakest members of society who need special protection not their very understandable fears amplified even further,» he said.
«Also, where on earth did the idea come from that the Cohabitation Act would change anyone's sexual orientation, bring people together or split up couples, or change the fact that so many children are already being raised outside of wedlock? The duty of the state should be constrained to creating the possibility for everyone to arrange their private relationships in a reasonable manner,» Ilves said.
Ilves also talked about the border treaty with Russia and said it needs ratification. «I hope that the decision will not founder in an attempt to score short-term political points,» he said.
The head of state stressed that members of the parliament have the responsibility to keep abreast of topics and international developments related to Estonian security as well as the European Union, NATO and information technology.
Ilves also stressed that the time is right to carry out state and administrative reforms, and it has to be done as soon as possible.
Ilves said that in early 2018 Estonia will hold the presidency of the European Union. «That, too, will make us to demonstrate what a small e-state can do with diligence and agility. Our aim can't be merely to avoid being crushed by that burden of responsibility. Our duty is to contribute – visibly, in real terms – to the future of the European Union. That is a great task, a huge responsibility, and for all of you the work and responsibility begin now, and not a second later,» the president said.