Nuclear energy, a no-confidence vote, and a legislative sprint: Riigikogu's week

The Riigikogu passed its nuclear energy framework and 2026 supplementary budget, voted on a no-confidence motion against the finance minister, and cleared dozens of bills in a marathon Thursday session.

The eighteenth working week of the XV Riigikogu's seventh session — running 15–21 June 2026 — was one of the busiest of the year. Tuesday opened with individual bill readings and a sharp political moment; Wednesday broadened into tax, crime and EU-directive territory; and Thursday turned into an end-of-session legislative sprint in which the chamber worked through more than two dozen bills in a single sitting, several of them requiring an absolute majority of the full house.

No-confidence motion against the finance minister

Monday's most politically charged moment was a written demand from 48 members of the Riigikogu for a vote of no confidence in Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi. One vote was recorded on the item. The agenda does not reveal the exact tally or the outcome, but the fact that nearly half the 101-seat chamber put their names to the demand signals serious coalition friction over fiscal policy heading into the summer recess. The context — and what happens to Minister Ligi's tenure — will likely dominate political commentary in the days ahead.

Nuclear energy framework

Among the week's most consequential legislative actions was the third-reading vote on the Nuclear Energy and Safety Act (856 SE III), which required an absolute majority of the full Riigikogu membership. The bill establishes the legal framework that Estonia would need to develop or host nuclear energy capacity — a long-debated topic tied to energy independence and the phasing out of oil shale. One vote was recorded at third reading; whether the majority threshold was met is not confirmed by the agenda data alone, but the bill reaching this stage marks a significant milestone regardless of the final count.

2026 Supplementary Budget

Also voted on Thursday at third reading was the 2026 supplementary budget bill (910 SE III). Supplementary budgets typically reflect mid-year corrections to spending or revenue forecasts, and its passage — or failure — will shape government finances for the remainder of the year. One vote was recorded.

Tax and alcohol excise

Tuesday's agenda included the third reading of amendments to the Alcohol Act and the alcohol, tobacco, fuel and electricity excise duty act (881 SE III), with two votes recorded — suggesting an amendment vote followed by a final reading vote. Excise adjustments carry direct consequences for consumer prices and state revenue, making this one of the week's more tangible economic decisions.

Fighting human trafficking and financial fraud

Two bills targeting crime rounded out Tuesday's session. Amendments to the Penal Code and Victim Assistance Act (880 SE II/III) transposing the EU's updated human-trafficking directive moved from second to third reading across Tuesday and Wednesday, with votes recorded at both stages. Separately, a first-reading bill on preventing and combating financial fraud (936 SE I) — amending the Law of Obligations Act and banking legislation — was introduced on Tuesday, though no vote at that stage would be expected.

Court reform and language law

Thursday's marathon also saw third-reading votes on two court-reform bills — optimising court procedure and making judgments more publicly accessible (560 SE III) and speeding up court proceedings (854 SE III) — both requiring an absolute majority. The Language Act amendment (740 SE III) also went to a final vote, a measure that touches language requirements in schools and public services and has been politically sensitive throughout its passage.

Birth-rate resolution

Wednesday closed with a Riigikogu resolution (870 OE I) calling on the government to develop a comprehensive package of measures to restore confidence among families with children and halt Estonia's birth-rate crisis. The resolution required an absolute majority; one vote was recorded.

What to watch next

Several first-reading bills introduced this week — including the pension fund and tax administration amendments (935 SE I) and the notarial fee reform (941 SE I) — will now move to committee for scrutiny before returning to the plenary floor. With the summer recess approaching, the pace of committee work over the coming weeks will determine which of these make it to a vote before the break.