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The President of the Republic met with the Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu09.11.2004
President Rüütel today at Kadriorg met with the members of the Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu. The members of the Committee informed the President of the Republic about the status of some bills currently proceeded by the Riigikogu.
The Head of State informed the members of the Constitutional Committee about the state of discussions on the idea and location of the Freedom Memorial. Since Harjumägi and the Liberty Square had been discarded as possible locations a couple of years ago, an idea of founding the Memorial in the vicinity of Tallinn Song Festival Ground has found support among County Governors, local municipalities and many other institutions. The President of the Republic stressed that the Freedom Memorial should not be born amidst antagonism of political powers and that first of all the future generations have to be kept in mind.
Discussing the topic of the EU Constitution, President Rüütel said that prior to the ratification of the Constitution a broader public discussion must be held, a prerequisite of which would be more extensive dissemination of information. The Head of State said that before the final decision is made the politicians must have at their disposal an assessment made by an independent committee of expert, which has analysed various aspects of the interaction between the EU Constitution and the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia.
Expressing his opinion about amendments to the Constitution concerning presidential elections, President Rüütel said that he supports the idea of electing President directly by people without expansion of existing powers vested in President. "This would provide the Head of State with the support of electorate for exercising the constitutional role as stabilizer of different powers", said President Rüütel.
The President of the Republic and the members of the Constitutional Committee shared a common viewpoint that in the EU the political power and right of decision-making must be left to the Parliaments and not to any administrative bodies.
The members of the Constitutional Committee gave President Rüütel an overview of discussions on the registration of individual's place of residency, personal data protection and a new law regulating the use of the national flag.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, November 9, 2004
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