Members of the Riigikogu are responsible for creating laws. However, they do not need to have the skills to formulate draft legislation in a legally correct manner. The Riigikogu Chancellery is responsible for this. This was stated by public administration expert Külli Taro.
The director of the Riigikogu Chancellery recently dismissed an official, Piia Schults. She was accused of errors in the wording of the gambling law and in communication with the media. Taro said that officials have the right to communicate with the media. They sometimes need to explain to the public how the state operates. Differences of opinion should first be discussed within the institution. However, expressing them publicly is not prohibited.
Taro cannot say whether Schults' dismissal was justified. But she emphasized that the advisors to Riigikogu committees are responsible for the correctness of draft legislation.
According to Schults, the process was too rushed. She did not have enough time to properly fulfill her duties. Taro believes the official had over a week to prepare the draft. The error did not stem from her work but from proposals by the Ministry of Finance.
Members of the Riigikogu are responsible for legislative work. First and foremost, the members of the relevant committee are responsible. They should thoroughly review draft legislation and avoid errors. Administratively, the Chancellery is responsible for processing drafts. Members of the Riigikogu do not need to be lawyers or know how to write drafts. The Chancellery is responsible for the legal correctness of draft legislation.