Estonia's parliamentary adviser fired over Gambling Tax Act drafting error
A long-serving parliamentary official in Estonia has been removed from her post after a drafting error in the Gambling Tax Act. Piia Schultz, an adviser to a Riigikogu committee, was dismissed last week by Antero Habicht, Director General of the Riigikogu Chancellery. The decision follows both a mistake in the legislation and comments she made to a journalist about the rushed process. Schultz argued that the legislative timeline was too tight for her to perform her duties accurately. Despite her concerns, the error in the Gambling Tax Act led to her dismissal. She now intends to challenge the decision in court.
Riigikogu President Lauri Hussar had earlier advised against removing Schultz over the mistake. He noted that members of parliament themselves are not expected to draft laws with legal precision—that responsibility falls to advisers like Schultz. Külli Taro, another official, defended Schultz's right to speak with the press. She also suggested that the Riigikogu Chancellery should review whether the process was indeed excessively rushed. The role of advisers includes ensuring draft laws are correctly written, but the pressure of deadlines has become a point of contention.
The dismissal has sparked debate over the balance between accuracy and speed in lawmaking. Schultz's legal challenge will determine whether her removal stands. Meanwhile, the Riigikogu Chancellery may reassess how legislative timelines affect the work of its advisers.
