By Plenary Sessions: Jaak Aab

The speaker takes a clear stance on resolving the budget deficit, stressing the need for both austerity measures and tax increases. They strongly support increasing state revenue through a progressive income tax and wealth taxes, criticizing the current "thin tax base." They emphasize that the problem cannot be solved by cuts alone, noting that even a brutal 5% reduction would only yield 100 million when a billion is required.

The speaker clearly takes a critical stance against the central government, accusing the state of failing to fulfill its obligations in the area of land valuation. Regarding the issue of nuclear energy, he demands clarity concerning the practical impact of the decisions, demonstrating skepticism toward the sensibility of non-binding resolutions.

The speaker strongly supports the acceleration of renewable energy development and firmly backs Estonia's 2030 goal of generating all consumed electricity from renewable sources. They emphasize the importance of reducing environmental pollution as part of the policy to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and they support strengthening energy security. On behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction, they express clear support for legislatively expediting the development of offshore wind farms.

The speaker, representing the Social Democratic Party faction, clearly stated their position on the necessity of improving the competitiveness of the Estonian economy. They strongly emphasized the state's role in supporting the economy, particularly through funding research and development (R&D), where the state should invest 1% of GDP. They actively supported the vocational education reform and criticized the current situation where too many basic school graduates proceed to gymnasium to study humanities.

The speaker strongly supports increasing the independence of constitutional institutions from the executive branch, stressing the need to limit the government's ability to exert pressure through budgetary means. On behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction, the speaker expresses clear support for an amendment to the State Budget Act that would ensure greater autonomy for these institutions. Regarding the issue of cash rounding, the speaker adopts a pragmatic stance, favoring an environmentally conscious approach.

The speaker adopts a clearly hostile stance toward the Moscow Patriarchate, strongly supporting the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) statement that would declare it an institution supporting Russia’s military aggression. The speaker emphasizes the necessity of severing ties with the Moscow Patriarchate while simultaneously upholding the principles of religious freedom. The speaker represents the views of the Social Democratic Party faction and supports Ukraine against Russian aggression.

The speaker takes a very clear and forceful stance against the Moscow Patriarchate, declaring it an institution that supports Russia's military aggression. He/She consistently emphasizes that the statement does not concern religious activity or Orthodox believers, but only the Patriarchate as an institution. The speaker strongly supports the principles of religious freedom and the separation of state and church, but demands the separation of Estonian Orthodox congregations from the Moscow Patriarchate on security grounds.