By Plenary Sessions: Jaak Aab

The speaker focuses on supporting procedural matters and the legislative process, providing neutral and factual information concerning the amendments to the Maritime Safety Act. Political stances on specific issues are not apparent in this address.

The speaker strongly advocates for the social democratic position, stressing the party's role within the governing coalition and the influence of its proposals on the state budget. He/She firmly supports the 2025 state budget and underscores the necessity of increasing defense expenditures due to Russia's war in Ukraine. The speaker positions himself/herself as a champion of economic growth and regional development, highlighting measures initiated by the Social Democrats.

The speaker adopts a clear position regarding the land tax reform, advocating for increased decision-making power and financial autonomy for local municipalities. He defends his past actions while serving as Minister of Public Administration and accuses the Isamaa party of failing to fulfill its land valuation obligations over a 20-year period. This stance is sharply critical of the opposition and is grounded in both the issue of political responsibility and practical administrative experience.

The speaker adopts a clearly supportive stance toward Rail Baltic, emphasizing the project's strategic importance for the Baltic states and the European Union. On behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction, they express strong support for completing the project as quickly as possible. However, they simultaneously take a firm position against establishing a Rail Baltic investigation committee, arguing that the existing oversight mechanisms are sufficient.

The speaker strongly advocates for enhancing business competitiveness via state intervention, particularly through offering waterway fee concessions to the port industry. They favor a balanced approach to reducing the national budget deficit, recognizing that tax hikes are necessary to guarantee long-term financial stability. They emphasize that short-term economic sacrifices are essential for preserving long-term competitiveness.