Agenda Profile: Peeter Ernits
Debate on the key national issue "The impact of price rises on economic competitiveness and people's livelihoods: What to do?"
2025-09-25
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
Political Position
The primary focus is on the poor state of the economy, particularly high inflation and the resulting drop in the standard of living. The speaker adopts a strongly oppositional and performance-based attitude toward the government, labeling their budget a "stagnation budget" rather than a "prosperity budget." He stresses that Estonia has dropped in the rankings for purchasing power and economic resilience over the last four years. The speaker urges people to come to Toompea to protest and put an end to a period of governance that he compares to the eras of Kristen Michal and Leonid Brezhnev.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates knowledge in the field of inflation and economic indicators, using specific statistical data in a comparison of neighboring countries (Estonia 6.2%, Finland 2.2%, Latvia 4.1% or 4.2% in August). He also refers to economic resilience rankings (-40%) and the country's position regarding the rise in consumer prices (66th out of 69 countries). To confirm his views, he relies on the assessments of top experts who appeared before the Riigikogu (Parliament), which contradict those of the Prime Minister.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is extremely critical, emotional, and combative, employing strong and direct language ("deeply rotten," "what the hell kind of prosperity budget"). The speaker uses historical analogies (Leonid Brezhnev and stagnation) and contrasts the government's "fairy tales" with expert opinion and reality. The speaker appeals to the public, urging them to step out of their comfort zones and protest on Toompea, given that there are no solutions available within the parliament itself.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is actively involved in the Riigikogu debate, repeatedly raising questions regarding inflation disparities compared to neighboring countries and criticizing the Prime Minister's budget presentation. He/She anticipates spending the weekend reading the explanatory memorandum, indicating that the active work continues outside the plenary hall. He/She points out that coalition MPs are absent from the chamber, suggesting that his/her engagement is primarily confined to the opposition ranks.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponents are Prime Minister Kristen Michal and the ruling coalition, who are accused of stagnation, ignoring reality, and "reckless" behavior. The criticism is sharp and politically charged, accusing the coalition of using "steamroller" tactics in the legislative process. The speaker sees no chance for compromise, as they believe the coalition will simply toss all proposed amendments into the bin.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The willingness to cooperate with the coalition is nonexistent, as the individual assumes that the coalition partners will not heed criticism and that proposed amendments will simply be rejected. He sees the solution lying primarily outside of parliament, urging the Estonian people to protest. He is collaborating with other opposition members of parliament (specifically naming Urmas Reinsalu and Tanel Kiik), as they share a similar critical stance.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on national and international comparison, particularly with the Baltic and Nordic countries. He emphasizes Estonia's unfavorable position regarding inflation compared to Finland and Latvia, despite them having similar external conditions and a shared border with Russia. He refers to Estonia, Finland, and Latvia as the "three frontline states," although he disputes Estonia's status as a frontline state.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker is strongly opposed to the government's fiscal policy, which, in their view, exacerbates inequality, allowing only the wealthiest to save while everyone else struggles to get by. They stress the necessity of tackling high inflation, which erodes the economy's competitiveness and people's ability to make ends meet. They sharply criticize the government's budget for failing to reflect economic reality.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Not enough data
6 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main legislative focus is on the state budget, which he is categorically against, calling it a budget of stagnation. He criticizes the budget processing procedure (the "steamroller") and expects the opposition's amendments to be rejected. He is more of an opponent and critic than an initiator, focusing on thwarting the government's plans.
6 Speeches Analyzed