Session Profile: Peeter Ernits
15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
2025-11-05
Political Position
The political stance is strongly oppositional, focusing on the government's ("regime's") crisis of confidence and incompetence. The sharpest opposition is directed at the ratification of the Swedish prisoner agreement, and the government's priorities are criticized, specifically that money is being spent on expensive foreign prisoners while social benefits (such as disability allowance) are laughably small. The framing is strongly value-based and results-oriented, emphasizing alienation and the "stupid decisions" being made in the country.
19 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates thorough expertise in penal policy and prison management (specifically Tartu Prison and the costs associated with inmates), as well as in the field of the state budget. They consistently criticize activity-based budgeting, calling it a "useless document" and a "labyrinth." Furthermore, the speaker exhibits knowledge of maritime policy (the failure to bring ships under the Estonian flag and the resulting lost GDP) and geopolitical military missions. Specific figures are cited, such as 8,500 euros per prisoner and a 15-cent increase in benefits.
19 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The speaking style is combative, ironic, and emotionally charged, especially towards the government and the Riigikogu leadership. Strong language is employed (e.g., "golden column," "ridiculous," "embarrassing," "humiliating"), along with cynical metaphors ("the cherry on top," "eat grass or chew on it"). The speaker frequently poses rhetorical questions and uses personal examples (such as the Tarmo case) to highlight the consequences of the policies.
19 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker has been extremely active during the plenary session, taking the floor repeatedly late at night and early in the morning, participating in debates on several draft acts and in question-and-answer sessions. A meeting within the faction concerning the European Union's next financial framework was highlighted, and the Riigikogu Board was criticized for scheduling the State Auditor General's report for midnight.
19 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponents are the government coalition (the Reform Party, Eesti 200) and the Riigikogu board (the "troika"). The criticism is both political (the prisoner agreement, the car tax, the budget) and procedural (the humiliating treatment of the Auditor General). The intensity of the attacks is high, accusing the government of committing "blunders" in running the country and losing trust.
19 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
Cooperation is primarily viewed retrospectively (shipping policy 2019–2020) or as joint action by the opposition (the Center Party’s proposal to reject the prisoner agreement). In the current context, there is a lack of openness to compromise, especially regarding government priorities, such as the Swedish prisoner agreement or the car tax.
19 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on national and international topics (military missions, maritime policy), but specific regional examples are used to illustrate the consequences of the policy, particularly through cases involving Tartu Prison and related crime incidents (Nõgiaru/Annelinn). The text also mentions the birthday allowance for pensioners living outside Tallinn.
19 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker is fiscally critical, emphasizing that the state lacks funds for essential services (disability benefits, road maintenance) while inefficient or misguided projects (the prisoner contract, Rail Baltic) devour millions. They demand the complete cancellation of the car tax, not merely its alleviation, and criticize the financial chaos resulting from the unsuitability of the activity-based budget.
19 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The focus in social policy is the insufficient support for vulnerable groups (people with disabilities, pensioners), highlighting the 15-cent increase in disability benefits. In penal policy, there is strong opposition to the "human-faced" approach and the importation of foreign prisoners, emphasizing the need to prevent serious crimes (murderers, rapists). Issues of security and justice are at the forefront.
19 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus centers on opposing government bills (such as the Swedish prisoner agreement and the streamlining of the car tax) and supporting social proposals (like raising the subsistence level and increasing pensioner benefits). Equally important is the procedural focus on the quality and documentation of lawmaking, including monitoring the establishment of the debtors’ registry and assessing the applicability of the activity-based budget.
19 Speeches Analyzed