Session Profile: Peeter Ernits

The speaker is in strong opposition to the government, sharply criticizing the Prime Minister's optimism and the government's actions, which have resulted in economic stagnation and a crisis of confidence. Their political position is strongly results-oriented, stressing that the country is facing a composite crisis (economic, demographic, security, and political crises) and that the current political landscape must be fundamentally disrupted and restarted from scratch to restore public trust. He highlights the government's laughably low approval rating, which clearly demonstrates a lack of confidence among the populace.

The speaker demonstrates expertise in demographics and socio-economic realities, referencing seminars and presenting specific data regarding the lack of suitable partners for younger women (42% among those up to 29 years old). They also draw on their experience as a member of the Rural Affairs Committee, highlighting anecdotal but detailed examples of the decline in living standards (the cheap sausage party, changes in toilet usage). Furthermore, they touch upon security policy, labeling Estonia an "extremely warlike country."

The style is sharp, sarcastic, and combative, employing ironic titles (the prime minister as "chief butler") and powerful metaphors ("the ham party has been replaced by the cheap sausage party," the government's behavior as a "steamroller"). The speaker utilizes both emotional appeals (Weltschmerz, fear of war) and references to classics (Orwell) and statistics to highlight the chasm between the government's narrative and reality. Finally, the tone is occasionally milder, referencing the start of a football match.

The speaker is active during the plenary session, participating in the Q&A and open microphone segments. He/She refers to his/her ongoing work as a member of the Rural Affairs Committee, where every week he/she hears narratives that directly contradict the government's optimism. He/She also mentions participating in a recent seminar concerning the birth rate.

The criticism is aimed directly at the prime minister and the governing coalition, who are accused of denying reality, lacking public trust, and acting as a "steamroller" in parliament. The criticism is both political (focusing on the economic and demographic crises) and procedural (highlighting the government's extremely low approval ratings despite remaining in power). The speaker offers no compromise, instead demanding the complete dismantling of the current political structure.

Even though the speaker is extremely antagonistic toward the government, he concedes that the demographic crisis and the survival of the state are "a common concern for all of us." He suggests that the coalition and the opposition should stop glaring at one another, but he sees the only solution as the complete dismantling of the existing system and starting anew with trustworthy individuals.

The focus is primarily on national and existential issues (the survival of the Estonian people, language, and culture). However, the speaker, being a member of the Rural Affairs Committee, also introduces specific problems related to rural life. The international context is used both for comparison (Germany, Hungary) and in the framework of security (an unfriendly neighbor).

The speaker views the economy as being in poor shape, highlighting prolonged inflation and stagnation. They criticize the decline in the standard of living, pointing out, for example, that people are primarily purchasing discounted and cheap groceries. Furthermore, they express concern regarding the economic doubts entrepreneurs harbor concerning large energy projects (wind farms).

The most crucial social issue is the demographic crisis, which is being treated as fundamental to the state's very existence. The drop in the birth rate is linked to the insecurity of younger women, a sense of "Weltschmerz" (or world-weariness), fear of war, and also the lack of suitable men in Estonia. The speaker stresses that Estonia must remain Estonian-speaking and Estonian in spirit.

The speaker's focus is on political criticism and raising existential issues, rather than on specific legislative bills. He mentions his role as a member of the Rural Affairs Committee but does not describe any concrete legislative priorities or achievements.