By Months: Varro Vooglaid
Total Months: 19
Fully Profiled: 19
10.2025
14 Speeches
The speaker is a strong advocate for fiscal discipline and a balanced budget, opposing the deepening of the deficit and living beyond the state’s means. He stresses that any increase in spending must be financially sustainable from a public finance perspective. Furthermore, he demands greater transparency and specific figures regarding the use of taxpayer money.
09.2025
64 Speeches
The speaker is a strong advocate for fiscal discipline, criticizing the government for moving away from budgetary balance and increasing the debt burden. He demands clarification regarding the interest payments on loans and the projected future debt load. He opposes banning the activities of savings and loan associations (or credit unions) if the objective can be achieved through less restrictive measures (i.e., more effective supervision).
06.2025
30 Speeches
The economic viewpoints are indirectly stated; tax hikes are criticized, which, in the speaker's estimation, have contributed to a drastic decline in the sense of belonging among Estonians. In the context of bringing in Swedish prisoners, he asks whether the financial revenue gained outweighs the associated costs and risks, but a detailed economic program is missing.
05.2025
56 Speeches
The economic stance is strongly opposed to tax increases, accusing the government of lacking a mandate and relying on inadequate arithmetic analyses. It supports regional tax differentials in Southeast Estonia to make living there more attractive. It is considering lowering the value-added tax (VAT) to 18% in order to project long-term revenue growth resulting from shifts in consumer behavior.
04.2025
26 Speeches
Economic views are strongly anti-tax, particularly concerning the car tax, which is viewed as unfair double taxation and an infringement on private property. He/She supports taxing banks' extraordinary profits (following the Lithuanian model) and demands complete transparency in public procurement (specifically the defense industry). He/She criticizes the allocation of billions of euros in subsidies for building wind farms, viewing this as serving narrow corporate interests.
03.2025
39 Speeches
It supports lowering taxes to alleviate the economic crisis, while criticizing the government's tax hikes. It condemns the reduction of benefits for large families and new taxes (such as the car tax) that penalize families. It criticizes large arms purchases from international corporations, while simultaneously considering raising the compensation for reservists an essential foundation for national defense.
02.2025
23 Speeches
The speaker is sharply critical of the economic policy, opposing tax hikes during the economic downturn, which, in his estimation, will trigger a further recession. He is vehemently opposed to the allocation of state subsidies (2.6 billion euros) to offshore wind farm developers, labeling the move a scam and an act of financial detriment to the public. He demands transparency and the public release of the underlying calculations.
01.2025
9 Speeches
Economic perspectives are critical of large, hastily implemented, and opaque state expenditures, particularly the 2.6 billion euro subsidy allocated to energy parks. A concrete answer is demanded regarding the source of these funds and which expenditures will be foregone to cover the cost, citing the necessity of involving independent specialists.
12.2024
31 Speeches
The speaker strongly opposes the "security tax" (an increase in income tax and VAT), deeming it a deceptive and unwarranted method of revenue collection that will not significantly enhance Estonia's security. Furthermore, the speaker advocates for state control over strategic mineral resources, specifically phosphorite, suggesting the establishment of a state-owned joint-stock company rather than granting concessions. Finally, the speaker expresses skepticism regarding the feasibility of transitioning to 100% renewable energy.
11.2024
62 Speeches
He opposes tax increases during a recession, arguing that they deepen the deficit and harm industry. He sharply criticizes government spending, demanding cuts to ideological programs (such as gender equality) and the termination of state funding for abortion. He supports benefits for large families and criticizes the car tax, which he claims penalizes large families.
10.2024
41 Speeches
Economic views are strongly opposed to tax hikes, especially when the earmarking of tax revenue (such as the fuel excise tax for road maintenance) is decoupled. They support implementing a bank tax but criticize its structure, which fails to pressure banks into raising deposit interest rates. They deem it unfair to pay subsidies to renewable energy companies that are already generating massive profits and refer to the growth in bank profits in 2023 as "blatant robbery."
09.2024
11 Speeches
Economic perspectives strongly emphasize the transparency of the state budget and the responsible utilization of taxpayer funds. The speaker criticizes the government for distributing hundreds of millions of euros without competitive tenders and without detailing the recipients of these subsidies in the budget’s explanatory notes, deeming this an opaque practice. Furthermore, he takes a stand against the Social Democrats' discussions regarding the confiscation of assets.
07.2024
2 Speeches
The economic perspective is firmly against tax increases, criticizing plans to hike VAT, income tax, and excise duties. It is stressed that such crucial fiscal decisions demand a clear electoral mandate from the populace, standing in direct opposition to the government’s plans.
06.2024
30 Speeches
Economic views are strongly anti-regulatory and protective of private property, opposing aggressive tax increases (such as the car tax and the taxation of land under homes) and growing bureaucracy. The text criticizes the government's distrust of entrepreneurs—citing the infringement of banking secrecy and the over-regulation of the crypto sector—which is forcing companies to leave Estonia. It also raises the philosophical question regarding profiteering and the state's obligation to curb it.
05.2024
56 Speeches
Supports higher taxation on banks to prevent "wild profits" and illicit enrichment, while hinting at a potential conflict of interest among the leading politicians of the ruling parties. Criticizes the government for shifting the financial burden (such as the land tax) onto local municipalities. Expresses skepticism regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant unless its ownership structure guarantees a majority stake for the Estonian state, ensuring it serves the interests of the Estonian people.
04.2024
54 Speeches
Economic perspectives are critical of the government's fiscal policy, opposing cuts to benefits for large families and the overall trend of tax hikes. They support implementing a bank tax (the Lithuanian model) as an alternative source of revenue, arguing it would be more family-friendly than eliminating the income tax exemption for children. There is skepticism regarding the need to double fine rates to cover procedural costs, viewing this measure as merely an attempt to offset the budget deficit.
03.2024
55 Speeches
The speaker is vehemently opposed to tax hikes (income tax, car tax) and advocates for supporting families (specifically opposing cuts to benefits for large families). He supports the introduction of a temporary solidarity tax on banks' extraordinary profits. He views government spending on items like Rail Baltic, the green transition, and aid to Ukraine as a misplacement of priorities, which ultimately starves the resources needed for the nation's continued existence.
02.2024
13 Speeches
The speaker is vehemently opposed to tax hikes, criticizing the government for breaking its promises ("taxes won't rise"). They advocate for a tax policy that fosters competition, a reduction in administrative burden, and the avoidance of over-regulation. The speaker expresses pessimism regarding the government's ability to take into account proposals that support the business environment.
01.2024
61 Speeches
Supports a lower tax burden (mentioning the 18.8% VAT bill) and sharply criticizes the government’s supposedly low tax rate, arguing that the actual tax burden on the payroll fund is 60–70%. Expresses concern over inflation and the expropriation of value occurring through fiat currency, demanding a plan to combat hyperinflation. Supports family-friendly economic measures modeled after Hungary, such as income tax exemption for mothers with children and favorable home loans.