Session Profile: Ants Frosch

15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session

2025-03-26

Political Position
He/She strongly advocates for amending the constitution to restrict the voting rights of non-citizens and stateless persons in local elections, framing it as an issue of state sovereignty and internal security. Although preferring the "pure option" (only for Estonian citizens), he/she supports a compromise (a sunset clause) to ensure the passage of the bill. The political framework is value-based, focusing on defining suffrage as a civil right and addressing the failure of integration. He/She believes that the external environment has provided a specific time window for making this decision, thereby justifying the urgency.

31 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of constitutional law and legislative procedure, acting both as a legal expert and a committee rapporteur, providing a detailed overview of the proceedings and the voting results. The speaker utilizes data and references from sociological studies (specifically, the percentage of applicants seeking citizenship) and the opinions provided by the Internal Security Service (Kaitsepolitseiamet) to substantiate the necessity of the amendments. Furthermore, they exhibit expertise in integration policy and demographic processes, noting the probability of a migration crisis occurring before 2050.

31 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is formal, procedural, and detailed, especially when presenting the summary of the committee's work, but becomes more persuasive and nationally focused when answering questions. It uses an insistent tone, emphasizing responsibility ("we must get our job done") and highlighting the open "window of opportunity" for decision-making. It appeals both to logic (compromise, legal interpretation) and to emotions (Estonian matters are pursued through joint effort, national backbone).

31 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
Serving as the rapporteur for the Constitutional Committee, which necessitated intensive attendance at committee meetings (seven in total, two of which took place between the second and third readings). He/She is well-informed about the internal dynamics of the parliamentary groups and the ongoing search for compromise. He/She references his/her prior role as an opposition member who had wished to address this issue as early as the spring of 2023.

31 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
Criticizes those who consider the changes undemocratic or a deprivation of rights (e.g., Lauri Läänemets, Lauri Laats, colleagues from the Centre Party), accusing them of supporting an "entitlement mentality." Considers the raising of the 'fifth column' topic in the Riigikogu chamber to be extremely inappropriate and perceived as a threat. Criticizes the previous government (Spring 2023) for sidelining important security-related issues.

31 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The text stresses the necessity of statesmanship and finding compromises for the constitutional amendments to be realized, citing the compromise proposal put forth by 55 members. It acknowledges the broad political debate and the pursuit of consensus, which resulted in two competing drafts that were nonetheless approved by the committee. It also notes that the current coalition engages in more dialogue with the opposition than the previous one did.

31 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The text focuses primarily on national sovereignty and security, while using the problems faced by local governments as illustrative examples. It specifically names Valga as one of the most multicultural cities, and mentions Narva in the context of a supporting member of the Defence League. It stresses that Estonian citizens must enjoy the same rights in Tartu as they do in Narva, specifically referencing the enforcement of language requirements within government agencies.

31 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Not enough data.

31 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The central social issue is citizenship and integration, which is widely considered to have failed over the last 30 years. It supports motivating stateless persons to acquire Estonian citizenship by granting them a transition period (a "sunset clause") until the 2029 elections. It emphasizes the importance of learning the Estonian language and transitioning to Estonian-language education to further integration.

31 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main priority is the adoption of Draft Law 536, which amends the constitution regarding the right to vote in local government council elections. [It] supports a compromise proposal that retains voting rights for stateless persons in the 2025 elections but abolishes them by 2029. It also raises the complex issue related to the Russian Orthodox Church as one of the upcoming priorities.

31 Speeches Analyzed