Agenda Profile: Kalle Grünthal
First Reading of the Sugary Drinks Tax Bill (418 SE)
2024-04-30
Fifteenth Riigikogu, Third Session, Plenary Session.
Political Position
The political stance heavily emphasizes procedural correctness and the efficiency of the Riigikogu's operations. The speaker highlights the value of the sweet drink tax bill (418 SE) as an "extremely important, essential substantive issue," but objects to initiating its debate given the insufficient time allotted. This position is fundamentally aimed at ensuring the quality of parliamentary work.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates a strong grasp of the Riigikogu's operational procedures, referencing the session closing times, the bill number (418 SE), and the board's ability to call a recess. The expertise is clearly procedural and focuses on parliamentary process issues. There is no evidence of substantive expertise regarding tax policy or public health topics.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is formal, respectful, and direct, addressing the chair of the session directly ("Esteemed Jüri Ratas"). The tone is concerned and urgent, emphasizing that matters are falling through the cracks and that the situation is awkward for both the minister and the participants in the proceedings. A logical appeal is utilized, focusing on the conflict between time constraints versus the quality of the procedure.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The pattern of behavior indicates a readiness to intervene with procedural questions late in the session to ensure the due consideration of important legislative drafts. The address is timed just before the session concludes in order to influence the deferral of the agenda.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The objection is aimed at the presiding officer's decision to begin debate on a significant bill when only nine minutes remained on the clock. The criticism is strictly procedural, targeting the inconvenience of the process rather than the political opposition or the substance of the policy.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker offers the presiding officer a concrete solution (a recess of the board/presidium and an adjournment), which demonstrates an openness to compromise and a desire to find a resolution that would be suitable for all parties, including the Minister of Health, Riina Sikkut. The objective is to achieve a consensual procedural order.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
Insufficient data.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker does not express views on taxes, spending, economic growth, or fiscal discipline, even though the tax law bill is at the center of the discussion. The focus is exclusively on the procedure.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Insufficient data.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on the first reading of the Sweetened Beverage Tax Bill (418 SE). The speaker, acting as a procedural proponent, is demanding that the debate on this important piece of legislation be postponed until the next sitting day to ensure substantive and thorough consideration.
1 Speeches Analyzed