Session Profile: Kalle Grünthal
Fifteenth Riigikogu, Fifth Session, Plenary Session.
2025-04-15
Political Position
The political position is strongly regulatory, demanding equal requirements for all participants in the taxi services market to ensure consumer protection and fair competition. He/She emphasizes that the current situation, where differing requirements are in force, violates the constitution and the principles of the rule of law. The stance is deeply rooted in policy and values, aiming to protect traditional service standards.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of the Public Transport Act and the Language Act, citing precise sections and subsections (e.g., Section 27 Subsection 1 of the Language Act and Section 2 Clause 1 of the Information Society Service Act). They use specific terminology ("service provider card," "taximeter," "content of brokering information society services") and rely on PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) analysis data concerning service provider cards issued to foreigners.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is passionate and critical, blending legal arguments (such as constitutional violations) with appeals to emotional and traditional values (the image of a respectable taxi driver, the white shirt). The text employs sharp and sometimes derogatory language ("the inarticulate," "Ugri-Mugri language," "scam taxi drivers") and uses personal anecdotes (being misled, receiving an abusive letter) to illustrate the issues. The overall tone is urgent and insistent, demanding that "order be established."
5 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The mode of operation focuses on presenting and defending a specific bill at a plenary session, having personally initiated the legislation. He/She refers to previous activities, such as communicating with Forus taxi drivers and participating in committee sessions.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponents are the Government of the Republic and the market player Bolt, who are accused of aggressive lobbying and seeking a monopoly in order to drive traditional taxis out of the market. The government's position is described as "substanceless" and "something pulled out of thin air," suggesting that laws are being created solely to serve specific interest groups.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker is firmly committed to their draft bill but concedes that amendments can be made. They call on colleagues to support the bill and request that the Chairwoman of the Anti-Corruption Committee take the topic (lobbying and the application of the law) into her jurisdiction.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on national regulation and the harmonization of laws, citing examples of issues with service quality and availability in both Tallinn (TalTech, Õismäe) and Rakvere. International examples (England) are used solely as a rhetorical benchmark for high standards.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The policy supports strong government regulation to ensure equal business standards within the sector, requiring taximeters and regular technical inspections for all participants. Concern is expressed that unregulated market development will lead to the formation of a monopoly and the displacement of traditional taxi companies (such as Tallink taxis).
5 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
It emphasizes the importance of meeting language requirements (Estonian proficiency at B1 level), linking this compliance directly to consumer safety and the quality of the service provided. Concern is expressed regarding the volume of service provider cards issued to foreigners and the legality of their driving licenses, with further reference made to ambiguous racial origins during the inspection of these service provider cards.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The primary legislative focus is amending the Public Transport Act to establish the same requirements (language proficiency, roadworthiness inspection, taximeters) for information society taxis as those applied to conventional taxis. He/She is the initiator of the draft bill and seeks to transfer the enforcement mechanisms from the Language Board (Keeleamet) to the jurisdiction of the Municipal Police (Mupo) and the regular Police, in order to increase the detection of violations and generate revenue for the state treasury.
5 Speeches Analyzed