Agenda Profile: Andre Hanimägi
Draft law amending the Church and Religious Communities Act (570 UA) – second reading
2025-06-11
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
Political Position
The speaker strongly supports the government-initiated draft legislation, the primary objective of which is to prevent hostile influence activities—unrelated to the practice of faith—conducted through the administrative relations of a religious association, including the dissemination of extremist ideology and disinformation. This stance is deeply value-based and security-focused, underscoring the necessity of responding to the overall deteriorating security environment. He defends the Legal Affairs Committee’s decision to advance the bill, notwithstanding the president’s earlier refusal to promulgate it.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates profound expertise in the fields of legislative procedure and constitutional law, particularly regarding issues concerning the restriction of freedom of religion and association. They utilize technical terminology (e.g., "forum internum/externum," Section 40 and Section 130 of the Constitution) and refer in detail to the explanations provided by the Ministry of the Interior (MoI) and the supplementary additions to the explanatory memorandum. This expertise further encompasses the precise presentation of the draft bill's proposed amendments and the voting results within the committee.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The speaker’s style is formal, procedural, and explanatory, which is typical of a committee rapporteur. He relies heavily on logical arguments, referencing protocols, the explanatory memorandum, and the ministry’s positions, in order to address criticism regarding unconstitutionality. The tone is generally neutral and respectful, even when quoting the arguments of opponents, although there is a brief apology for the choice of language ("my head is hot and I think I also have a bit of a fever").
11 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker's activity is focused on the work of the Riigikogu Legal Affairs Committee, providing an overview of the session held on June 3, 2025, and its procedural decisions. He/She is actively involved in defending and explaining the draft legislation before the plenary session, repeatedly answering questions regarding the bill's constitutionality and its potential consequences. This pattern of activity is linked to managing the second reading of a specific draft law.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponents are the Centre Party faction and Varro Vooglaid, who submitted amendments and raised questions regarding the bill's constitutionality, often referencing the President's positions. The criticism targets the content and legal clarity of the draft legislation, but the speaker addresses these points factually, explaining why the committee failed to support most of the proposals (for instance, the Centre Party's proposal received only 2 supporting votes). He repeatedly dismisses accusations that the bill is aimed at persecuting a specific religion.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker emphasized the consensus achieved within the Legal Committee regarding procedural decisions (specifically, sending the draft bill to the second and third readings). They highlighted the cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, which undertook extensive work in supplementing the explanatory memorandum. A willingness to compromise was demonstrated by supporting the Centre Party's proposal to extend the deadline for bringing the statutes into compliance with the law from three months to six months.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is clearly centered on national security and the existential threats facing the Republic of Estonia, stemming from the deteriorating global security situation. The discussion also touches upon the historical and international context (the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Moscow Patriarchate), but there are no references to specific local regions or economic interests.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Not enough data.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The speaker is deeply engaged with issues concerning the freedom of religion and association, stressing that the bill's objective is to regulate the administrative structure of religious associations, not to restrict faith itself (forum internum). He/She advocates for a balance between civil liberties and national security, emphasizing that the bill is aimed at preventing hostile influence operations and extremist ideologies, rather than banning religion.
11 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The primary legislative priority is the adoption of the draft law amending the law on churches and congregations (570 UA). The speaker is a strong proponent of the bill and serves as the rapporteur for the Legal Affairs Committee, responsible for addressing the constitutional concerns that arose following the presidential veto. He/She notes as progress the clarification of the terms "to be guided by" and "person with significant influence," along with the substantial supplementation of the explanatory memorandum.
11 Speeches Analyzed