Session Profile: Andre Hanimägi
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
2025-09-08
Political Position
The politician strongly advocates for resolving the legal vacuum surrounding end-of-life issues and initiating relevant legislation, emphasizing the necessity of enabling a dignified ending for the seriously ill. He sharply criticizes the coalition's tax policy, asserting that it exacerbates regional inequality, particularly in Southeast Estonia, and is detrimental to the elderly. His focus is on solving these problems and bringing value-based ethical questions to the forefront, demanding a more balanced policy approach.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates knowledge of legal and ethical dilemmas, referencing a Supreme Court ruling and the case of Paul Tammert regarding assisted suicide. They are familiar with labor immigration regulations, specifically mentioning the existence of over 20 exceptions and the quota system. Furthermore, they raise technical questions about the suitability of nuclear energy for Estonia's energy system, taking into account the need for renewable energy and dispatchable capacity.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is predominantly formal and analytical, focusing on logical arguments and highlighting specific issues (e.g., legal vacuum, ethical problems). The text employs both ethical appeals (such as the dignified end of life) and pragmatic ones (like the regional impact of tax policy), and it calls for constructive debate. Humorous introductions are sometimes used as well, for instance, by referencing the repetition of Lauri Laats' name.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is active during the Riigikogu plenary session, submitting both follow-up questions stemming from an earlier interpellation and new, detailed questions across several sectors (social affairs, taxation, energy, and labor). They reference the interpellation submitted in the spring and demand specific answers from the ministers regarding future action plans (e.g., the autumn roundtable discussion). These patterns of activity suggest continuous monitoring of the legislative process.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary criticism targets the coalition's tax policy, which stands accused of exacerbating inequality and worsening conditions for the elderly. This is substantive criticism of the policy itself, highlighting that residents of Tallinn and more affluent municipalities are the ones who benefit most from the tax reform. The speaker is calling on the Regional Minister to intervene to ensure a more balanced outcome.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker underscores the necessity of inter-ministerial cooperation, specifically between the Minister of Social Affairs and the Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, to resolve complex ethical and legal issues concerning end-of-life regulations. He calls for a public debate and the search for societal consensus, indicating a desire for a constructive discussion.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
A strong regional focus becomes evident when analyzing tax policy, where the growing inequality is emphasized, along with the fact that residents of Southeast Estonia benefit the least from the income tax reform due to their lower median wages. A more balanced approach is demanded—one that does not prioritize Tallinn and the wealthier municipalities but instead takes the regional context into account.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic perspectives are critical of the coalition's tax policy, arguing that it increases inequality and disadvantages the elderly. They stress the necessity of a balanced tax system that accounts for regional disparities and the median wage level. Concerning labor policy, they question why existing exemptions (such as EU citizens and top specialists) are insufficient before importing skilled workers from third countries.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The speaker addresses the deeply ethical question of end-of-life, emphasizing the existence of a legal vacuum and a profound ethical problem, as well as the need to enable a dignified termination of life for severely ill patients who are suffering. In the social sector, caution is expressed regarding immigration policy, citing record-low birth rates and existing difficulties with integration.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The primary legislative focus is the creation of regulations concerning assisted suicide and end-of-life declarations, aimed at filling the existing legal vacuum and requiring the initiation of the legislative process. Additionally, there is a demand for reviewing the regional impacts of tax policy and considering alternatives to raising labor immigration quotas, specifically by focusing on the promotion of existing exceptions.
8 Speeches Analyzed