Agenda Profile: Helle-Moonika Helme
Draft law amending the Act on Termination of Pregnancy and Sterilisation (459 SE) - First Reading
2024-11-11
15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary session
Political Position
The political position is strongly value-driven and focused on national priorities, opposing state funding for elective abortions. The speaker sharply criticizes the government’s policies that impoverish families (e.g., cutting family benefits and health insurance) while simultaneously offering abortion funding as a supposed solution. They demand the creation of a new ethical paradigm where taking a life is not a tool for family planning. The stance is firm and uncompromising.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates knowledge of the legislative hierarchy (the Constitution, the law/act, the regulation) and challenges the constitutionality of the current regulation, citing its Soviet-era origins. They present a specific budget figure (nearly 300,000 euros annually) concerning the funding of elective abortions through the Health Insurance Fund. It is consistently emphasized that elective abortion is not a healthcare service.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is passionate and occasionally confrontational, accusing opponents (liberals) of lying about the bill's content and employing scare tactics (e.g., the rise of back-alley clinics). The speaker employs strong emotional appeals, referencing children who were never born and reading a poem. The argumentation balances the ethical and moral framework with logical arguments concerning the state's budgetary priorities.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker actively participated in the heated debate on November 11th, making multiple interventions and requesting additional time, which indicates a high degree of involvement in the ongoing legislative process. This pattern of activity demonstrates active engagement in the debate and repeated clarification of the draft bill's content.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The opponents are liberals and those who back state funding for elective abortions, and they are being accused of misrepresenting the content of the bill. Specific criticism is also leveled at colleague Tanel Kiik and previous administrations for implementing an unconstitutional regulation. The opposition is intense, centering on both ethical and political priorities, and explicitly rules out compromise on the matter of taking a life.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker addresses colleagues and collaborates with Varro (Varro Vooglaid) to clarify the hierarchy of legislation and the substance of the draft bill. The style of cooperation is focused on explaining and affirming their own ideological position. There is no indication of a willingness to compromise or engage in cross-party cooperation.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on national priorities, legislation, and societal values, referencing Father's Day events across Estonia. The topics addressed are universal and ethical (the paradigm of the 21st century). There is no specific regional or local focus.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic perspectives stress the need to streamline state budget priorities and maintain fiscal discipline, deeming the public funding of elective abortions unreasonable during a period of austerity. The speaker also criticizes government measures (such as the proposed car tax and cuts to family benefits) which actively impoverish families, consequently generating a greater demand for social assistance.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The central social theme is abortion, the state funding of which is strongly opposed, emphasizing the protection of human life and the ethical obligation toward unborn children. The speaker stresses the value of children as a gift and the importance of family (large families, Father's Day). Social issues are strongly framed by a moral and ethics-based viewpoint.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on Bill 459 SE, the aim of which is to terminate the funding of voluntary termination of pregnancy under the Health Insurance Act. The speaker is a strong proponent of the bill, focusing on amending a Regulation of the Government of the Republic that is in conflict with the law and the constitution. The objective is to establish that elective abortions will no longer be financed as a health service.
5 Speeches Analyzed