Session Profile: Helle-Moonika Helme
15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting
2024-12-03
Political Position
The political stance is extremely value-driven and intensely confrontational, focusing on child protection and the fight against pedophiles, to the extent that the provisions of the draft law are viewed as deliberate criminal activity. Secondly, the speaker expresses strong skepticism regarding foreign aid, particularly financial support for Ukraine, while simultaneously highlighting the growing impoverishment and financial difficulties faced by Estonian residents. The speaker clearly prioritizes the welfare of the Estonian people over the provision of foreign aid.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates a detailed awareness of specific sections of the draft Child Protection Act concerning the expungement of criminal records and the discretion afforded to officials of the Social Insurance Board. The arguments are supported by both social data (e.g., 2018 statistics on child rape) and financial data (100 million euros allocated to Ukraine). Reference is also made to institutions such as the PPA child protection group, the Chancellor of Justice, and the Children's Ombudsman.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is extremely combative, emotional, and accusatory, employing strong moral appeals and scare tactics (e.g., "desecrated bodies will remain on your conscience"). Opponents are directly accused of lying, corruption, and abetting perverts, suggesting a conscious, deliberate course of action. The speaker uses dramatic language to emphasize the urgency and danger of the issue.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is active in plenary sessions, participating intensively in debates on draft legislation and in pre-vote procedures, such as requesting a recess before the vote. Reference is also made to a previous procedure on the same topic that took place about a month ago, which demonstrates a consistent focus on the issue.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The opposition is directed primarily against the coalition and ministry officials, who are accused of deliberate criminal activity and serving the interests of perverts. The criticism is intense, personal, and moral, suggesting high-level corruption and cover-ups ("blinded by power, manipulated, bought off"). Compromise is ruled out, demanding the rejection of the draft law.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The style of cooperation is purely confrontational; the speaker presents ultimatums to the coalition and demands that they make a moral choice ("whether they stand with pedophiles or with children"). Reference is made only to the previous findings of their own faction (EKRE), and there are no signs of readiness for compromise or cross-party cooperation.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is broadly national and international, addressing child protection, foreign aid to Ukraine, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Regionally, there is a brief mention of the funding shortfall required for the preservation of the Vana-Vigala school.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The economic perspectives are focused on protecting the well-being of the Estonian people, emphasizing the growing number of households facing payment difficulties and the rising cost of food, which makes Estonia the country with the most expensive food in Europe, second only to Denmark. The speaker is fiscally skeptical regarding foreign aid, suspecting that money, both flowing into Estonia and being disbursed by Estonia, disappears without actually increasing the welfare of the nation.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
At the heart of social issues is the protection of children from sexual offenders, which necessitates the retention of offenders' criminal record data and the absolute enforcement of the ban preventing them from working with children. The issue is framed as a moral and security concern, where supporting the proposed legislation is deemed a "crime against humanity."
6 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is currently on challenging the draft Child Protection Act. This draft proposes provisions allowing for the deletion of criminal record data pertaining to pedophiles and granting them the possibility of working with children, provided they receive permission from an official at the Social Insurance Board. The speaker is a vehement opponent of the bill, demanding its outright rejection specifically due to this controversial section.
6 Speeches Analyzed