Agenda Profile: Mart Helme
Draft law amending the Hunting Act (567 SE) – First Reading
2025-02-26
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Political Position
The central issue is the protection of rural residents and farmers from damage caused by predators (wolves, bears, jackals), and the necessity of compensating for and preventing such losses. The speaker strongly supports Bill 567 SE, which addresses this matter, and sharply criticizes the coalition's decision to reject it. The political framework represents a blend of policy-based (damage compensation) and value-based (safeguarding rural life) approaches.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates practical expertise in agriculture and livestock farming, detailing personal experience raising geese and suffering losses due to predation (specifically foxes). Emphasis is placed on calculating investments and foregone profits, indicating a clear understanding of the economic damage incurred. Furthermore, the speaker is aware of the issues caused by large predators (bears, wolves, jackals) and their spread, while actively seeking specific population data.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is combative, emotional, and forceful, drawing on personal experiences (the loss of geese to predators) and folksy expressions ("kuidas kokk, nõnda rokk"). Strong emotional appeals are employed, particularly concerning the safety of children, and opponents are accused of being "out of touch with reality" and "irrational." The speaker balances the personal narrative (the farmer’s experience) with political criticism, while simultaneously emphasizing the critical importance of data regarding predator populations.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The data indicates active participation in the legislative debate, presenting both specific data inquiries concerning the number of predators and longer, substantive, and critical speeches. All speeches are related to the first reading of one specific draft bill.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary adversaries are the coalition and the Ministry of Climate, who stand accused of political jealousy and being completely out of touch with reality. The criticism is intense, accusing them of rejecting the draft legislation, "willful obstruction" (or "stonewalling"), and violating the house and work rules of procedure. The speaker believes that the coalition's actions jeopardize the country's long-term sustainability.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
They are showing no willingness to cooperate with the coalition, criticizing their decision to reject the draft bill as absurd. Simultaneously, they issue a challenge to their opponents to improve the bill's content ('Make it better'), thereby hinting at a theoretical possibility for substantive cooperation.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
There is a strong focus on rural areas, agriculture, and forest holdings, highlighting the damage caused by predators and the threat to the safety of country dwellers. Specific mention is made of the raiding of apiaries and the danger posed to children near bus stops and on isolated homesteads.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
It supports the interests of the agricultural sector and demands national compensation for the loss of investments and income caused by predators. It criticizes the attitude of officials, which places the blame for suffering the damage on the farmer himself ("it's your own fault").
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The primary social issue is the physical safety of rural residents, especially young children (aged four to five), from the threat of predators. This is framed as a critical security problem that the government is ignoring by rejecting the draft legislation.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative priority is the draft act amending the Hunting Act (567 SE), which addresses the compensation and prevention of damage caused by predators. The speaker is a strong supporter of the bill and criticizes its rejection, emphasizing that it is substantively necessary.
2 Speeches Analyzed