Agenda Profile: Mart Helme
First Reading of the Bill to Amend the Income Tax Act (230 SE)
2024-02-07
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary sitting.
Political Position
The political position centers on strong opposition to the government’s tax policy, which is described as "taxing Estonian businesses and people to death." The speaker forcefully supports promoting domestic capital and taxing foreign banking and "rampant foreign capital" as an alternative method for filling the state budget. The focus is clearly results-oriented, criticizing the government's inability to secure funding for essential national expenditures.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates knowledge of economic policy and taxation strategies, employing terms such as due diligence, domestic capital, and foreign banking. The expertise focuses more on the political framework and ideological choices, rather than detailed data or the technical content of the draft legislation. He/She emphasizes the need for the state to secure funding for road construction and salary increases.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is highly combative and critical, employing strong emotional expressions such as "taxed to death," "a constant lament," and "for reasons of mental deficiency." The speaker levels sharp accusations against opponents and uses clear contrasts and rhetorical questions to present political choices. Also worth noting is the deliberate reference to the feminine connotation of the word "cognition."
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The data indicates participation in the Riigikogu debate on one specific date (07.02.2024) concerning the draft tax law. No other data is available regarding the frequency of appearances, meetings, or travel.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary opposition is directed at the current government and coalition, who are accused of the deliberate destruction of Estonian enterprise and ideological shortcomings. The criticism is intense and also extends to the Riigikogu board for breaching their duty of care, as well as to the "opportunists" who defected to the coalition side. The adversaries are accused of causing damage to the state.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker expresses a desire to reach consensus among all parties represented in the Riigikogu regarding the promotion of domestic capital and the taxation of foreign banking. This signals a readiness for inter-party cooperation, provided it serves concrete economic policy objectives.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is clearly national, centered on Estonian business, taxpayers, and the state budget as a whole. Specific regional or international topics are absent.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic views are strongly geared towards protecting domestic small businesses and taxpayers from excessive taxation. The speaker advocates for the aggressive taxation of foreign banking and "rampaging foreign capital" to increase state budget revenues. The objective is to find money for raising salaries and building roads without burdening our own taxpayers.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
There are no social issues.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is currently directed at the draft legislation amending the Income Tax Act (Bill 230 SE), where the speaker stands as a strong opponent to the tax policy proposed by the government. The priority is the implementation of alternative solutions (such as promoting domestic capital and taxing foreign banks).
2 Speeches Analyzed