Session Profile: Mart Helme

The speaker heavily emphasizes the need for rationality in energy policy, demanding a clear choice between renewables and nuclear power, while criticizing the coalition for supporting both. The core political position is a sharp condemnation of the government’s fiscal policy and economic management, which is characterized as "chaos." Emphasis is placed on the necessity of ensuring the economic well-being of the Estonian people (teachers, rescue workers, rural residents) and opposing the allocation of funds to foreign IT projects. The stances taken are highly critical and target the inefficiency of the government's operations.

The speaker demonstrates expertise in energy policy, citing TalTech researcher Jarek Kurnitski and discussing the long-term outlook (2035–2040) for developing nuclear and wind farms. Furthermore, he is well-versed in the specifics of public finance, criticizing particular expenditures on foreign IT development projects in Kenya and Afghanistan. Crucially, there is a strong emphasis on cost and revenue transparency concerning major projects.

The tone is extremely combative, accusatory, and overwrought, utilizing strong metaphors such as "chaos," "light years away," and "bare water." The speaker employs both logical arguments (fixing costs and revenues in energy projects) and emotional appeals (the necessity of assisting Estonian teachers and rescue workers). Personal attacks are used (making reference to the surname of Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev), and the coalition is accused of cynical deception, while the opposition is accused of presenting a fait accompli.

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Sharp opposition is mounted against the government and the coalition, particularly the Social Democrats and the administration led by Kaja Kallas, accusing them of financial chaos and flawed economic and energy policies. The criticism is both policy-based and procedural, accusing the coalition of forcing the opposition to support bills that offer only minimal relief. Compromise is ruled out, although it is acknowledged that the opposition is forced to support the "handing out of crumbs" to avoid attacks from propagandists.

The speaker publicly supports the views of colleague Helmen Kütt regarding the clear definition of costs and revenues for energy projects. There is a lack of openness concerning cooperation with the coalition; rather, the government is urged to invite new partners from the opposition if they cannot manage the country themselves.

The focus is on domestic issues, emphasizing the economic sustainability of Estonian teachers, rescue workers, and rural residents. Criticism is directed at channeling funds into international projects in Kenya and Afghanistan, which does nothing to help the sawmills and stores closing down in Estonia. Wind farms planned for the Gulf of Riga are also mentioned.

The speaker sharply criticizes the government's fiscal policy, which squanders money "everywhere" and has led to economic recession and rising inflation. It is demanded that major energy projects clearly define who bears the pollution and health costs and who receives the revenues, expressing opposition to the export of these revenues (e.g., via Swedish banks). Support is given to ensuring the economic livelihood of domestic companies and citizens ahead of foreign IT projects.

The central social theme is the funding for teachers’ salaries and, more broadly, the economic coping of the Estonian people amidst the economic recession. Emphasis is placed on the need to ensure a dignified life for Estonian teachers, rescuers, and residents of rural areas, contrasting this priority with foreign development projects. The framework of social policy is economic and focused on livelihood/subsistence.

The main focus is on the finance and budget bill, which the speaker refers to as the "chaos bill" and "a sleight of hand," since it offers only a mere handful of relief. The speaker is fundamentally opposed to the bill, although they admit the opposition is compelled to support it to avoid a political attack. Clear regulation is demanded regarding the distribution of costs and revenues for energy projects.