Session Profile: Mart Helme

The political position centers on staunch opposition to the draft amendment of the Churches and Congregations Act, which is viewed as a direct security threat that could result in the loss of Ida-Virumaa. It is stressed that NATO is paralyzed and the allies are impotent, necessitating that Estonia adequately assess its own security threats independently. Furthermore, the government's policy of allowing Orthodox followers with unchecked backgrounds from Eastern Ukraine into the country is criticized, linking this directly to the security situation. The position is strongly value-based (sovereignty, security) and highly critical of the government’s actions.

Shows knowledge of the historical relations and subordination (Pühtitsa, Nevsky Cathedral) of the Estonian and Russian Orthodox Churches, and refers to earlier political decisions (Ilves’s policy of positive engagement). Presents deductive security assessments, linking immigration (Eastern Ukraine) and church legislation to the Crimean scenario. Possesses knowledge of international and local schemes funding propaganda (USAID, CERV, KÜSK).

The rhetorical style is extremely combative, accusatory, and tense, utilizing strong emotional appeals (e.g., the security threat, the fear of losing Ida-Virumaa) and polarizing terms such as "fifth column" and "cancelling." The speaker employs sharp personal attacks against the prime minister, labeling his insults as insipid and vile, and demands an apology regarding the accusation concerning the May 9th celebration. The argumentation is based on a deductive security assessment and references to foreign policy statements (Putin, Slutski).

The course of action is confined to pointed questions raised during the Riigikogu’s Q&A session, concerning the current draft law and its security implications. It is noted that the Speaker of the Riigikogu failed to make time to meet with the nuns who submitted the petition, thus underscoring the gravity of the matter and the government’s dismissiveness.

The main confrontation is aimed at the governing coalition and the Prime Minister, who are being accused of demagoguery, ignoring security threats, and making baseless personal insults (specifically, the accusation concerning the celebration of May 9th). Criticism is also leveled at earlier political decisions (such as the policy of positive engagement with Russia during Toomas Hendrik Ilves’s tenure) and the involvement of opposition colleagues (from the Isamaa party) in creating the church crisis. The attacks are intense, compromise is ruled out, and there are demands for the immediate withdrawal of the issue.

The style of cooperation is poor and confrontational, focusing on criticizing the government's policies and inaction regarding security matters. The speaker expresses no willingness to compromise; instead, they demand that the government drop the issue of the church law due to security threats. It is also mentioned that opposition colleagues contributed to the creation of the current situation in the past.

The regional focus is heavily centered on national security and international relations (Russia, NATO, Ukraine). A specific regional flashpoint is Ida-Virumaa, whose territorial integrity, according to the speaker, would be directly jeopardized if the prohibition of the Russian Orthodox Church were to lead to destabilization.

Not enough data

Among social themes, concern over free society and freedom of speech dominates, criticizing the ideologically motivated cancellation (Tõnis Mägi, Hortus Musicus) and the "building of firewalls" against political opponents (EKRE, AfD). The question is raised regarding the funding of the propaganda industry through USAID and the European CERV program, asserting that this is not a characteristic of a free society. Additionally, the introduction of Orthodox followers from Eastern Ukraine is addressed as a pressing security issue.

The legislative focus is currently centered on opposing the draft amendment to the Churches and Congregations Act, which is undergoing its first reading. The speaker is a staunch opponent of the bill, stressing that its passage constitutes the most direct security threat to Estonia, and demanding that its legislative process be halted immediately.