Session Profile: Mart Helme
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, press briefing
2025-09-10
Political Position
The political focus is heavily directed toward the incompetent stewardship of national defense and the government's failure to ensure the development of defense capabilities, despite massive expenditures (5% of GDP). The speaker demands the immediate resignation of the government and the responsible ministers, stressing their complete failure and lack of accountability. The criticism is primarily results-oriented, centered on the government's inaction over the past three years and the concealment of documents from the National Audit Office. The government is pejoratively referred to as a "crisis government."
13 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise in national defense funding (GDP shares of GDP), the history of the construction of the eastern border, and the work procedures of the National Audit Office (document availability). Specific terms like "defense capability" are employed, and concrete departmental plans are referenced (such as drafting women). Furthermore, the speaker is knowledgeable about previous government decisions regarding the financing of border construction.
13 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is extremely aggressive, accusatory, and emotional, using sharp expressions such as ‘you are lying to the public,’ ‘scandalous,’ and ‘childish.’ The speaker employs irony and cultural comparisons (e.g., Confucian collective responsibility) to expose the opponents’ demagoguery. The tone is urgent and and demands immediate action, contrasting quiet and determined work with the government’s "war hysteria" and "bellowing."
13 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker actively participates in the Riigikogu's information session (Q&A), posing pointed questions to members of the government (Kristen Michal, Prime Minister). This pattern demonstrates a response to recent events, such as drone incidents, reports from the National Audit Office, and the situation on the eastern border. The speaker also references previous activities during their tenure as Minister of the Interior (initiating border construction and addressing issues related to corrupt funds).
13 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main adversaries are the government (dubbed the "crisis government"), specifically Kristen Michal and the Prime Minister. The criticism is intense, accusing them of incompetence, lying to the public, and concealing documents from a constitutional institution (the National Audit Office). Compromise is ruled out, and we demand the immediate resignation of all responsible individuals, as they are collectively accountable for the failure of national defense.
13 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
There is no willingness to cooperate; the speaker focuses on holding the government accountable and demanding its resignation. The speaker points to the possibility of consensus regarding increased defense spending, but stresses that this must be done quietly and effectively, not through "blustering."
13 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is heavily on the national level (national defense, government operations) and the international level (Russia's activities, NATO). Regionally, emphasis is placed on the necessity of ensuring the security of the eastern and southeastern borders, with criticism directed at the slow pace of their construction and the resulting inadequate situation. Plans for building bunkers on the southeastern border are also mentioned.
13 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic views are tied to the effectiveness of defense spending; high defense spending (5% of GDP) is supported, but there is a demand that this money translates into actual defense capabilities. Emphasis is placed on the need to avoid corruption in public procurements, referencing the removal of funds from the border construction project to prevent theft. It is also mentioned that the people "grumble themselves poor," pointing to broader economic dissatisfaction.
13 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Among the social issues being brought up is the plan to make women conscripts, referencing statements made by the head of the Women's Home Defence League and subsequent media discussion. The speaker uses this topic as an example of government secrecy and the hushing up of plans, without taking a direct position either for or against the proposal itself. A second topic is the fueling of war hysteria, which is deemed detrimental to actually strengthening the country's defense capabilities.
13 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The focus is on scrutinizing the government's actions and demanding accountability, rather than initiating new legislation. The intention to draft a bill concerning the conscription of women is mentioned, but this comes up in the context of criticizing the government's secrecy. The speaker stresses the necessity of implementing existing defense and border security decisions—decisions the government has failed to execute over the past five years.
13 Speeches Analyzed