Agenda Profile: Martin Helme
First reading of the Bill for the Amendment of the Vital Statistics Registration Act (106 SE)
2024-01-11
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary sitting
Political Position
The political position is strongly anti-government, criticizing the government's hypocritical actions when handling draft legislation. The speaker emphasizes that the government rejects bills due to a lack of development costs, while simultaneously introducing legislation to the Riigikogu without any impact, budgetary, or demographic analysis. The stance is primarily aimed at criticizing the government's actions and overall performance.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise in legislative procedures, demanding comprehensive impact assessments (budgetary and demographic). The necessity for specific statistics is also highlighted to evaluate the severity of social issues (e.g., registered cases of abducted children), requesting data regarding multiple cases.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is sharp, sarcastic, and combative, employing strong emotional expressions (e.g., "exquisite humor," "embarrassing," "the gang of crazies and lunatics"). The speaker engages in name-calling toward opponents while simultaneously demanding logical justification and statistical data to undermine their arguments.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The records indicate participation in the Riigikogu session and reference to the work of the committees, which included officials—the so-called "permanent state functionaries."
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponent is the Reform Party faction and the government, who are criticized both for disregarding legislative procedures and for their ideological agenda. The criticism is intense, labeling the opposing faction a "gang of crazy lunatics" and accusing them of "slapping [people] with the gender card."
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker refers to earlier cooperation with Urve Tiidus (from the Reform Party), considering her the most reasonable member of the faction, but in the current debate, there is a lack of openness to compromise.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on national legislation and social policy; there is no regional focus.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic viewpoints are being voiced in criticism aimed at the government, which is ignoring the necessity of state budgetary analysis when passing new legislation. The speaker finds the government's reasoning for rejecting draft bills due to a lack of development funding embarrassing.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
In social policy, the central issues are the Law on Vital Statistics Procedures and the state's role in recognizing parenthood. The speaker criticizes the aggressive "playing of the gender card" and state attempts to punish or control childbirth, while simultaneously emphasizing the principle of individual choice ("my body, my choice"). Concern is expressed that the state is claiming children as its own and forcing parents to prove their rights.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is centered on procedural correctness and the opposition to government bills related to civil status procedures. The speaker is a strong opponent of laws that lack the required impact assessment (budgetary and demographic).
2 Speeches Analyzed