By Months: Martin Helme
Total Months: 19
Fully Profiled: 19
10.2025
17 Speeches
Economic views strongly emphasize the responsible use of taxpayer money and fiscal discipline, opposing the spending of state support (9 million euros) on vulgar entertainment events. It is demanded that the use of state funds must be in accordance with the objectives stipulated in the institution's basic regulations.
09.2025
60 Speeches
Economic views are strongly fiscally conservative, opposing the government’s record-high growth in debt burden and budget deficit (a 4.5% deficit, plus 2 billion in additional loans). They criticize the regressiveness of the tax reform, claiming it takes from the poorest income deciles and gives to the richest, and accuse the government of killing Estonian entrepreneurship.
06.2025
11 Speeches
The economic views are fiercely opposed to the government's tax policy, leveling accusations that they are destroying the economy and driving people into poverty with tax hikes that were initially promised to be temporary. He/She criticizes government expenditures, dismissing the "green transition corruption" and LGBT spending as trivial compared to selling out the country by importing foreign prisoners. He/She stresses that people lack the money necessary to pay their bills or purchase food.
05.2025
42 Speeches
Strongly supports tax cuts (excise duties, VAT) aimed at improving the economy's competitiveness and bringing consumption back to Estonia, citing previous experience. It opposes the importation of cheap labor, arguing that this stifles wage growth for Estonian residents and increases unemployment. It criticizes the government's policies, which have increased the national debt, reduced people's purchasing power, and ultimately made Estonia poorer.
04.2025
23 Speeches
They strongly advocate for tax cuts, stressing that money should remain in the hands of the people so they can better manage their own lives. They support an extraordinary bank levy to take funds from bankers and channel them into the state budget, thereby contrasting with the government's current austerity measures. Furthermore, they criticize the growing state budget deficit and major expenditures (such as Rail Baltic and wind farms), and oppose CO2 taxation, deeming it an anti-human policy.
03.2025
19 Speeches
The speaker is a strong proponent of tax cuts, sharply criticizing the income tax, VAT, excise duty, and land tax hikes implemented by the Reform Party government, as well as the introduction of the new car tax. He demands that the tax burden be lowered as a percentage of GDP. He criticizes the government's allocation of funds to the "wind farm lobby" and Milrem, labeling this activity as corrupt.
02.2025
18 Speeches
Strongly opposes the government’s green transition policy, arguing that it is too costly for society and will inevitably lead to corrupt schemes (specifically citing the 2.6 billion euro support scheme). It criticizes tax hikes and the budget crisis, deeming them the result of government incompetence, and further condemns the bankruptcies of state-owned airlines (Estonian Air, Nordica).
01.2025
6 Speeches
Economic views are strongly opposed to subsidies, particularly in the renewable energy sector, which is deemed too expensive for society and will lead the country to bankruptcy. It is emphasized that the 2.6 billion euro subsidy will be paid for by the Estonian people through tax increases, network fees, or higher prices for goods. They favor cheap, existing energy (oil shale) over the development of expensive parallel systems.
12.2024
20 Speeches
There is strong opposition to the government's proposed tax hikes (VAT, income tax, excise duties, security tax), which are seen as merely patching up the financial holes created by the Reform Party's incompetent economic management. The opposition advocates for achieving state budget balance through deep cuts (such as closing schools and withdrawing health insurance coverage) and demands an extraordinary bank tax to ensure richer foreign companies contribute their fair share in solidarity. Furthermore, it opposes allocating Estonian funds to international financial organizations (like the EBRD).
11.2024
26 Speeches
It strongly opposes the tax increases and predicts that they will lead to a deepening economic recession, widespread impoverishment, and the destruction of competitiveness. It advocates for fiscal responsibility (referencing the balanced budgets of 2019 and 2020) and criticizes the government's inability to control state spending, which necessitates retroactive budget shuffling. It views the government's budget as corrupt and designed to make the populace poor.
10.2024
37 Speeches
The economic views expressed are strongly pro-market and opposed to tax increases, accusing the government of destroying the economy and allowing the state budget volume to grow excessively (to over half of GDP). He/She criticizes the lack of transparency in the state budget and the channeling of funds toward foreign aid (Ukraine, NGOs) at the expense of domestic needs (families, roads). He/She emphasizes that tax increases are not a "minor detail," but the primary cause of the economic recession.
09.2024
35 Speeches
Strong opposition to the government's tax spree (VAT, income tax, car tax), which, in his estimation, is killing business and deepening the recession. He criticizes the government's irresponsible borrowing ("a drunk sailor in a brothel") and the squandering of reserves, all while the economy is stuck in Europe's longest recession. He considers the large business subsidies (160 million euros) "legalized corruption" aimed at businessmen close to the Reform Party. He views immigration as a mechanism to suppress the price of labor, which is unfair to ethnic Estonians.
07.2024
13 Speeches
The speaker is strongly opposed to tax hikes, arguing that they undermine people’s livelihoods, damage corporate competitiveness, and impair the overall functioning of the economy. The proposed solution for balancing the budget involves massive spending cuts, primarily by reducing funding for the green transition, Rail Baltic, and support for Ukraine. The speaker advocates for an environment that fosters economic growth and is not stifled by high taxes and electricity prices.
06.2024
9 Speeches
The economic positions are strongly opposed to tax hikes, particularly those impacting the average wage earner, pensioners, and people living in rural areas (such as the car tax and land tax). He criticizes the government's spending priorities (Rail Baltic, aid to Ukraine, green transition subsidies), arguing that eliminating these expenditures would resolve the budget crisis. Furthermore, he views Bolt's economic model as a pyramid scheme.
05.2024
38 Speeches
The economic perspective is strongly opposed to tax hikes, particularly the abolition of the income tax exemption for pensioners, arguing that this reduces real purchasing power. It calls for the state's finances to be put in order, but suggests the solution lies in terminating the funding of major projects (like Rail Baltic), which cost 300 million euros annually. The government is criticized for increasing the national debt and the budget deficit, with the accusation that they are actively worsening the economy.
04.2024
48 Speeches
The economic views are strongly centered on growth and market economics, opposing radical tax hikes, which, in their estimation, will lead to an economic crisis and reduce tax revenue. They demand an end to "green terror" and the "planned economy," supporting the continuation of oil shale energy and the construction of a nuclear power plant to cover basic needs. The central bank is criticized for enforcing an ideological agenda (ESG, green transition) instead of focusing on economic stability.
03.2024
65 Speeches
Supports lower consumption taxes by proposing to reduce the VAT on foodstuffs and medicines to 5%, to help low-income earners, large families, and pensioners. It strongly opposes the government's tax hikes and the costs of the green transition, which are "the biggest wealth redistribution scheme of all time." It is strongly opposed to anti-property policies (the car tax) and defends previous excise duty cuts as measures that stimulated the economy.
02.2024
31 Speeches
We strongly support lowering taxes (such as VAT on foodstuffs and previous excise duty reductions) to stimulate the economy. We oppose new taxes (like the car tax) and VAT increases, which would only deepen the recession. We advocate for implementing a bank tax on the record profits generated by foreign capital, estimating this measure would yield 150 million euros in revenue. It is stressed that jumpstarting the economy is a better solution for balancing the budget than simply raising taxes.
01.2024
48 Speeches
The speaker supports lowering taxes—specifically VAT, income tax, and fuel excise duty—in order to revitalize the economy and boost people’s purchasing power. He maintains strong free-market positions, criticizing the government’s mandatory obligations tied to the green transition (such as compulsory retrofitting/insulation) as being akin to a planned economy and communism. Rail Baltic is viewed purely as an expense, not an investment.