Session Profile: Martin Helme
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
2025-05-07
Political Position
The political stance is fiercely oppositional, focusing on sharp criticism of the government's energy policy (Narva and the green transition) and tax policy (the security tax, excise duty hikes). The speaker stresses the restoration of economic competitiveness through tax cuts and deems the prevailing green transition ideology short-sighted and bankrupt. The position is strongly results-oriented, highlighting the worsening economic situation and government incompetence.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker exhibits profound expertise in taxation and public finance, criticizing the Reform Party's linear budget forecasts (which he dismissively calls "Excel spreadsheet calculations") and stressing the positive economic effects of tax cuts. Furthermore, he is highly detailed on energy policy matters, explaining the crucial role of base generation capacity (the Narva oil shale power plants) in guaranteeing the stability of the electricity grid. He references specific legislation and schedules (such as the taxation of pensions starting from the first euro, and the outcomes of the reduction in diesel excise duty).
12 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is extremely combative, aggressive, and polemical, employing strong accusations of lying, stupidity, and cynical behavior. The speaker uses irony and references to the theatre of the absurd to describe the government’s actions, maintaining a tone that is consistently sharp and emotionally charged. He frequently employs hyperbole, for instance, comparing the political situation to Orwell and accusing liberals of the brutal dismantling of the rule of law.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is highly active during the plenary session, participating intensively in debates focused on taxation and energy policy. He repeatedly referenced the recent change of government (March 10) and the coalition's inability to introduce tax reduction bills within two months, drawing a clear temporal comparison to the actions of the previous administration.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponent is the Reform Party and the new coalition, who stand accused of driving the economy into bankruptcy, lying, and sheer incompetence. The criticism is intense, labeling the opponents "trolls" and accusing them of presenting false forecasts and disregarding the law. Specifically, Kristen Michal, Mart Võrklaev, and Aivar Sõerd are singled out for criticism, with critics questioning their grasp of public finance.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The style of cooperation is purely confrontational; the speaker positions themselves as the one exposing the government’s errors and holding them accountable. The only reference to "coming to the aid" of the coalition is an ironic proposal to repeal the security tax, which is used to test the coalition's right-wing credentials. No genuine willingness to compromise or engage in cross-party collaboration is evident in the speeches.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The regional focus is primarily directed toward national issues, particularly the competitiveness of the Estonian economy and energy stability. Specifically, there is mention of the decommissioning of the Narva oil shale power plants, and reference is made to halting cross-border trade by lowering the diesel excise duty.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The economic outlook is firmly right-wing and pro-tax cuts, stressing the need to lower excise duties to the EU minimum level to boost corporate competitiveness and consumer spending. The speaker criticizes the government’s tax hikes (VAT, income tax, and the proposed car tax) as measures that stifle economic growth and fuel inflation. He advocates borrowing for national defense to rapidly acquire new capabilities, rather than increasing tax rates.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Social issues are not the focus of the speeches; they are mentioned only as examples of "noise" created by the government (e.g., parental benefits for grandparents, euthanasia), which is intended to distract attention from crucial economic and security problems. Strong opposition is aimed at taxing pensions starting from the very first euro, which is considered an attack on pensioners.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is aimed at annulling the government’s tax increases (specifically the security tax, which consists of hikes in VAT, income tax, and corporate income tax) and reducing excise duties. The speaker is acting as the initiator (of the law on annulling the security tax) and is a strong opponent of bills concerning the subsidization of core production capacity. He emphasizes that the tax increases have not yielded the projected budget revenues (e.g., the car tax, VAT).
12 Speeches Analyzed