Session Profile: Martin Helme
15th Riigikogu, Fifth Session, Plenary Session.
2025-05-19
Political Position
The most prominent theme is the opposition to immigration, which is treated as a policy of the slow destruction of Estonia. This stance is extremely strong and principled, emphasizing the need to protect the Estonian people and economy from the importation of cheap labor. The political position is fiercely anti-government, accusing them of running the country into the ground and engaging in statistical deception.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates detailed knowledge of the exceptions to the Aliens Act, particularly concerning the 1.5-times salary criterion and the importation of non-quota labor. Data from Statistics Estonia regarding unemployment is utilized, referencing the highest unemployment rate seen in the last 12 years, even though the statistics presented by the government are considered "misleading nonsense." Furthermore, the topics of productivity and production inputs are addressed within an economic context.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetoric is highly combative, emotional, and urgent, employing strong accusations and personal attacks (e.g., the reference to a minister who "perhaps even understands"). It appeals to fear and a national sense of danger, linking immigration to rising crime, housing shortages, and the collapse of social systems. Sharp and sometimes improper language is used ("degenerate element," "Satanists").
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
There is not enough data.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponents are the Reform Party and the government, who stand accused of running the country into the ground and prioritizing cheap labor. The criticism is intense, accusing them of blatant dishonesty and rhetorical smoke and mirrors designed to conceal their plans for importing cheap labor. The adversaries are also labeled "globalists" and "satanists," which points to a deep ideological conflict.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
There is not enough data.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is primarily on national issues (the Estonian labor market, healthcare, education) and international comparisons (Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Germany). Mention is made of the deteriorating streetscape in Tallinn and regions where Estonian-speaking children are a minority in schools, underscoring the impact of immigration on the local living environment.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The economic stance strongly favors protecting domestic labor, opposing the introduction of cheap foreign labor, which drives down the wages and job security of Estonian people. Business owners are viewed as supporters of the Reform Party, seeking cheaper production input from the state in the form of labor. The only migration Estonia needs is the return migration of Estonians.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The social focus is on the negative consequences of immigration, including rising crime rates, housing shortages, and longer waiting lists for medical care. Emphasis is placed on the deterioration of the cultural environment and the threat to Estonian-language education, where Estonian children have become a minority in their own schools. The only acceptable form of migration is the return migration of Estonians.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The primary legislative focus is on opposing the Aliens Act and its exceptions (such as the 1.5-times salary criterion), as these provisions allow for bypassing the quota and importing unlimited cheap labor. The speaker is a staunch opponent of the existing legislation, calling the current quota (1,300 people) an "absolute fiction."
2 Speeches Analyzed