By Plenary Sessions: Annely Akkermann

The speaker strongly supports increasing national defense spending, emphasizing that under Kaja Kallas’s government, these costs have risen above 3% of GDP. He/She advocates for abolishing the tax hump as a way to lower labor taxes and boost competitiveness. Furthermore, the speaker defends the government’s supplementary budget measures, which aim to reduce the budget deficit below 3% of GDP, in line with EU fiscal rules.

The speaker strongly supports the government's supplementary budget and budgetary discipline, emphasizing the need to comply with European Union budget rules and keep the budget deficit below 3% of GDP. He defends the abolition of the tax hump as a tax reduction for working people, especially low and middle-income earners. He takes a pragmatic approach to budget cuts, acknowledging that choices must be made and that a scarcity of funds is the driving force of the economy.

The speaker takes a clear stance on issues of financial supervision and fines, strongly emphasizing that current penalties are disproportionately small compared to the volume of assets under supervision. They advocate for implementing a stricter punitive policy in the field of crypto fraud, demanding that fraudsters be stripped of all income earned through illicit means, and that an additional fine be imposed.

The speaker strongly supports the introduction of the motor vehicle tax, while simultaneously acknowledging that tax increases are unpopular. They emphasize a pragmatic approach: revenue must be collected for the state budget, and this requires utilizing both cost cutting and increasing income. The speaker advocates for making the tax conditions more tolerable for the taxpayer, thereby demonstrating a willingness to compromise.

The speaker supports the government’s budget consolidation measures and adherence to the European Union’s Maastricht criteria, but recognizes the criticism voiced by opposition members concerning the adequacy of these measures. The speaker takes a pragmatic approach to reducing the budget deficit, stressing the necessity of meeting the stricter budget balance requirements imposed by both the EU and Estonia.

The speaker strongly supports the implementation of the motor vehicle tax starting in 2025, emphasizing its environmental objectives and the redistribution of the tax burden toward wealthier individuals. They express clear support for abolishing the tax hump, the Rail Baltic project, and supporting Ukraine. The speaker defends the government's tax policy, asserting that Estonia's tax burden remains below 34% of GDP and is among the nine lowest in the European Union.

The speaker focuses on institutional issues, particularly the process of appointing members to the Bank of Estonia Council. He/She supports both draft bills neutrally, emphasizing due procedure and a sound legal basis. The political stance is technical and procedural rather than ideological.