Agenda Profile: Aleksei Jevgrafov
The 2024 Report by the Minister of Health on the implementation of the state's long-term development strategy "Estonia 2035"
2024-03-19
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
Political Position
The politician views excessive weight, especially among young people, as a very serious national problem and agrees with the minister regarding its severity. However, he takes a strongly opposing stance on the government’s proposed tax on sweetened beverages, deeming it ineffective and merely a measure that hits people in the pocket. His political framework is policy-driven, focusing on genuinely solving problems rather than resorting to taxation.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise in public health data, referencing the Estonian Children's Growth Study conducted by the National Institute for Health Development (TAI). He/She presents precise statistical data regarding childhood overweightness (e.g., 31% of students, every third boy, and every fourth girl). Additionally, the speaker offers a clear, albeit simple, explanation for the cause of overweightness (the consumption of unspent calories).
1 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is formal and respectful, starting by thanking the minister for a substantive presentation. The tone is concerned and serious, emphasizing the seriousness of the problem ("a very serious problem," "very sad statistics"). He/She balances the emotional emphasis with a logical argument, criticizing the tax as an ineffective solution.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
There is insufficient data.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opposition is directed at the draft law concerning the sweetened beverage tax, which was prepared by the Ministry of Social Affairs. The criticism is politically motivated, accusing the government of using the tax to "reach into people's pockets" while failing to solve the underlying problem entirely. The opposition is strong and resolute.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker is seeking broad-based cooperation, asking the Minister of Health for a message to the government and for help from other ministries in solving the obesity problem. This indicates a desire to see intra-governmental and inter-ministerial action in addressing the issue.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is clearly national, centering on health data pertaining to Estonian children and national-level legislation (a draft bill from the Ministry of Social Affairs). Regional or international topics are not addressed.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker expresses strong opposition to new consumption taxes, specifically the tax on sweetened beverages, viewing it as an unfair intrusion into citizens' wallets. This indicates a preference for avoiding tax hikes that are aimed at changing behavior when their effectiveness is questionable.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
A central social theme is public health and the rapid rise in childhood obesity, which is highlighted by statistical data. To solve this problem, measures are being sought that would focus on balancing calorie intake and expenditure.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The speaker is a strong opponent of the sweetened beverage tax bill prepared by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Their legislative focus is on finding alternative, effective solutions to the obesity problem that do not rely on taxation.
1 Speeches Analyzed