Session Profile: Aleksei Jevgrafov
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, press briefing.
2024-03-20
Political Position
The speaker is heavily focused on promoting public health (specifically tackling obesity) and encouraging physical activity. He/She clearly opposes the tax on sweetened drinks, viewing it as nothing more than a way to reach into people's pockets—a pure money grab—and criticizes the Ministry of Culture's decision to defund the Estonian School Sports Association. The political framework is performance-based, highlighting that the government's current decisions actively undermine the goals of promoting physical activity.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates knowledge of public health statistics, citing the rates of overweight and obesity among adults and schoolchildren, and linking this to the balance between calorie intake and expenditure. They also possess detailed knowledge of sports infrastructure projects, providing as an example the estimated cost (27 million euros) and the current readiness status of the reconstruction of the Narva City Stadium.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is formal and analytical, relying on statistics and logical cause-and-effect arguments. Although critical of government policy (taxation, funding cuts), it maintains a parliamentary tone. On one matter, it even expresses agreement with the minister that joint efforts are necessary to achieve success.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The data is limited to two questions asked during one Riigikogu session's Information Hour, which demonstrates active engagement in questioning ministers.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary opposition is aimed at the government's policies, specifically the tax proposed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the funding decision made by the Ministry of Culture. The criticism is both substantive and political, stressing that these measures are ineffective or detrimental to promoting physical activity. He/She also indirectly suggests that Health Minister Riina Sikkut was criticizing the Ministry of Culture's domain.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker emphasized the need for collaboration, noting that "only by working together can we achieve success." He/She requested the Ministry of Culture to actively partner with the city of Narva to help secure the necessary funding for the development of sports infrastructure.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The speaker has a clear and strong regional focus on Narva, emphasizing its status as the last major Estonian city without a modern municipal stadium. He/She highlights the forced necessity for Narva Trans to host international matches outside of Narva.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker strongly opposes the tax on sweetened beverages, branding it as a government attempt to "dip its hands into people's pockets." However, he simultaneously supports large-scale national investment in sports infrastructure, demanding state backing for the nearly 27-million-euro reconstruction of the Narva City Stadium.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The primary social issue is public health and the growing prevalence of obesity among adults and children. The proposed solution emphasizes promoting recreational physical activity and establishing modern sports infrastructure, while simultaneously criticizing the cuts made to school sports funding.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The focus is on the opposition to the sweetened beverage tax bill, which was prepared by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Furthermore, he/she criticizes the Ministry of Culture’s decision to leave the Estonian School Sports Union unfunded, a move directly linked to the objectives of promoting recreational physical activity.
2 Speeches Analyzed