AI Profiling: Ester Karuse

The political platform is consistently and strongly value-based and social-democratic, focusing internationally on unwavering support for Ukraine, Western values, and the promotion of democracy (including supporting Georgia and recognizing the genocide of the Crimean Tatars), while sharply condemning Russian aggression. Domestically, the focus is on regional equality and social justice, demanding active state intervention to ensure vital services (especially banking) are available in county centers, and supporting the integration of vulnerable groups and individuals with undetermined citizenship. The politician consistently criticizes the government for failing to restart the economy, poor legislative quality, unfair fiscal policy, and deficiencies in state administrative capacity, prioritizing the restoration of transparency and trust.

The core area of the politician's expertise is clearly foreign and security policy, encompassing both the European security architecture and international relations (including Georgia and Russia's influence), as well as deep knowledge of the rules of procedure of the Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee and parliamentary assemblies. Strong competence is consistently demonstrated in legislative quality, procedural rules, and citizenship policy, utilizing specific terminology such as "principles of good law-making" and referencing the role of the Constitutional Committee. Beyond foreign policy, there is a strong and growing focus on the specifics of regional policy and the economy (banking, tax policy, infrastructure), emphasizing the availability of services at the local level. Specific statistical data (e.g., the gender pay gap, studies by the Integration Foundation) and macroeconomic forecasts (Bank of Estonia) are regularly used to support arguments.

The politician's rhetorical style is consistently formal and procedural, especially when acting as a committee rapporteur, but in debates, the tone becomes predominantly critical, concerned, and demanding, directing the sharpest criticism against the government's actions and decisions. The rhetoric relies on a strong symbiosis of logical arguments and emotional appeals; logic is employed to criticize procedural and economic failures (e.g., rushed legislation), while emotional appeals emphasize the moral and human dimension of social and regional problems (e.g., the well-being of the elderly, stress in children). The style is value-based, utilizing historical parallels and personal examples to underscore the importance of human rights and international solidarity.

The politician maintains a consistent and frequent pattern of activity, focusing on participation in Riigikogu plenary sessions and the procedural side of parliamentary work. He consistently fulfills the role of rapporteur for the Foreign Affairs Committee, introducing draft legislation and bringing committee decisions to a vote, which demonstrates significant procedural responsibility. In addition to procedural duties, the speaker actively performs government oversight, systematically utilizing the mechanism of interpellations and questions, especially in the spring of 2025, and showing persistence in tracking topics (e.g., follow-up questions in September).

The politician's confrontation is primarily aimed at the domestic government and state institutions, which are accused of systemic failures and incompetent policy implementation, particularly in the areas of the economy, accessibility of regional services, and education. The criticism is predominantly policy- and performance-based, accusing opponents of ill-conceived decisions, inaction, and procedural violations (e.g., lack of transparency in the processing of draft legislation). The confrontation is intense, employing sharp accusations (e.g., "a major error," "human experimentation") and highlighting the ideological opposition to favoring banks and the wealthiest 1% through tax breaks. In terms of foreign policy, the confrontation is principled, directed against the authoritarian steps taken by the governments of the Russian Federation and Georgia, demanding respect for international law and democratic values.

The politician's style of cooperation is predominantly consensus-driven and cross-factional, particularly on issues of foreign and security policy, where they emphasize the importance of broad-based support and a willingness to compromise, remaining open to considering amendments proposed by other political parties. They operate firmly within an institutional and procedural framework, collaborating closely with committees, ministers, and international organizations (EU, NATO). In addition to their internal work within the Riigikogu (Parliament), they actively seek dialogue and solutions with a broader range of stakeholders, engaging local governments, private schools, and representatives of the private sector.

The politician’s regional focus evolved from the internationally dominant agenda of 2024 (Ukraine, Georgia, PACE) to become an intensive domestic champion of regional development by 2025. This consistent and strong regional focus is aimed at South Estonia, particularly Valga and Põlva counties, which are used as the prime example to illustrate the negative effects of marginalization and the disappearance of services (especially bank branches). The main recurring themes are regional inequality in wage levels, the availability of vitally necessary services, and local education and security issues in the city of Valga. Although nationwide topics also feature (citizenship, administrative capacity), the regional activity is deeply anchored in addressing the specific concerns of Valga city.

The politician's economic views underscore the necessity of active state intervention, both in fostering economic growth (through active foreign trade policy, diplomacy, and innovation) and in guaranteeing social justice. This stance simultaneously criticizes the government's inaction during economic recessions. There is a consistent emphasis on the need for robust national regulation, particularly within the banking sector, aimed at ensuring the regional accessibility of essential services. This approach seeks to balance the commercial interests of the market economy with broader societal responsibility. From a fiscal policy standpoint, the politician opposes tax hikes on working individuals (such as VAT and income tax), preferring instead to generate revenue from large corporations and the banking industry. Concurrently, they support raising the subsistence minimum and implementing financial literacy programs to mitigate regional disparities.

The politician’s social profile is heavily focused on social justice and the protection of vulnerable groups—particularly the elderly and persons with special needs—repeatedly underscoring the necessity of ensuring accessibility to services, such as banking, which are often hindered by digital exclusion. Furthermore, the focus includes equality issues, specifically addressing the gender pay gap, the inclusion of individuals with undetermined citizenship, and guaranteeing equal opportunities in education. Overall, the speaker strongly supports human rights, religious freedom, and democratic liberties, extending this support to the international civil society as well.

The legislative focus is clearly divided between supporting foreign policy positions and domestic oversight. In foreign relations, the speaker consistently supports international declarations (e.g., Georgia, Crimean Tatars) and actively handles procedural decisions (composition of delegations, accession to the IDEA statutes). Domestically, they concentrate on raising regional policy issues (such as the availability of banking services) and education matters, intensively utilizing interpellations to pressure the government and demand accountability. Throughout, they also function as a procedural supervisor, demanding improvements in the quality of legislation, consensus-based decision-making, and adherence to the rules governing drafting intentions and stakeholder engagement.