Session Profile: Ester Karuse
15th Riigikogu, extraordinary session of the Riigikogu
2025-09-04
Political Position
The political focus centers on the accessibility of crucial services (banking, education) and the resolution of regional issues. The speaker takes a firm stance that the state must intervene to guarantee these services, even in smaller regions, and to ensure that access to education is not a lottery. These positions are aimed at criticizing the government's inaction, underscoring the severity and critical nature of the situation.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker exhibits expertise in regional and education policy, citing specific examples of service loss (Valga and Põlva counties, Swedbank, SEB). Regarding education, he shows knowledge of both the competition for admission and the failure rate of basic school exams, referencing the example of the city of Valga. He connects various policies, such as extending compulsory schooling and closing down secondary schools (gymnasiums).
4 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is serious, concerned, and demanding, highlighting the critical and unhealthy nature of the situation. Both logical arguments (the consequences of losing services) and strong emotional appeals are employed, focusing on the well-being of the elderly, people with mobility issues, and stressed youth. The speaker utilizes the formal structure of an inquiry to keep the issues focused.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is an active submitter of inquiries, having presented three interpellations to two ministers within a short period. They demonstrate consistency by referencing a previous meeting or a question posed to the minister regarding banking a week prior to the formal submission of the inquiry.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The opposition's stance targets specific ministers (the Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, and the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas), criticizing their inaction or ineffective solutions. The criticism is policy- and performance-based, claiming, for instance, that the banking problem "has essentially not been dealt with" and that the Ministry of Education's solutions are contradictory.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
Insufficient data.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is heavily on regional issues and the accessibility of services outside the capital. Emphasis is placed on the disappearance of services in Valga city and county, as well as Põlva county, using Valga as an example of educational problems too. The speaker stresses that the state must ensure the viability of life even outside Tallinn.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker recognizes the business logic employed by banks as private enterprises, but simultaneously stresses the state's crucial role in intervention and direction. They argue that banking is a "socially essential service," and the state must guarantee the accessibility of vital services, even in smaller regions, by prioritizing service availability over pure market logic.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The core focus is on the accessibility of education and social justice, underscoring that secondary education must not be a lottery. The speaker also brings attention to the lack of services for the elderly and those with mobility issues, as well as the mental health challenges faced by young people (stress, low self-esteem) related to failing exams. He/She supports extending compulsory schooling until the age of 18 but insists that the system must be properly aligned with this objective.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The primary legislative focus is on submitting formal inquiries to ministers in order to compel the government to address regional and educational crises. The objective is to achieve improvement in the situation and keep the policy issues in focus, demanding that meetings take place and a comprehensive overview of the situation is provided.
4 Speeches Analyzed