Session Profile: Liina Kersna
15th Estonian Parliament, 3rd sitting, plenary session
2024-04-03
Political Position
The political stance is one of strong support for the draft amendment to the Education Act, which aims to free up school places currently held by Ukrainian children who have departed Estonia. This position is clearly policy-driven, underscoring the significance and merit of the bill in ensuring the efficiency of the Estonian education system. The speaker stresses the necessity of establishing a legal basis for removing students from the registers so that Estonian children can utilize the newly available slots.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise in education legislation and the procedural procedures of the Riigikogu, citing precise dates and committee decisions. He explains the solution to a specific problem (the grounds for student exclusion) and offers an approximate number of newly available study places (200–300).
3 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is formal and procedural, concentrating on a detailed explanation of the bill's procedural history and recalling its background. Logical arguments are employed, and specific dates are cited, while simultaneously including mild criticism directed at the faction responsible for the obstruction.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is an active legislator who is presenting the bill at its second reading and is closely involved with the work of the Culture Committee. The pattern of activity demonstrates a commitment to finalizing the long-pending bill, referencing both previous and planned procedural dates.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main confrontation is with the EKRE faction, who are being criticized for procedural obstruction, which manifested in the submission of 200 amendments. The criticism is aimed at hindering the work of the Riigikogu, even though the speaker notes that the opposing side essentially supported the content of the draft bill.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The collaborative style emphasizes reaching consensus, referencing the Culture Committee’s unanimous decision on April 1st to proceed with the handling of the draft bill. The speaker expresses satisfaction that the obstruction has ended and the Riigikogu can resume its work.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is at the national level (managing the Estonian education system) and the international level (Ukrainian war refugees and their children). Specific regional or local topics are absent.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Data is scarce.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The social topic addressed is education policy and administrative issues related to immigration. The goal is to ensure that the school places of Ukrainian children who have left Estonia are freed up for other children, emphasizing system efficiency and the availability of educational places.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on the draft bill amending the education laws, which establishes an additional legal basis for removing students from the registers of educational institutions. The speaker is an active proponent and handler of the government-initiated bill, stressing the need to swiftly advance it to the third reading.
3 Speeches Analyzed