Agenda Profile: Andrei Korobeinik
Interpellation Regarding the Temporary Taxation of Banks' Excess Profits (No. 595)
2024-03-04
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary sitting
Political Position
The political focus is centered on criticizing the economic recession and the unfair tax policy. The speaker strongly advocates for taxing banks' excess profits to prevent the tax burden from rising for lower-income groups (via VAT and car taxes). The stance is forceful, concentrating on the government's ineffective actions during a deep economic crisis. He/She emphasizes that the economic downturn in Estonia is exceptionally severe.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise in banking taxation and fiscal policy, citing specific data (e.g., banks' annual profit of one billion euros and the 100+ million euros in additional revenue collected by Lithuania). He/She presents detailed comparisons concerning the implementation and results of the Lithuanian and Italian bank taxes, and also analyzes the percentage decrease in banks' solidarity contribution.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is confrontational and critical, accusing the Prime Minister of protecting the banking sector and presenting false claims (e.g., regarding the Italian bank tax). Logical arguments and data (an investor confidence survey, recession percentages) are used to support their viewpoints. The speaker employs strong expressions like "a lie," "cynical," and "fabricated examples."
4 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is active in Riigikogu debates, having submitted a written question and participated in an interpellation. They have also introduced draft legislation and draft resolutions, utilizing these formats both to initiate debate and to ensure the topic remains on the agenda.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponent is the government and the Reform Party, who are being criticized for poor economic management and for protecting the banking sector. The criticism is intense, accusing the Prime Minister of acting as an advocate for the banking sector and of distorting facts (e.g., regarding Italy and additional revenue). The speaker rejects the government's claims about the threat of retroactive taxation.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The style of cooperation is opposition-centric; he acknowledges his colleague (Lauri Laats) for asking the right question and emphasizes the opposition's role as the initiator of the debate. He notes that drafting a bill from the opposition is pointless, as the government will reject it, but it does provide an opportunity for discussion. There is no reference to seeking compromise with the government.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on Estonia's national economic policy and the deep economic recession. The regional emphasis is strongly directed towards the Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia) and Italian examples, in order to support the argument for implementing a bank tax and to show that it has been successfully implemented in other countries.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Strongly supports the taxation of banks' excess profits as a tool for alleviating the economic downturn and balancing the budget. It opposes increases in VAT (Value Added Tax) and the car tax, arguing that these take money "from the hands of the less wealthy." It prioritizes fiscal solidarity and the country's economic attractiveness (referencing Lithuania's positive investor sentiment) over the profits of the banking sector.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Insufficient data.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main legislative priority is the introduction of a bank tax, for which a draft resolution has been submitted. The speaker is the initiator who believes that the bank tax will come to Estonia sooner or later, and the current process is accelerating its arrival. He has previously drafted bills, some of which have also become law.
4 Speeches Analyzed