Agenda Profile: Anti Allas

The Minister of Finance's 2025 presentation on the implementation of the state's long-term strategy "Estonia 2035" (including an overview of the development directions of the public service in 2024)

2025-05-06

15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session

Political Position
The political focus is on the state's structural deficit, which is accumulating in strategic sectors, and deepening income inequality. The speaker is strongly opposed to the Reform Party's tax policy, particularly the refusal to implement a fair income tax and the increase in VAT. The political framework is value-based, emphasizing the need for statesmanship and the avoidance of populism in governing the country.

2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates authority in fiscal economics and tax policy, detailing income tax, VAT, corporate income tax exemption, and the pension system. He uses economic indicators such as the Gini coefficient (whose pronunciation he corrects) and the productivity of investments. To support his views, he references the Estonian physicist and political scientist Peet Kask, as well as Tõnis Saarts.

2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The tone is critical, urgent, and concerned, highlighting the gravity of the nation's economic state and the detrimental nature of the Reform Party's policies. The style is analytical, balancing emotional claims (e.g., the state is a hostage to tax policy, the pension system is hanging by a thread) with economic facts and statistics. It concludes with a call for greater statesmanship and less populism.

2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
No data available

2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary criticism is leveled against the Reform Party and the Minister of Finance, who stand accused of a pig-headed refusal to ask the affluent for a greater contribution. The speaker slams the government for its political decisions (tax policy, the destruction of the second pension pillar) and for spreading populism, asserting that Estonia has become a captive of the Reform Party's tax policy. The critique is intense, focusing squarely on political failure and injustice.

2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker emphasizes the need to find solutions together ("together we must find a solution to this"), but focuses primarily on correcting the government's mistakes and demanding statesmanship. Specific cooperation initiatives or a willingness to compromise with other parties are not mentioned.

2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
A strong regional focus, contrasting the needs of Tallinn (traffic jams, luxury cars) with those of Southeast Estonia (where a car is an absolute necessity), especially in the context of the uniformity of the car tax. This approach supports regional economic policy, citing the excellent plan proposed by former minister Piret Hartman, which should be the source of new economic growth.

2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Strongly supports progressive taxation, or a "fair income tax," in order to request a greater contribution from highly successful individuals. It opposes raising the VAT, arguing that it severely impacts lower-income earners, and is also against granting tax breaks to members of the Riigikogu (Parliament). Furthermore, it demands a reassessment of the corporate income tax exemption, as this policy encourages the outflow of capital from the country instead of promoting investment.

2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The primary social issue is income inequality, measured by the Gini coefficient, which is being exacerbated by the government’s tax policy. It is stressed that expenses essential for the functioning of the state must be covered, but this cannot be achieved while simultaneously keeping the tax burden low for the wealthy. The proposal supports lowering the VAT on foodstuffs in order to improve people's purchasing power.

2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main legislative priorities are establishing a fair income tax, lowering the VAT on foodstuffs, and implementing regional differentiation for the car tax. He/She criticizes previous legislation, such as the dismantling of the second pension pillar, which he/she believes was harmful and drove up inflation.

2 Speeches Analyzed