Session Profile: Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart

15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, press briefing

2024-03-06

Political Position
The most crucial issues are the opposition to the car tax, its inherent unfairness, and its impact on poorer citizens and those living in rural areas. The arguments presented include: objection to the car tax itself and its potential conflict with European Union law. Emphasis is placed on the social harm caused to low-income families, pensioners, and rural residents. This has been promoted as a strong opposition movement, offering alternatives (such as an excess profit tax) and utilizing proposed amendments as a procedural opening. The focus is on a value-based and economically transparent turning point—namely, reforming the tax system.

3 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
Demonstrates knowledge of tax policy and its social impact (motor vehicle tax, VAT, excise duties), referencing assessments by the Ministry of Finance and compliance with European Union law. It presents questionable assertions and demands concrete analyses and evidence regarding specific questions (e.g., "Has a specific analysis been conducted?"). Furthermore, it highlights problems concerning the infrastructure for car and motorsport and issues related to the state's contribution, which require separate consideration.

3 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
A critical and combative tone is employed, using questions and examples to highlight shortcomings in the government's actions. It combines emotional arguments (social harm, impact on families) with logical points (taxes, the effect of tax changes). The text utilizes procedural references regarding the organization of information sessions and challenges the presented facts and data.

3 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
Regular questions to the Prime Minister in the context of information hours, the raising of procedural questions, and the verification of claims. This indicates that the opposition submits amendments (e.g., “over 300 amendments” from the Centre Party) and criticizes the failure to provide responses. The texts show three addresses during the information hour on the same day and active participation in the form of questions.

3 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
Key Opposition Statement: The government and the prime minister are under fire; the criticism centers on the introduction of the car tax, its impact, and the inadequate answers provided to questions. A powerful opposition assault targets the fiscal and procedural approach, declaring opposition, emphasizing the injustice and the need for changes and thorough analysis.

3 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The opposition stresses that it has put forward its own amendments and alternatives (such as the excess profit tax). A clear desire for compromise and open debate is not a prominent feature of the context; instead, the emphasis is placed on opposition and the presentation of alternatives. Cooperation between colleagues and parties is mentioned (for instance, the Centre Party as the originator of other amendments), but no specific commitment to broad-based cooperation is demonstrated.

3 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
Clearly, the focus is on regional impact: the rural population, large families, pensioners, and rural infrastructure. It is emphasized that the car tax would be particularly burdensome for these specific groups, and the necessity of considering rural mobility and the availability of public transport is highlighted.

3 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economically, the criticism of taxes is represented by opposition to the car tax. Due to its broad impact, critics are demanding changes and proposing a windfall (or excess profits) tax as an alternative. The debate regarding state investments in infrastructure (specifically road construction) is being lost. Instead, emphasis is placed on the overall effect of the tax changes and the risk that people may be forced to pay significantly more if needed (for example, increasing the cost of car ownership by up to 15%). Critics argue that this disproportionately burdens vulnerable groups, and they are calling for a comprehensive review of the tax and financing system to ensure financial fairness and clear purpose.

3 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The focus is on social impacts: low-income families, pensioners, large families, and residents of rural areas, whose financial burden will be increased by the car tax. Emphasis is placed on fairness and a balanced social impact. The sociological consequences of the regulatory solutions chosen are criticized, and an attempt is made to highlight how taxes might affect language and livelihood.

3 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The primary focus is the car tax bill itself and the obstruction of its legislative process, along with proposed amendments and exemptions (for example, the tax exemption for racing vehicles recommended by the Ministry of Culture). The necessity of presenting and discussing precise data and evidence is mentioned, as is the need to pose probing questions regarding the government's claims. The overarching goal is set as follows: to directly present objections, introduce alternatives and amendments, and obstruct the proceedings until satisfactory answers and analyses have been provided.

3 Speeches Analyzed