Session Profile: Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
XV Riigikogu, VI Session, Plenary Sitting
2025-11-10
Political Position
The speaker vehemently opposes the government’s initiatives, particularly the plan to bring foreign prisoners to Estonia and the lowering of the gambling tax. They view these measures as a security risk and damaging to Estonia's image, branding the country as "Europe's prison and casino center." The stance is highly critical, focusing on the government's failure to establish a new positive narrative ("Estonian Nokia") and its preference for the interests of businessmen over the livelihood of ordinary citizens. Furthermore, the speaker demands that e-elections be suspended until all legislative issues are resolved.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise regarding tax policy (changes to income tax, advance income tax, and gambling tax) and state budget strategy, criticizing the use of borrowed money to cover current expenditures. He supports his positions with data from the Statistical Office concerning relative poverty and with criticism from the head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Furthermore, he is familiar with e-voting procedures and the recommendations of the OSCE ODIHR report.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is highly combative, critical, and insistent, employing sharp metaphors ("Europe's prison and casino hub," "the tax circus") and accusing the government of running a cynical election campaign. The rhetoric balances logical arguments (tax figures, data from the Statistical Office) with an emotional plea to protect those living in poverty. The speaker requests additional time to elaborate on their positions.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is active during plenary sessions, submitting questions to both the Prime Minister and the committee chairman, focusing on sharply criticizing government policy and legislative procedures. All speeches were delivered on the same day, indicating active involvement in current affairs debates.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponents are the Reform Party and the Eesti 200 government, who are accused of lacking a strategic economic plan and prioritizing banks and casino businessmen over the general public. The criticism is intense, labeling the government's actions a "cynical election campaign" and warning of future tax hikes. The government's activities are described as boosting their ratings before the elections "with empty promises and borrowed money."
4 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
Data is scarce.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on the national level (Estonia’s image, the state budget) and international issues (foreign prisoners, the OSCE report). Regarding regional topics, emphasis is placed on the critical need to preserve domestic food production and agriculture in a situation currently suffering under tax hikes and various crises.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker opposes tax hikes (income tax, VAT on food) and sharply criticizes the use of borrowed money to cover current expenditures, deeming it unsustainable. He demands support for domestic food production and criticizes the government's preferential treatment of banks (lower advance income tax) and casino operators (lowering the gambling tax). The abolition of the tax hump is considered a gift to higher-income earners.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The primary social concern is the growing relative poverty and people's ability to cope, highlighting that one in four people lives in poverty and many cannot afford daily food. The speaker demands that the government invest in people's livelihoods and criticizes the ignoring of lowering the value-added tax (VAT) on foodstuffs.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on suspending e-elections until all issues are resolved, including the ability for political parties to submit auditors, referencing the work of the Constitutional Committee. Opposing the government's tax policy and the state budget is also a priority, especially regarding the reduction of the gambling tax.
4 Speeches Analyzed