Agenda Profile: Leo Kunnas
Draft law amending the Defence Service Act (563 SE) - first reading
2025-03-19
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Political Position
The political focus is on rapidly increasing the benefits for national defense personnel (reservists and conscripts), given that these benefits have remained unchanged for eight years despite inflation. The stance is strongly supportive of the goal to raise the benefits, but remains critical of the executive branch’s inaction and the systemic failures within the Ministry of Defense’s purview. In their assessment, the root of the problem lies in the diffusion of responsibility that occurred during the reorganization of the personnel sector (J1 structures).
8 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the national defense sector, particularly regarding the allowance rates for conscripts and reservists (e.g., 37, 40, 50 euros per day), as well as the personnel structures of the Ministry of Defense and the Defense Forces (J1, the Defense Resources Agency). He/She employs technical analysis (inflation, the mathematical effect of the 1.3 coefficient) to clarify the technical deficiencies of the draft legislation, emphasizing that indexation would cause an unreasonably steep increase.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is analytical, detailed, and explanatory, focusing on both the technical shortcomings of the draft bill and the deeper causes of the problem. The tone is conciliatory towards the colleague, recognizing their good initiative, but is critical and direct concerning the executive branch's inaction. A personal example (a son in military service) is used to illustrate the financial difficulty.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is active in their role as Vice-Chair of the National Defence Committee, referencing multiple sessions (March 13, 17, 18) and maintaining direct contact with Ministry of Defence officials, including the Defence Minister himself. Their operational pattern involves pressuring the executive branch to secure specific promises aimed at quickly resolving the problem.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main criticism is aimed at the executive branch (the Ministry of Defence and the Government of the Republic) for work left undone and the diffusion of responsibility, since the allowance rates remained unadjusted for eight years. He blames the emergence of this situation on the transfer of the Defence Forces personnel sector (J1 structures) to the Defence Resources Agency, which has created an abnormal system.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
He demonstrated a willingness to cooperate by acknowledging the draft's initiator (Kalle) and attempting to find a consensus solution within the committee, even though technical issues necessitated the rejection of the draft. He acted as a mediator, lobbying the Minister of Defense to secure an agreement for the rapid increase of support payments via a government regulation.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
Not enough data
8 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Supports the rapid increase of state benefits to compensate for inflation and restore purchasing power (which has decreased by approximately one third). It emphasizes that raising these benefits is necessary to ensure that conscripts and poorer reservists can cope, and points to the need to find funding sources either from the reserve or through budgetary reallocation.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Not enough data
8 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on regulating the benefits and allowances for reservists and conscripts. The speaker is the one proposing the rejection of the draft bill (563 SE), citing technical infeasibility and a lack of a comprehensive solution (the exclusion of conscripts). The priority is compelling the executive branch to rapidly draft amendments to the regulation, rather than amending the law itself.
8 Speeches Analyzed