Agenda Profile: Leo Kunnas
Draft law (642 SE) on the withdrawal from the convention prohibiting the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and requiring their destruction – second reading
2025-06-04
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Political Position
The political position is strongly oriented toward supporting withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention (Draft Bill 642 SE), emphasizing military necessity and strategic realism. The speaker argues that the noble objectives of the convention were not achieved, citing the threat posed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. The entire framework is heavily security- and policy-driven, focusing on maximizing national defense capabilities.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates profound expertise in military strategy, mine warfare, and international conventions. Technical terminology is employed (e.g., improvised explosive devices, scatterable mines, engineer obstacles), supported by detailed operational examples drawn from Iraq, Afghanistan, and the war in Ukraine. This professional knowledge encompasses both historical events (the Cambodian Civil War) and contemporary defense planning requirements (the Baltic defense zone).
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is logical, confident, and pressing, emphasizing practical military necessity and realism over idealism. It makes extensive use of examples drawn from international conflicts and previous operations to support the necessity of the proposed bill. The speech is formal and authoritative, including direct rebuttals (e.g., to the positions held by the International Red Cross) and concluding with a call for consensus support.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker references the lengthy process the draft legislation has undergone ("finally, after multiple attempts"), highlighting the sustained effort dedicated to advancing this specific legislative matter. The speaker is actively participating in the Riigikogu session during the bill's second reading to ensure its passage. They request additional time from the presiding officer, suggesting a desire to present their arguments comprehensively.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The criticism is directed at idealistic positions that fail to account for military realities and stands in opposition to the arguments put forth by the International Red Cross. The example of Cambodia, cited by colleague Kalle, is dismissed by explaining the fundamental difference inherent in the Estonian context. The speaker seeks to eliminate counterarguments by stressing that Estonia lacks the threat of a guerrilla movement that would justify compliance with the convention.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker references the positions held by colleague Rene Kokk, demonstrating collaboration and a shared understanding regarding the necessity of the draft legislation. It calls upon the Riigikogu to support the bill unanimously, stressing that matters of national defense should always be characterized by broad, cross-party support.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is primarily on international security issues (Ukraine, Southern Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan) and Estonia's national defense. He/She mentions the creation of the Baltic defense zone and refers to a personal connection to the border areas ("I myself live in an area quite close to the border"), emphasizing the likelihood that these areas would be mined in the event of war.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Insufficient data.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The text addresses social issues through the lens of security, emphasizing the need to protect civilians from scatterable mines deployed by the Russian side that are spreading into rear areas. It also stresses the safety of soldiers, prioritizing factory-made mines over improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to minimize casualties.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main legislative focus is the successful passage of Bill 642 SE (withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention). The speaker is a strong proponent of this defense legislation, emphasizing that it provides military personnel with all the necessary means to repel aggression and establish lines of defense.
2 Speeches Analyzed