Session Profile: Leo Kunnas
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary sitting.
2024-03-13
Political Position
The political emphasis is on creating a comprehensive and broad-based national defense strategy extending to 2045, while simultaneously criticizing previous short-sighted and inadequate development plans. The speaker urgently demands the drafting of a new emergency development plan covering the period until 2034, which must encompass all five security domains, not solely military defense. He stresses that moving toward budget balance is dangerous in the current security environment and necessitates increased borrowing. This stance is rooted in policy and strategic management principles.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker exhibits profound expertise in strategic planning for national defense and military structure, citing examples from the tactics of the War of Independence (the "shield and sword strategy") and referencing General Laaneots's previous assessments. He utilizes specific terminology (e.g., "capabilities catalogue," J1/G1/N1/A1 structures) and analyzes detailed capability developments, such as engineer services, indirect fire capability, and counter-drone defense. He highlights specific historical wartime defense force sizes (e.g., 104,500 personnel in 1939) and the necessary modern figures.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is analytical, critical, and urgent, emphasizing systemic flaws and the need for immediate strategic corrections. The speaker employs historical analogies (the War of Independence) and a logical structure to justify the necessity of a comprehensive vision. He sharply criticizes previous decisions ("a major mistake," "we simply lost ten years"), but avoids personal attacks, focusing instead on understanding the mechanisms behind the errors.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is actively pursuing a legislative initiative (the submission of a draft bill) and references previous interventions and criticism (e.g., a 2007 article, a phone call to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence regarding the weapons systems replacement plan). He describes his efforts as constant "nudging" and striving to ensure the government adopts new defense decisions, including the attempt to explain to the Prime Minister the necessity of a new reinforcement package.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
Criticism is directed at the strategic errors of previous governments, top officials of the Ministry of Defense, and the leadership of the Defense Forces, such as the abolition of defense districts and the reduction of wartime defense forces (the so-called "affordable" national defense). The consolidation of the Defense Forces' personnel management into the Defense Resources Agency (KRA) and the concentration of command in the hands of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense are also strongly criticized, which creates difficulties for wartime command.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker views the development of national defense as a collective effort, stressing the need to achieve consensus in the Riigikogu regarding the long-term vision. He emphasizes strong cooperation with NATO allies, particularly Finland and Sweden, whose accession fundamentally changes the strategic situation and the possibilities for support at sea and in the air. He hopes that the coalition will continue implementing previously established good initiatives.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on Estonia’s national defense and its integration into international collective defense structures (NATO). Emphasis is placed on the strategic importance of the Baltic states and the Kaliningrad exclave, along with the impact of Finland and Sweden joining NATO. Estonia’s capability for producing military drones and their subsequent sale to Ukraine are also noted.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker robustly supports increasing defense spending (3% of GDP allocated to military defense, plus funding for comprehensive national defense). He stresses the need to borrow more, arguing that the economy is in poor shape and that moving toward budget balance would be dangerous under the current security conditions. He notes that it is impossible to allocate resources simultaneously for both the green transition and the decisive strengthening of national defense.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
In the social sector, population protection is treated as part of internal security, emphasizing the need for strategies concerning evacuation (e.g., 150,000–250,000 people) and shelter locations. Furthermore, there is sharp criticism regarding personnel management issues affecting professional military personnel, including the abolition of the pension system and the cutting of benefits, which has led to a large number of people leaving the service.
9 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The primary legislative focus is on a bill that would mandate the Government of the Republic to prepare a comprehensive national defense development vision extending to 2045, along with a new special development plan until 2034. The objective is to ensure that broad-based national defense strategies are clearly defined and adequately funded, thereby addressing the shortcomings found in previous development plans.
9 Speeches Analyzed