Agenda Profile: Katrin Kuusemäe
Draft law amending the Holiday and Commemoration Day Act (636 SE) – first reading
2025-09-11
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
Political Position
The political stance is strictly procedural and neutral, concentrating on relaying the deliberations and decisions of the Constitutional Committee concerning the draft amendment to the Holidays and Commemoration Days Act. This position communicates the government’s conservative opposition, which stems from concerns over the negative economic impact on employers and a resulting decline in production output. The speaker personally avoids taking a position on the merits, stressing that the final decision lies with the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament).
8 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The expert analysis is strictly procedural, focusing on the operational procedures, session protocols, and decision-making processes of the Riigikogu Constitutional Committee. The expert emphasizes their role as the committee rapporteur and strictly confines themselves to the matters discussed by the committee, relying solely on official documentation. They do not provide a substantive, in-depth analysis, noting that the topic was not debated in such depth within the committee itself.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The speaking style is formal, objective, and informative, characteristic of a commission rapporteur who conveys procedural facts. He/She employs logical appeal, citing government justifications and protocol, and avoids emotional evaluations. The repeated emphasis that he/she is speaking only about the commission's discussion demonstrates a desire to limit his/her responsibility regarding substantive issues.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The course of action involves reporting on the legislative procedure, presenting the results of the Constitutional Committee's session (June 17) to the plenary assembly (September 10). He/She actively participates in answering questions, but strictly confines his/her responses to the committee's minutes and the scope of the debate.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The speaker himself is not expressing opposition, but rather conveying the opposition of the Government of the Republic to the bill initiated by the Social Democratic Party. The government's criticism was political and economic in nature, warning of the potential negative impact this could have on employers and noting that similar bills have been repeatedly introduced, regarding which the government has maintained a conservative line.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The collaborative approach is evident in the work of the Constitutional Committee, where procedural decisions (such as placing the draft bill on the plenary agenda) were reached by consensus. Furthermore, the committee chairman's proposal to defer the bill in order to address the streamlining of the public holiday system comprehensively was also mentioned, which points to an openness toward systematic cooperation.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
No data available. The approach is national and international (with references to the situation in other European countries).
8 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker conveys the government's conservative economic position, which emphasizes the need to avoid negative impacts on employers, a drop in production volume, and additional organizational costs associated with implementing extra public holidays. In the government's view, analyzing these impacts is the task of the bill's initiator, not the government.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The social topic being addressed is the enhancement of well-being and work-related mental health. In conveying the government's position, it is emphasized that while the objective is positive, simply adding extra days off will not, in itself, solve mental health problems, the root causes of which are often tied to work organization and management culture.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on the draft bill (636 SE) amending the Public Holidays and Anniversaries Act, the objective of which is to establish additional rest days. The speaker's role is procedural, serving as the rapporteur for the Constitutional Committee during the first reading of the bill, and they propose concluding the first reading.
8 Speeches Analyzed