Session Profile: Katrin Kuusemäe
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
2025-09-10
Political Position
The speaker's position is strictly procedural and neutral, as they are fulfilling the role of rapporteur for the Constitutional Committee, focusing solely on relaying the discussion and the procedural decisions made. They are communicating the stances taken regarding the draft amendments to the Law on Holidays and Significant Dates, where the government adopted a conservative opposition stance, primarily focusing on the economic impacts. Their approach is distinctly procedure-based, carefully avoiding the expression of personal value judgments.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise regarding the procedural rules of the Riigikogu and the work of the Constitutional Committee, highlighting the consensus-based nature of the decisions and the limitations of the rapporteur's role. He/She is able to accurately convey the government's arguments concerning the economic and social impacts of the draft legislation, citing a drop in production volume and operational costs. In his/her presentation, he/she consistently relies on the committee's minutes.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is formal, objective, and informative, focusing on the delivery of facts and procedural history. The speaker employs a logical approach, repeatedly relying on the commission's protocol and avoiding personal opinions in order to maintain the presenter's neutrality. He/She repeatedly refuses to answer substantive questions if they exceed the scope of the commission's discussion.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The activities are connected to the work of the Constitutional Committee, involving the presentation of an overview of the sessions held on June 17 and September 8, and fulfilling the role of rapporteur for two draft bills at the September 10 plenary session. He/She also notes having replaced colleague Lauri Laats in the role of rapporteur.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The speaker himself does not express opposition, but rather conveys the conservative opposition of the Government of the Republic to the draft bills. The government's criticism was policy-based, focusing on economic considerations and the initiators' inability to sufficiently analyze the impacts. The government emphasized that scoping the impacts is the primary task of those developing the amendments.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The style of cooperation is open to procedural consensus, noting that the decision to include the draft bill on the plenary agenda was consensual. He/She also refers to the committee chairman's proposal to address the topic comprehensively within the framework of streamlining the system of national holidays. Furthermore, he/she mentioned the readiness of the Legal and Analysis Department of the Riigikogu Chancellery to assist the factions in conducting analyses.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
No data available
16 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker relayed the government’s conservative economic position, which stresses the need to avoid any negative impact on employers. The government justified its opposition by citing concerns over a potential decline in production volume and the additional operational costs that would result from introducing extra public holidays. The government also emphasized that the number of holidays should be determined by the internal socio-economic balance.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The key social issue is boosting well-being through additional days off, aimed at alleviating work-related mental health problems. The government opposed this, arguing that the root causes of mental health issues are often linked to work organization and management culture, rather than a shortage of days off.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on the draft amendments to the Law on Holidays and Anniversaries, the goal of which is to add additional days off (initiated by the SDE and the Center Party). The speaker's role is procedural, ensuring the completion of the first reading of the bills and directing further proceedings to the plenary session. He/She also emphasizes the committee chairman's desire to comprehensively streamline the system of national holidays and state anniversaries.
16 Speeches Analyzed