Session Profile: Helmen Kütt
The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Information Hour
2025-10-08
Political Position
The political stance is sharply oppositional, focusing on the government's failure to secure adequate funding for specialized care services and provide decent wages for staff. Highlighted are the deteriorating accessibility of these services (the waiting list has doubled) and the practice of offloading state responsibilities onto local municipalities. The speaker demands concrete solutions from the Prime Minister to ensure social justice and the proper fulfillment of state duties.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates significant expertise in the field of social protection and special care services, citing specific salary figures (€1150–€1250 gross salary) and details from the National Audit Office report. He/She utilizes technical data, noting that the established prices cover only 60% of the actual costs, and highlights his/her prior experience as the Minister of Social Protection between 2014 and 2015.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is critical and insistent, combining logical appeals (audit data, increasing waiting lists) with emotional elements (workers protesting in the street, the burden on family caregivers). The speaker presents direct challenges to the prime minister, demanding solutions regarding the issue of underfunding and drawing comparisons with a previous period.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is active, referencing recent liaison with the Association of Special Care Service Providers (this very morning) and participation in parliamentary discussions (specifically, regarding school meal funding with the Minister of Education on Monday). They are keeping a close eye on developments in the sector, mentioning the special care workers' demonstration held on September 25th.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary opposition is aimed at the inaction of the Prime Minister and the government concerning the underfunding of specialized care services, which has led to a decline in service accessibility. The criticism is policy-driven, accusing the government of failing to fulfill its state duties and forcing local municipalities to pursue legal recourse. The government's fiscal policy (VAT) is also indirectly criticized.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
Insufficient data.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is national, addressing the availability and funding of special welfare services across Estonia, with reference to the construction of family-type residences "all over the country." Separate emphasis is placed on the financial burden on local governments and how they fulfill their duties in providing these state services.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic perspectives emphasize the need to raise the wages of social sector workers, noting that current pay raises are short-lived because the VAT on foodstuffs has not been reduced. There is a demand for the state to fully cover the costs of specialized care, as current funding covers only 60% of the actual expenses. The economic benefit to the state derived from family caregivers returning to the workforce is also highlighted.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The key social issue is the accessibility and underfunding of special welfare services, which directly impacts 1,000 individuals and their family caregivers. The speaker stresses the importance of dignified wages for social workers and the necessity of ensuring a decent life in welfare institutions, criticizing the government for reducing social priorities.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on ensuring existing state social obligations are met and adequately budgeted for, rather than initiating new laws. Highlighted is the need to resolve the underfunding of special welfare services, a situation that forces local governments to turn to the courts to seek compensation and secure placements.
2 Speeches Analyzed