Session Profile: Helmen Kütt
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
2025-06-09
Political Position
The political focus is on immediately and rapidly raising the subsistence level within the framework of the supplementary budget to alleviate economic hardship caused by inflation. This stance is strongly rooted in social values, emphasizing the necessity of helping the most vulnerable and preventing people from falling into the poverty trap. The speaker contrasts their focus with the government's broad-based tax cuts, which offer little assistance to those who truly need help.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates significant expertise in the field of social welfare and subsistence benefits, providing specific data (e.g., a 40% rise in food prices) and budgetary calculations (6 million euros per six months). The criteria for receiving the benefit and its impact on various family types are also explained in detail, citing, for instance, the increase in support for a four-member family from 840 euros to 1050 euros.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is urgent and serious, emphasizing the critical nature of the situation and the necessity for immediate action before the heating season begins. Both emotional appeals (such as the poverty trap and falling into hardship) and logical arguments are utilized, referencing inflation data and earlier legislative precedent (from 2022). The address itself is formal, respectfully directed toward the presiding officer and the Prime Minister.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker actively participates in plenary sessions, posing questions and offering detailed positions regarding the supplementary budget procedure and formal inquiries. Their pattern of activity demonstrates a focus on submitting specific amendments and advocating strongly for their adoption.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The confrontation is directed at the Prime Minister and the Reform Party, criticizing their political priorities and their refusal to immediately raise the subsistence level via a supplementary budget. The criticism is policy- and value-based, accusing the government of postponing the increase of need-based support until 2026.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker thanked those who submitted the inquiry and emphasized the role of the Social Democrats in presenting the amendment, citing cross-party cooperation. A willingness to cooperate was demonstrated by offering a compromise regarding the effective date of the support (September 1st), while simultaneously requesting the coalition's support for the amendment.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on national socio-political issues and the budgetary process, specifically addressing the nationwide increase of the minimum income support threshold. There is no regional or local emphasis.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic perspectives emphasize social redistribution and the critical importance of needs-based support amid inflationary pressures. They advocate for immediate, targeted public spending (approximately 6 million euros per half-year) aimed at alleviating poverty, contrasting this approach with broader tax relief measures that fail to assist the most vulnerable.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The primary social issue is poverty reduction and economic security, highlighting the growing number of families requiring assistance, single parents, and elderly individuals living alone. Particular attention is drawn to the difficulties associated with the heating season, which necessitate immediate intervention.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is currently on an amendment to the supplementary budget aimed at immediately raising the subsistence level threshold from 200 euros to 250 euros. The speaker is a strong proponent and initiator of this proposal, emphasizing the necessity of implementing the change by September 1st at the latest.
2 Speeches Analyzed