By Months: Lauri Laats
Total Months: 19
Fully Profiled: 19
10.2025
39 Speeches
Economic views are strongly opposed to the car tax and the registration fee, arguing that they have caused the car market to stall and damaged the business environment. We support a more socially sensitive tax policy, specifically demanding a reduction in VAT on foodstuffs to improve people's livelihoods, and the implementation of a bank tax to help fill the state budget. It is emphasized that the state's priority must be the individual citizen, not the collection of taxes at any cost.
09.2025
160 Speeches
The central critique in economic policy focuses on tax hikes and consumption taxes, emphasizing the need to stimulate youth employment through tax incentives. Recommendations include extending the social tax exemption to young people (up to 19–20 years old) and reducing the 20% contribution requirement for health insurance. The text highlights the growth in rent and housing costs and the necessity of facilitating loan refinancing and reforming real estate valuation to make housing costs more affordable. It demonstrates an effort to promote entrepreneurship and develop measures to revitalize the economic environment.
06.2025
83 Speeches
In the economic context, the primary source of criticism stems from the impact of tax policy and inflation. There is a preference for reassessing consumption taxes and the taxation of foodstuffs, resolving the "tax hump" issue, and reforming the tax and expenditure structure in order to reduce the burden on low and middle-income individuals. This stance is simultaneously balanced by criticism directed at green policy and energy investments. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of investing in high technology, higher education, and regional economic growth.
05.2025
82 Speeches
Critical and questioning regarding economic policy: opposing major increases in VAT and other consumption taxes, advocating for a review of the tax system based on IMF recommendations, and emphasizing the protection of purchasing power and average income. Fighting against heavy tax burdens and highlighting alternative financing options and funding priorities for the energy sector (e.g., a balanced approach between the green transition and oil shale).
04.2025
90 Speeches
Economic perspective: critical tax policy (anti-car tax rhetoric, criticism of the tax bulge), bills supporting the reduction of VAT on foodstuffs; encourages increased competition (banks, loans) and the balancing of the state budget; emphasizes a pragmatic fiscal policy, which the coalition has failed to follow.
03.2025
17 Speeches
In terms of economics and taxation, the text outlines criticism regarding the government’s tax cuts and tax increases, and, more broadly, their impact on people's livelihoods and the overall economy. They stress that numerous taxes (car tax, VAT, income tax, fuel and electricity excises) and rising prices exacerbate poverty and diminish purchasing power. Concurrently, there is a call for expenditure cuts and a reduction in the size of the public sector. The preferred approach is to stimulate economic growth through transparent and sensible fiscal policy.
02.2025
67 Speeches
Economic policy centers on consumer protection and tax transparency: there is criticism regarding the bank tax, but simultaneously, the necessity of economically sound solutions and securing affordable electricity is stressed. The reduction of VAT on foodstuffs is highlighted, while the broader increases in VAT and income tax are criticized. Energy policy emphasizes ensuring adequate consumer pricing and prudent investment, proposing alternatives to ENMAK and drawing comparisons with international practices (Lithuania, Finland).
01.2025
66 Speeches
Criticism in economic policy regarding taxes and expenditures: contradictory positions on raising taxes and granting tax exemptions; criticism of the 100 million euro funding for the development of gas power plants; discussion about lowering the VAT on non-essential goods and foodstuffs; changes in sick leave compensation rates and 49.3 million in additional budget expenditures, along with indirect effects on GDP. General understanding: the economy is expected to grow better if sick days are managed and employee health improves; however, there is criticism regarding the impact of the government's growth and tax changes, which are intended to strengthen business investment and consumption.
12.2024
105 Speeches
Critical from an economic standpoint and skeptical of the coalition's tax policy. It contrasts the sharp increase in consumption taxes with the resulting decline in competitiveness, and emphasizes that prices and the cost of living will rise, damaging consumption and the economy. Recommendations include considering a bank tax and budgetary austerity measures, implementing specific tax bases, and coordinating the pace and expenditure of the green transition to stabilize the energy market. It highlights that the energy sector and investments are critically important, and stresses energy security and the continued use of oil shale under certain conditions.
11.2024
114 Speeches
Highly critical of the economy and taxation, yet simultaneously detailed: offering criticism of the failure to adopt necessary measures and of tax hikes; advocating for a reduction in VAT on foodstuffs and seeking to prevent excessive state spending. It stresses the necessity of a transparent and sensible budget, emphasizing that taxation must not exacerbate disparities in the standard of living. The text highlights funding from the Baltic states and the European Union, while expressing concern over the structural composition of the 2024 budget. It points to the need for a balance between investments and energy policy, and underscores the state's capacity to manage during a major economic crisis.
10.2024
72 Speeches
At the core of economic policy is the rejection of consumption taxes and the preference for a bank tax, viewed as a fairer and more stable tax base. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of investments and regional development, coupled with criticism regarding the sustainability of the state's ability to cope with constant tax hikes. There is a demand for greater attention to road and infrastructure funding, avoiding the continuous raising of the tax burden by viewing the bank tax as a fairer alternative.
09.2024
45 Speeches
Critical of economic expenditure and the tax system, but grounded in practical application; it calls for a reduction in VAT on food and fears extensive tax increases that could impact inflation and purchasing power. It supports regional economic growth and domestic production (e.g., Tartu Agro), and stresses the importance of stability in energy and employment. Achieving the expected budget balance is important, but a caveat is maintained that cuts must be reasonable, and the interests of defense and private enterprise must be taken into account.
07.2024
4 Speeches
Economically, the car tax is viewed as an additional burden that could deepen the decline in turnover and exacerbate the economic crisis. It is emphasized that raising taxes increases the strain on the entrepreneurial and tourism sectors. Alternative measures are desired for balancing the budget, rather than implementing the car tax.
06.2024
45 Speeches
Opposition is voiced against tax increases, stressing economic prudence and the need to reduce the burden on taxpayers; there is a call for comprehensive socio-economic analyses and the establishment of the so-called optimal energy specification (including issues related to the nuclear power plant). The supplementary budget and its consequences—such as lost tax revenue and the resulting impact on the state budget—are criticized. The preference is for distributing the weight of expenditures and focusing on sensible investment.
05.2024
46 Speeches
Economic commentary is critical of the current government’s tax policy: the opposition condemns the increases in consumption taxes and excise duties, stressing that these disproportionately burden low- and middle-income individuals. A temporary bank tax is proposed as an alternative, and there is a desire to eliminate the 'tax hump' and stop avoiding modest or unfair tax moderation. The statement also emphasizes the necessity of funding youth extracurricular activities and housing stock renovation through investments, focusing on pro-social financial and social investments.
04.2024
18 Speeches
In economic policy, the focus is on market principles and competitiveness. It seeks to end the universal service obligation and implement flexible mechanisms (e.g., exchange price plus subsidization during difficult times), while avoiding the addition of large tax components. It recommends a bank tax and potential alternatives, and leaves the question of income tax reform open for the coalition. Furthermore, it is opposed to the motor vehicle tax and is critical of shifts in excise duties and rates.
03.2024
16 Speeches
Critical of VAT and consumption taxes, stressing that they fuel inflation and disproportionately affect low-income earners; supports taxing banks (a bank tax) and opposes abolishing the tax hump (tax bracket creep); advocates for a proactive industrial policy: promoting domestic production (food production), avoiding unnecessary tax cuts, and emphasizing the efficient allocation of state expenditures; skeptical regarding the economic viability of the green transition, though acknowledging the need for transparent allocation.
02.2024
10 Speeches
Economic Priorities: alleviating the cost of living and curbing price hikes; assessing the impact of taxes and favoring certain tax distortions (e.g., a bank tax), replacing the proposed car tax. It supports disciplined public finance and directing the resources generated by CO2 quotas towards regional measures (e.g., Narva). It seeks rapid and targeted tax changes, along with increased regional financial support, to alleviate the hardships faced by the populace.
01.2024
6 Speeches
The economic approach is moderate and grounded in careful consideration of expenditures and investments. Regarding nuclear energy, it is viewed as an alternative that could prove more expensive and bureaucratic; emphasis is placed instead on cheaper and faster solutions (wind/solar). Concerning income tax, there is discussion about the progressive tax system and the impact of the general tax rate on individuals; questions are being raised as to whether tax changes are even necessary. The stance is highly critical of abolishing the tax hump/wedge (maksuküüru), but no final confirmation of its removal has been given; the focus remains on assessing the impact on people.