Session Profile: Lauri Laats
15th Parliament, 4th sitting, plenary session
2024-11-07
Political Position
The focus is placed on highlighting the draft bill to lower the value-added tax (VAT) on foodstuffs as a priority measure, coupled with criticism of the government's tax policy. It stresses that the current government's actions constitute a "dead end" and calls for consensus across the Riigikogu (Parliament) and an approach to the Rail Baltic issue that moves beyond the divide between the coalition and the opposition.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
Uses specific examples and numbers: food prices have risen by over 40% during the last two years, compares the practices of European Union VAT exceptions (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, etc.) and presents detailed European examples; the increase in the cost of the Rail Baltic project (3.6 billion → 23.8 billion) and the differences in the total expenditures of the countries (Estonia ~1.35 billion deficit, Latvia 9.60 billion, Lithuania 10.23 billion) and the need to review the organization of funding sources and land acquisition.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The speaker uses an active, critical, and emotional tone; employs questions, exclamations, and examples (e.g., the Spanish olive oil case), emphasizes practical solutions, and calls for bipartisan and non-governmental dialogue. The style is exploratory and powerfully argumentative, though occasionally it becomes rambling and marked by emphasized emotions.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
He/She actively participates in plenary sessions and faction meetings; highlights the consistent submission of draft legislation (such as lowering the VAT on foodstuffs) and initiatives to form committees; stresses the need for rapid procedure and seeks to build parliament-wide consensus; mentions the intention to schedule debates in special circumstances (for example, scheduling the Rail Baltic investigative committee meeting for Wednesday).
16 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
Criticizes the current government and coalition; uses presentations to demonstrate that the government’s economic policy fails to support people’s purchasing power and the economy; highlights that the opposition and the Centre Party offer alternatives (such as lowering the VAT); stresses that the coalition does not support all of their proposals; and maintains an oppositional stance only on political and procedural matters.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
It emphasizes the need for broad-based cooperation: a "cross-parliamentary" agreement spanning both the coalition and the opposition. It recommends cooperation between the parliaments of the Baltic States, and even potential joint work with Lithuania on Rail Baltic issues. It also seeks cooperation with the special anti-corruption committee and the involvement of various parliamentary factions.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus was on regional problems in Estonia (wage levels and food prices in Harju County versus Southeast Estonia) and the context of the Baltic states (the Rail Baltic project, cooperation with Latvia and Lithuania); it was emphasized that the project's financing and land acquisition concern all three Baltic states, and its impact is not limited to just one country.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
To alleviate the price level of food, [the speaker/party] supports lowering the Value Added Tax (VAT); criticizes the tax administration system and the transparency of budget planning; emphasizes the need for a balanced financing strategy to promote local producers and tourism, and points to possible options for limiting costs and seeking new revenue sources (quotes from discussions regarding total budget amounts and funding).
16 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The position focuses on people's ability to cope and the cost of living: mitigating price hikes, regional inequality, and the standard of living; it emphasizes society's sense of justice and the need for answers and transparency regarding the financing of Rail Baltic; promoting tourism and the consumption of local products as a mechanism for reducing social costs.
16 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
Primary objective: lowering the value-added tax (VAT) on foodstuffs (presentation of the draft bill and the effort to bring it into proceedings) and establishing the Rail Baltic investigative committee (transcending both the coalition and the opposition). It is noted that the deliberation of some draft bills was previously abandoned, and the need for sustainable and transparent lawmaking, as well as increased cooperation between the state and the Baltic countries, is emphasized.
16 Speeches Analyzed