Session Profile: Mihkel Lees
15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting
2024-11-20
Political Position
The political stance involves strong support for the government's social and pension policies, emphasizing achievements and stability. The speaker defends the ongoing care reform and the targeted allocation of benefits for pensioners living alone, while highlighting the significant pension hikes implemented in recent years. The overall framework is distinctly results-oriented, focusing on facts and figures to demonstrate the success of the policy. This position strongly backs the current draft legislation concerning the cessation of benefit payments to elderly individuals residing in care homes.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates profound expertise in the social sphere, particularly concerning pension systems, long-term care reform, and social benefits provided by local authorities. They utilize concrete statistical data (percentages of pension hikes, the reduction of co-payments from 80% to 50%) and reference their prior professional experience in the social sector. This expertise is focused on explaining the necessity of need-based approaches and systemic solutions.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is defensive, fact-based, and authoritative, with the goal of refuting the opposition's claims. The speaker employs logical appeals and concrete figures (pension amounts, forecasts) instead of emotional arguments. The tone is formal and condemns the opposition's actions as "scaremongering," while simultaneously addressing the public directly.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
Not enough data
1 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The stance toward the opposition is sharp and critical, accusing them of fearmongering and distorting facts regarding benefits for pensioners. The speaker advises the public "not to take the opposition's scare tactics too seriously" and to focus instead on the facts presented. The criticism is directed at a political narrative that allegedly creates the impression, due to the draft bill, that "all is lost" for pensioners.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
There are no direct references to cross-party activity regarding the style of cooperation, but the speaker emphasizes cooperation between the central government and local municipalities (local municipalities are coming to the rescue again) in implementing the care reform and providing social assistance. He/She supports systematic cooperation that ensures individuals are not left without a spot in a care home due to economic reasons.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is primarily on national socio-political issues (pensions, care reform). A regional focus is employed to provide examples, referencing the regulations of specific local authorities (Tartu Municipality, Paide, Põltsamaa Municipality) that govern the portion of income retained by an individual residing in a care home.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic views advocate for targeted social spending and the regular increase of pensions via indexing, highlighting the notable growth achieved over the past four years. We support a needs-based system in social assistance, where local municipalities assist in covering nursing home expenses when pensions or other personal resources are inadequate. The objective is to ensure the financial security of the elderly and minimize their personal contribution to long-term care costs.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The primary social issue revolves around the well-being and care of the elderly, with strong support for the care reform, which has reduced the personal contribution required from individuals for nursing home expenses. It is emphasized that pensioners living alone in their own homes will not be left without assistance, and that social aid must be needs-based, accounting for the diverse requirements of different people. Furthermore, the importance of providing support to disabled individuals of retirement age is highlighted.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on supporting an ongoing draft bill concerning the termination of the single pensioner's allowance for seniors residing in care homes. The speaker also highlighted previous legislative achievements, such as the implementation of the care reform and the largest pension increase in the last 15 years, which significantly raised the old-age pension.
1 Speeches Analyzed