By Plenary Sessions: Lauri Läänemets

It supports economic growth achieved through increasing added value and directing European Union funds into the timber sector, rather than by increasing logging volumes. It is critical of regulations that favor narrow business interests (private interests) at the expense of the public interest, emphasizing the need to maintain the contribution to GDP while preserving nature.

Our economic views are strongly opposed to regressive taxation, which disproportionately increases the burden on middle and lower-income families (such as through higher VAT). We support systems that bolster the economy and exports, and we criticize the failure to address the wealth of the richest 10%, pointing to the urgent need for a fairer tax system.

Economic perspectives favor state business subsidies in the forestry sector aimed at increasing added value and reducing reliance on raw material exports. The speaker opposes compensating for the loss of the Russian market by increasing felling volumes in Estonian forests. Nuclear power is deemed economically irrational and overly expensive; the preference is for distributed renewable energy solutions, while criticizing unnecessary bureaucracy and the squandering of taxpayer funds.

The speaker advocates for maintaining and increasing public sector spending in the social sector and education. They oppose cuts and the reallocation of funds from the youth sector to infrastructure projects, prioritizing social investment.

The economic positions are articulated through criticism of the government's prioritization of narrow business interests, coupled with demands for fair treatment and compensation for ordinary forest owners. It further stresses the necessity of supporting individuals who have managed their property diligently, but whose activities are restricted by state decisions, requiring clear types and sums of compensation.

Economic views emphasize the security and well-being of employees, opposing the proposed casual wage legislation which creates instability. The role of the Social Democrats in raising the minimum wage is highlighted—a minimum wage that is now at a historically high level in Estonia relative to the average salary. Corruption is viewed as a direct economic threat, stealing money from people and hindering their ability to make ends meet.

The speaker supports the redistribution of wealth and social balance, advocating for a progressive income tax or higher taxation on the wealthy to fund public services. They criticize the government’s plan to make the VAT permanent, viewing it as a measure that harms the average family, and argue that the current economic growth is unfairly distributed.

The speaker advocates for stimulating the economy through domestic consumption, specifically by supporting a reduction of the VAT on essential foodstuffs to 9%. They also support national investments in regional industry (electricity and communication networks) and providing labor tax incentives to companies that create jobs in rural areas. The speaker is critical of relying on pure market economy logic when it negatively impacts people's ability to cope financially.