Session Profile: Mart Maastik
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
2025-05-07
Political Position
The political focus is on energy policy and the tax burden. The speaker strongly opposes the government’s green transition strategy, labeling it senseless policy and "green lunacy," which has resulted in Estonia having the most expensive electricity in Europe. He is firmly against imposing new taxes on consumers, such as the island operation fee, stressing that this is yet another tax burden. The stance is strongly oppositional and results-oriented, criticizing the government’s failure to secure competitive energy prices.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates profound expertise in the energy sector, utilizing technical terminology such as island mode operation, controllable reserve capacity, and various voltage levels (330 kV, 110 kV). He provides detailed financial estimates (e.g., 35 million euros for the islanding fee, billions of euros in subsidies for offshore wind farms) and capacity figures (1000 MW, 500 MW). His expertise centers on the competitiveness of energy generation and alternatives for grid connections.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is sharply critical and combative, employing strong, emotional phrases like "green insanity," "utter nonsense," and "endless money pit." The speaker relies on both logical arguments (figures regarding costs and capacity) and emotional appeals, labeling consumers as "the new cash cow." The overall tone is skeptical and urgent, warning against painting the Estonian economy into a corner.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
Data is scarce.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponents are the government, the prime minister, and the climate minister, who are criticized for their senseless energy policy and for breaking the promise of tax stability. The criticism is intense and policy-driven, accusing the government of over-delivering on unrealistic EU aspirations and citing Elering’s unreasonable expenditures. The speaker also opposes the ideology of the green transition, which, in his view, has driven competitive oil shale energy out of existence.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
Data is scarce.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on national energy policy and infrastructure, but specific regional examples are brought to the fore. Emphasis is placed primarily on alternative and cheaper electricity grid solutions (from Haapsalu, through Hiiumaa, to Leisi), while expensive projects (such as the fourth Estonia-Latvia connection via Saaremaa) are criticized. Paldiski is also mentioned as a location for an energy storage facility.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The economic platform is strongly anti-tax and advocates for competitive energy production. The speaker criticized the government’s subsidy-based energy plan, arguing that it results in prohibitively expensive electricity and drives away industrial consumers and investment. He emphasized that the CO2 quota system has destroyed competitive oil shale energy, and that CO2 fees are now being used to plug the funding gap for Rail Baltic.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Data is scarce.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The primary legislative focus is the opposition to the draft bill, which proposes introducing an island mode operational fee to secure 1000 MW of controllable reserve capacity. The speaker (representing Isamaa) is a strong opponent of this bill, arguing that it creates a new tax burden for consumers.
1 Speeches Analyzed