Agenda Profile: Tiit Maran
Second reading of the bill amending the Hunting Act (553 SE)
2025-05-06
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Political Position
The speaker strongly supports the amendment to the Hunting Act, which permits the culling of nuisance animals, deeming it highly necessary. At the same time, he criticizes the legislative process as being dangerously detached from environmental understanding and accuses power plays of sidelining substantive proposals. The political position is firmly value-based, stressing the existential importance of environmental sustainability.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker possesses deep expertise in the fields of hunting, large carnivore ecology, and population biology, explaining the principles of population growth and habitat carrying capacity. They demonstrate knowledge of the technical specifics of hunting legislation (e.g., tracking wounded game, the use of night vision optics). To support their positions, they introduce philosophical and ethical concepts, referencing Aldo Leopold and Nikolai Baturin.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is academic and philosophical, but simultaneously urgent and deeply concerned, especially when addressing environmental issues. The speaker employs emotional language (e.g., "dangerously far," "existentially vital," "ruinous") and supports their arguments with literary and ethical references to underscore the necessity of learning to "think like a forest and a bog."
6 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker served as the rapporteur before the Riigikogu for the Environment Committee session (April 15, 2025), providing an overview of the procedural decisions. He/She was an active submitter of amendments to the draft legislation, having made proposals concerning hunting safety and emergency culling.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The criticism is aimed at political power games ("sandbox politics") that prevent the adoption of substantive proposals when the speaker belongs to the opposition. He/She argues that the differential treatment of the coalition and the opposition makes addressing important topics unexpectedly complicated and unmanageable.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker references earlier cooperation with interest groups (hunters) and the Ministry of Climate, where his proposals were deemed necessary and feasible. He regrets that this substantive collaboration did not translate into law due to political obstacles.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on national legislation (the Hunting Act) and Estonia's environmental issues, particularly the management of large predators (wolves). There is no regional or local emphasis, except for references to communication between hunting districts.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker expresses strong opposition to a mindset focused exclusively on money, profit, and economic growth, deeming it disastrous. He/She places economic interests below environmental ethics and sustainability.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The primary social theme is the alienation of society and culture from nature and the environment, which the speaker considers a deepening and dangerous problem. He/She emphasizes the role of social tolerance in managing the wolf population and the necessity of understanding the significance of the habitat.
6 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main legislative priority is amending the Hunting Act to resolve the wolf crisis and regulate the pursuit of wounded game animals across hunting districts. The speaker supported and initiated amendments concerning hunting safety and the culling of distressed animals, but these proposals were ultimately not adopted.
6 Speeches Analyzed