Agenda Profile: Tiit Maran
Draft law amending the simplified taxation act for entrepreneurs and the income tax act, and repealing the security tax act – second reading
2025-06-11
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
Political Position
The political focus centers on acute wealth inequality and the disproportionate distribution of the burden of maintaining the state, a trend that concentrates wealth into the hands of an ever-smaller segment of the population. The speaker strongly opposes the current trajectory, which is pulling Estonia away from the Nordic model, emphasizing that inequality jeopardizes the nation's cohesion, stability, and capacity for crisis management. Their stance is deeply value-based, directly linking economic disparity to national defense capabilities and the ability to handle the environmental crisis.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates knowledge in analyzing wealth distribution, utilizing data from the World Inequality Database (wid.world) and providing detailed statistical comparisons between Estonia and other countries. He highlights specific percentages of national wealth held by the wealthiest 1% and 10% in Estonia and in comparison countries (e.g., Denmark, USA, Finland). Although he acknowledges that the topic is not his primary field of expertise, the presentation is fact-driven and focuses on the numerical increase in inequality.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is serious, analytical, and cautionary, stressing that the country's current trajectory is "stupid, weak, and dangerous." The speaker leans heavily on logical arguments and statistical data, linking these to value-based concerns regarding social cohesion and national defense. He uses a historical example (Denmark in the 1930s) to propose a solution and contrasts Estonia's development—pitting the "ideal of the boring Nordic country" against an "American-like society of not very happy people."
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker delivered a rather lengthy speech during the Riigikogu session, requesting an additional three minutes of time.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The criticism is aimed at the systemic growth of inequality and its consequences, which are pushing Estonia away from the Nordic model and toward a US-style society. He/She criticizes policies that shift the burden of supporting the state onto those "who already have little." Specific political opponents, parties, or the initiators of draft legislation are not criticized by name.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker advocates for broad-based cooperation between the state, businesses, and employees, citing Denmark's historical example in establishing the balanced Nordic model. He sees a nationwide agreement as the solution for breaking out of the current deadlock. Information regarding the current level of inter-party cooperation in the Riigikogu is currently unavailable.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on the national level (Estonia's national wealth and its distribution) and extensive international comparison. It uses data to compare Estonia with the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland), Western Europe (Germany, France, Great Britain), the Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania), as well as the USA and Russia.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker opposes the concentration of wealth and the shifting of the tax burden onto the poorer segment of the population, advocating instead for an economic model—specifically the Nordic model—that would guarantee greater balance and social cohesion. They argue that inequality impedes the proper functioning of the state and prevents the broad distribution of the benefits of economic growth, stressing the necessity of securing the funds required for the state's maintenance.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Growing inequality is the main social problem, as it undermines social cohesion and stability and increases alienation from the state. The speaker warns that this inequality will inevitably lead to cuts in education funding, making society progressively less intelligent.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The speech was delivered during the second reading of Bill 645 SE (Draft Act on the Amendment of the Act on Simplified Taxation of Business Income and the Income Tax Act, and the Security Tax Act). The speaker is fundamentally opposed to the tax policy direction underlying the bill, which, in their view, deepens inequality.
2 Speeches Analyzed