Session Profile: Andres Metsoja
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
2025-01-28
Political Position
The political focus is on finding a balance between nature conservation and economic activity in rural areas, especially regarding damage caused by wolves. The speaker strongly supports expanding the Environmental Board's powers to allow the year-round culling of problematic wildlife, while criticizing excessive bureaucracy and the distrust shown towards local residents. This framework is value-based, emphasizing the necessity of common sense and trusting the local community. They warn that a failure to maintain this balance could lead to vigilantism (poaching, poisoning).
5 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates thorough knowledge of the Hunting Act, the status of wildlife populations (wolf, roe deer, lynx), and damage control. He uses specific data concerning hunting quotas and procedural deadlines, and refers to the statistics provided by the Environmental Agency and the system of management areas. The expertise also covers the complexity of nature conservation and the management of land improvement systems, citing examples of how diseases (avian influenza, plague) and weather conditions affect wildlife.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is analytical and persuasive, stressing the need for balance and common sense in environmental protection. It utilizes both logical arguments (the necessity of legislative change, population data) and emotional appeals, defending the reputation of hunters and livestock farmers. The discourse becomes personal and ironic, describing the defiance and contempt provoked by bureaucracy, particularly regarding the difficulties in obtaining necessary approvals.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The pattern of activity demonstrates active participation in the legislative process, including initiating and presenting draft legislation during the Riigikogu plenary session. The speaker is involved in the work of various committees (the Rural Affairs Committee and the Environment Committee), where different interest groups, such as livestock breeders and residents of Lahemaa, are consulted. Furthermore, the speaker references personal experience dealing with bureaucracy at their own country home.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main targets of criticism are excessive state bureaucracy, slow processing times (30 days just to get a permit for a nuisance species), and the trend toward "total nature conservation," which pushes people out of natural areas. The criticism is intense, citing examples of absurd approval requirements that breed resentment and confusion among residents. He criticizes a system that treats citizens like they are idiots and teaches them helplessness.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker demonstrates a willingness to find compromises by listening to various stakeholders, including livestock farmers, entrepreneurs, and wolf conservationists. He positively highlights the existence of cross-party cooperation, noting that the Environment Committee supported the draft bill regardless of opposition and coalition party lines. He stresses the importance of ensuring trust and collaboration between hunters and the community.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
There is a strong focus on the issues facing rural areas and local communities, particularly the concerns of people living in conservation areas (e.g., Lahemaa, Soomaa). Emphasis is placed on protecting rural economic activity and highlighting the role of local residents (hunters, livestock farmers) as experts knowledgeable about nature. The culling of the jackal in the speaker’s home region is also mentioned, which points to local wildlife management problems.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The economic perspective focuses on protecting rural economic activities from damage caused by wildlife and supports livestock farmers. The speaker is critical of regulations that prevent property owners from protecting their assets and acting proactively, such as when maintaining power line easements. He stresses that nature conservation should not restrict economic activity or construction in residential zones.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The social focus is directed at restoring citizens' trust and preventing vigilantism when managing damage caused by wildlife. The speaker expresses concern about society's growing tendency toward learned helplessness, citing as an example people's inability to determine cardinal directions in the forest. He emphasizes that people themselves are an inseparable part of nature conservation and that the state should not consider its citizens stupid.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The primary legislative priority is the amendment of the Hunting Act (Bill 553), initiated by the Isamaa parliamentary group, which aims to grant the Environmental Board year-round authority to organize the culling of wild animals that are causing damage. He emphasizes the need to resolve the issue of hunting nuisance animals more quickly than the current 30-day processing time. The speaker also criticized the large number of proposed amendments to other major laws (the Nature Conservation Act, the Climate Act), suggesting this points to legislative chaos.
5 Speeches Analyzed