By Months: Heljo Pikhof
Total Months: 17
Fully Profiled: 17
10.2025
4 Speeches
The political focus is centered on robust opposition to the government's business plan for prison rental, specifically concerning the transfer of Swedish criminals to Estonia. This stance is strongly value-based and vigorous, emphasizing that the plan undermines internal security and constitutes a deliberate manipulation of the public's sense of safety. The Social Democrats stress that Estonia is not a prison, but our home, contrasting this security strategy with the government's commercial deal.
09.2025
28 Speeches
The political focus is heavily centered on social justice, particularly workers' rights and regional equality. The most prominent issues include compensating for public holidays with an additional day off and reducing educational inequality, stressing that a child's educational trajectory should not depend on their parents' financial means. The speaker criticizes the government's inaction and emphasizes that solutions are both anticipated and necessary, utilizing a framework based on both values and concrete policy.
06.2025
36 Speeches
The political focus is sharply focused on reducing social inequality, particularly through the abolition of kindergarten fees and the reform of the education system. The speaker expresses strong concern regarding public safety (the regulation of light personal vehicles) and consumer protection (debt bondage). These positions are intense and value-based, demanding accountability and swift action from the government in solving social problems.
05.2025
7 Speeches
The political stance is firmly oppositional, focusing on sharp criticism of the government's social and environmental policies. The main issues concern the direction of forestry, which is deemed misguided (the conversion of forests into "tree fields"), as well as social security (pensions and unemployment benefits). The speaker demands justice for landowners and the preservation of the social safety net. The position is principled and highly confrontational.
04.2025
1 Speeches
The political stance is strongly focused on protecting the interests of working people and increasing leisure time. The most salient issue is amending the law on holidays and special days to compensate for national holidays that fall on a weekend with an additional paid day off. This is a value-driven position that underscores the public’s need for more time to rest and reflects a commitment to social justice.
03.2025
1 Speeches
The political focus centers on issues of national defense and internal security. The speaker sharply criticizes the government's actions, claiming that they have heightened public anxiety and the fear of war. The position is strongly oppositional, focusing on the government's inefficiency and delays concerning crucial procurements.
02.2025
10 Speeches
The political position is characterized by a strong focus on education and science policy. Regarding the use of social media among youth, a cautious approach is evident, stressing the need to thoroughly map the situation before implementing restrictions, while simultaneously supporting the establishment of a nationwide framework. In the field of research and development (R&D), there is a clear requirement for stable funding (at least 1% of GDP) that is independent of political sentiment, and for guaranteeing academic freedom. In policy formulation, the necessity of basing decisions on research and comprehensive analysis is emphasized.
01.2025
1 Speeches
The political position is strongly focused on reforming adult education, supporting the introduction of micro-qualifications and micro-credentials. This stance is policy-driven, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and quality in lifelong learning as a response to technological and climate challenges. As Social Democrats, the proposed bill is viewed as an investment in the future of the people and the development of the nation.
12.2024
4 Speeches
The politician strongly supports extending compulsory schooling until the age of 18 in order to reduce the proportion of youth in society with low educational attainment and a lack of skills. This is clearly a policy- and value-based position aimed at solving social and economic problems through improved employment. The politician is a member of the Social Democrats, who support the draft legislation. Furthermore, the politician emphasizes procedural justice and equal treatment in parliament.
11.2024
19 Speeches
The speaker’s position is strongly procedural and value-driven. They oppose constitutional amendment bills that restrict suffrage or attempt to define Estonia’s value framework, viewing such actions as undermining the democratic constitutional order. Furthermore, they defend women’s rights and autonomy, sharply criticizing views that assign blame to women for pregnancy or abortion. Their political focus is directed toward the quality of legislation and social justice.
09.2024
2 Speeches
The political focus is on national resilience and the modernization of legislation. He/She supports establishing a national requirement for new buildings to include shelter facilities for security considerations. Furthermore, he/she is spearheading the simplification of laws governing research institutions and the removal of outdated provisions, demonstrating strong support for policy-driven efficiency.
06.2024
9 Speeches
Pikhof serves as the representative of the Riigikogu Cultural Committee, focusing on handling legislative processes and conveying expert viewpoints. His main priorities include protecting children from pornography, stressing the fundamental importance of this issue based on core values, and reforming the education system—particularly vocational training—to increase its flexibility. He stresses the importance of adhering to European Union law and utilizing pan-European solutions when addressing cross-border issues.
05.2024
6 Speeches
In terms of policy, the speaker strongly emphasizes two key areas: developing the infrastructure for national culture (specifically, the Estonia Theatre extension) to enhance international standing, and improving the quality and accessibility of early childhood education. These positions are value-driven, highlighting education's role in mitigating social inequality and stressing the importance of culture both as the nation's calling card and as a matter of national security. The speaker represents the views of the Social Democrats and expects solutions to be provided by the government and the City of Tallinn.
04.2024
11 Speeches
The political focus is strongly directed towards the protection of the nation-state and demographic stability, especially regarding the education of Ukrainian war refugees, emphasizing their temporary status. Another important topic is the funding of the cultural sector and raising the salary level of cultural workers, which is associated with the contribution of the Social Democratic Party. The talking points are both value-based (integration, national catastrophe) and policy- and budget-based (cultural infrastructure, wage funds).
03.2024
2 Speeches
The speaker strongly supports the cultural policy changes concerning both the flexibility of financing the new ERR building and the establishment of social guarantees for creative professionals. This political position is value-based, emphasizing that culture and language represent the deeper purpose of maintaining the state, and that creative people deserve fair compensation and social protection. The goal is to make the system more flexible and ensure the quicker completion of cultural facilities that are important to the state. The Social Democrats support the bill.
02.2024
12 Speeches
Strong support for improving social guarantees in the cultural sector for freelance creatives, specifically by converting grants into salaries that provide social protection. Furthermore, they support increasing the funding flexibility for nationally important cultural buildings, potentially citing the ERR building as an example. The political focus is clearly policy- and value-driven, underscoring the significance of culture and social protection. Additionally, they firmly back the implementation of universal health insurance for all Estonian residents.
01.2024
9 Speeches
The political focus is on restoring the sustainability of the education system and the dignity of the teaching profession, which are viewed as critical for the survival of the state. The speaker strongly supports streamlining the school network and mitigating the educational gap caused by socio-economic background. The approach is strongly policy- and value-based, emphasizing the need to find an operating model appropriate for Estonia. A second topic on the agenda is the tightening of fine rates for violations of the Language Act.