By Plenary Sessions: Heljo Pikhof
Total Sessions: 34
Fully Profiled: 34
2025-10-06
The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
The economic aspect is critically examined, with the importation of prisoners being labeled "prison leasing" and a "favorable export service for Sweden's problems." The actual benefit of the government's "business plan" to the Estonian state is called into question, given that it generates labor competition and weakens national structures. Commodifying security is deemed unethical.
2025-09-24
Fifteenth Riigikogu, sixth sitting, plenary sitting.
Economic arguments favor state investments in infrastructure (like high-speed internet) as a key tool for boosting regional economic growth and employment. The objective is to establish a conducive environment for businesses operating in rural areas.
2025-09-22
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
The economic perspectives focus specifically on the public sector labor market, highlighting fierce competition and personnel shortages among internal security institutions. Competition is particularly sharp between the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board), the Prison Service, and the Tax and Customs Board, all of whom are seeking candidates with the same professional profile.
2025-09-15
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary sitting
Economic views are aimed at reducing inequality and alleviating social stratification, requiring state intervention through differentiated funding. The system is criticized for allowing a child's educational trajectory to depend too heavily on their parents' income and financial resources, and there is a demand for accessible, free study support and extracurricular activities.
2025-09-10
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
The economic viewpoints are pro-labor, asserting that additional days off actually boost morale, work performance, and overall productivity, effectively compensating for the time lost. The speaker anticipates a positive economic effect on consumption, tourism, and the hospitality sector, and cites experts who find no direct negative correlation between total working hours and GDP. Preference is given to solutions that extend the weekend (the "bridge system"), thereby avoiding the extra costs associated with production shutdowns.
2025-09-08
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
Insufficient data
2025-09-04
15th Riigikogu, extraordinary session of the Riigikogu
The speaker advocates for state intervention aimed at mitigating social costs, specifically demanding that the elimination of kindergarten tuition fees be compensated for out of the state budget (an estimated additional cost of 66 million euros). He represents the interests of the labor force, supporting extra days off and arguing that this would not jeopardize the Estonian economy or labor productivity. Instead, he claims it would ease the burden of Estonia’s above-average number of working days and hours.
2025-06-18
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Economic views are strongly focused on consumer protection and regulating the financial sector in order to prevent debt bondage and predatory lending. The speaker supports strengthening state oversight of collection agencies and the earlier implementation of a positive credit register, viewing the debt burden as a widespread socio-economic problem.
2025-06-12
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
Economic perspectives focus on controlling and improving the efficiency of state expenditures, criticizing the significant increase in prison maintenance costs (allegedly rising from 12 million to 20 million annually). Emphasis is also placed on the strong labor market competition within the public sector, which makes filling new positions in the police and prison services difficult.
2025-06-11
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
The economic perspective supports state intervention aimed at reducing social inequality, specifically by demanding the abolition of kindergarten fees and the state covering the resulting costs (22 million euros from the supplementary budget). Furthermore, the opposition's tax policy is criticized for prioritizing major spending decisions before securing the necessary funding sources, which is cited as evidence of irresponsible fiscal management.
2025-06-10
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting.
Economic considerations focus on regulatory efficiency in the adjudication of competition infringements and the avoidance of penalties levied against the state. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of creating competent legislation capable of effectively processing competition violations to prevent financial loss.
2025-06-04
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
There is not enough data.
2025-05-21
15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, information briefing.
The presenter stresses the necessity of safeguarding the economic interests of landowners and calls for equitable compensation for lost revenue, which must be exempt from income tax. They oppose a system that drastically diminishes the value of the property while still requiring the full 100% payment of land tax. These viewpoints tend toward protecting the economic value of private property from state-imposed restrictions.
2025-05-19
15th Riigikogu, Fifth Session, Plenary Session.
Economic perspectives are tied to resource management: there is opposition to forestry policies driven by short-term profit, which results in the loss of old-growth forests. Simultaneously, there is active support for the rapid development of renewable energy production capacity, signaling a commitment to green economic growth and energy security.
2025-05-07
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
Economic perspectives tend to favor the protection of the workforce and the social safety net. Concerns are raised regarding the potential loss of unemployment benefits and the corresponding increase in the social burden, stressing the necessity of guaranteeing individuals access to insurance payouts or basic subsistence support.
2025-05-05
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
Regarding social expenditures, the importance of rule-based mechanisms (pension indexation) is indirectly highlighted. This stands in contrast to the discretionary decisions reserved by the government. Furthermore, the issue of the economic impact of caregiving responsibilities on families who are forced to leave employment is also raised.
2025-03-19
15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing.
Insufficient data.
2025-02-26
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Economic perspectives heavily focus on the stability of public investment in research and development (R&D), demanding that funding be fixed at a minimum of 1% of GDP. This view supports long-term, predictable public funding, which must be based on quality criteria rather than political guidelines.
2025-02-10
15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session
Insufficient data.
2025-01-15
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Economic perspectives emphasize the importance of investing in people's skills and knowledge to enhance the economy's competitiveness. Support is provided for flexible retraining programs that align with labor market needs, helping individuals cope with ongoing changes. The objective is to ensure that people remain competitive in the labor market by meeting the demands posed by digital and climate challenges.
2024-12-04
15th Estonian Parliament, 4th session, plenary sitting
The speaker directly ties the extension of education to economic benefit, emphasizing that jobs increasingly demand general competencies and higher levels of education. The goal is to reduce youth unemployment and ensure that young people entering the labor market are better prepared, thereby supporting the development of human capital.
2024-11-20
15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting
Economic perspectives focus on financing the education reform and the necessity of easing the financial burden on local municipalities. Support is given to clarifying the regulations regarding state-funded studies, specifically by restricting the simultaneous use of free study places in both vocational and higher education. It is confirmed that additional financial resources have been allocated for the extension of the study obligation, although specific figures are not provided.
2024-11-11
15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary session
There is not enough data.
2024-09-16
The 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting.
There is not enough data.
2024-06-12
15th Estonian Parliament, 3rd session, plenary session.
Fiscal discipline and the reallocation of resources in education are supported, directing the 5.5 million euros freed up through paid studies for adult learners toward creating study places for youth. Emphasis is placed on relying on OSKA when supporting priority fields, in order to meet the state's labor force needs. The budgetary impacts are significant, requiring an additional 10 million euros by 2029.
2024-06-03
Fifteenth Riigikogu, third session, plenary sitting.
It does not present broad economic views, but it addresses the economic aspect of regulating digital platforms, mentioning large fines (a penalty payment of 5% of daily global turnover) for non-compliance, which should compel platforms to adhere to the law.
2024-05-14
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
There is support for the gradual increase in state involvement and greater public spending on education, aimed at ensuring kindergarten teachers receive the same salary as school teachers. These perspectives favor investing in human capital and valuing the workforce, with the objective of maintaining the minimum salary for kindergarten teachers at 90% of the school teachers' minimum.
2024-05-07
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
The economic positions center on supporting the financing of a nationally significant cultural structure through the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (Kultuurkapital). Furthermore, the economic benefits of international cooperation are highlighted, specifically regarding the sharing of production costs and the remuneration of artistic teams. Public investment in cultural infrastructure is supported.
2024-04-16
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Culture is viewed as an economic revenue stream, not merely an expense, citing the creative economy and the Film Estonia cash rebate system as examples, which injects resources into the economy. There is strong support for state intervention to raise the salaries of cultural workers and ensure social protection for creative professionals.
2024-04-03
15th Estonian Parliament, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Economic viewpoints center on the targeted allocation of state resources, arguing that educating Ukrainian children within the Estonian school system constitutes "a waste of resources" and places an additional burden on teachers. Opposition is also expressed regarding the use of public funds to establish Ukrainian-language schools or mother-tongue schools for other refugee groups.
2024-03-20
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary sitting
Economic viewpoints support the use of tax increases (excise duties) to improve social protection and emphasize the need to pay creative professionals fair compensation. The objective is to ensure social guarantees and a stable income for workers with irregular earnings, without reducing their net income. State intervention in the creation of a social safety net is supported.
2024-02-21
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
It supports the financing of social guarantees through already implemented tax increases (gambling tax, excises), ensuring that the incomes of creative professionals do not decrease. It views the transformation of the creative work allowance into a salary as a crucial step in securing the livelihood and social protection of creative professionals, guaranteeing them stable income and social security.
2024-01-24
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Economic aspects are linked to the consequences of violating the Language Act, including the proposed business ban and the regulation of platform work, as outlined in the previous draft bill. Presenters emphasize that increasing the rates of fines directly impacts economic activity.
2024-01-18
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Economic perspectives center on the more efficient utilization of educational resources, pointing out that the current level of funding (6% of GDP) is being wasted due to disparities within the school network. They advocate for compensating for socio-economic disadvantages through targeted financing (similar to Special Educational Needs, or SEN, funding), as well as enabling community centers to generate revenue (by renting out their facilities) in order to increase teachers' salaries.