Agenda Profile: Siim Pohlak
Draft law amending the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Tax Act and the Value Added Tax Act (594 SE) – First Reading
2025-05-07
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
Political Position
The political focus centers on fuel excise duties, which are deemed excessively high and whose utilization is inefficient. The speaker strongly advocates zeroing these excise duties (seeking an EU derogation) in order to stimulate enterprise. This position is highly critical of the government for breaching earlier promises regarding the financing of road repairs. This represents a results-oriented political framework that highlights the failures of fiscal policy.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise regarding fuel excise duties and EU minimum rates, highlighting specific differences (24 cents for petrol, 12 cents for diesel). They also possess knowledge of the history of Estonian legislation, particularly the amendments to the Road Act and the severing of the link between fuel excise and road repair during Taavi Rõivas’s government.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is sharply critical and accusatory, directed especially towards the Reform Party, utilizing phrases such as "deceitful behavior." Logical arguments (excise rates, favoring business) are employed, combined with emotional appeals (breaking promises). Radical yet concrete proposals (reducing excise duty to zero) are also presented, often framed as rhetorical questions.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
There is little data.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponent is the Reform Party, which is intensely criticized for both its policies (high excise taxes) and ethical issues. The attacks are aimed at the party's "deceitful conduct" concerning the severing of the link between the fuel excise tax and road repair funding in 2014/2015. Criticism is also directed at specific former finance ministers and governments.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The data is scarce.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on the national level (Estonian enterprise, road maintenance) and the international level (European Union excise duty rates and applying for a derogation). The aim is to improve the Estonian business environment through lower fuel prices.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic policy is heavily focused on lowering taxes, specifically bringing fuel excise duties down to zero, with the aim of achieving fuel prices below one euro. The objective is to favor entrepreneurship and stimulate economic growth, as high excise taxes are viewed as an impediment.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
There is little data.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on the draft amendment (Bill 594 SE) to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel, and Electricity Excise Duty Act. The speaker is a critic of the bill, using it as a platform to demand that excise duties be reduced to zero and to criticize previous legislative amendments to the Road Act.
2 Speeches Analyzed