Agenda Profile: Anti Poolamets
Inquiry regarding elementary school textbooks (no. 672)
2025-01-27
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Political Position
The political position is strongly oppositional, focusing on resisting the government's ideological agenda, which is labeled as cultural Marxism, neo-Marxism, and pseudoscience. The primary emphasis is on the value-based defense of traditional gender definitions and opposition to the government's authoritarian tendencies, such as the preparation of the hate speech law. The speaker demands the resignation of the responsible ministers and the immediate recall of the textbooks.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates detailed familiarity with the content of the basic school human studies workbook, referencing specific authors (Heli Israel, Satu Hyttinen), chapters, and concepts (pansexuality, 20+ psychological genders). To substantiate the claims, PISA test results concerning Estonian children’s knowledge of biology are utilized, along with historical parallels (Lysenkoism, the state of genetics during the Soviet era). The speaker emphasizes their title as Minister of Science to stress the responsibility associated with the dissemination of pseudoscience.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is extremely combative, emotional, and forceful, utilizing strong historical parallels (Konstantin Päts, Soviet occupation, Lysenkoism) to equate current policies with falsehoods. Provocative and condemnatory language is employed, labeling the content being taught as "woo-woo science," "rubbish," "brainwashing," and "the mutilation of children." The speaker uses rhetorical questions and demands immediate action, addressing both the minister and the Estonian people directly.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speeches are being given as part of a formal interpellation in the Riigikogu, indicating active involvement in opposition oversight activities. The speaker refers to personal experience, having found controversial material in their child's eighth-grade textbook, which demonstrates a direct personal connection to the topic.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponents are Minister Kristina Kallas (who is ironically dubbed the 'Propaganda Minister'), the Ministry of Justice, and, more broadly, the disseminators of "cultural Marxism" within the government. The criticism is intensely ideological and personal, accusing the opponents of planning to imprison the opposition and of brainwashing children with pseudoscience. The resistance is absolute, demanding the minister's resignation and the immediate banning of the textbooks.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
Cooperation within the Riigikogu is not mentioned; rather, the oppositional role is stressed. The speaker calls upon the Estonian people, the scientific community, teachers, and school principals to wake up and restore their dignity, so as to end the "Lysenkoism" and "madness" in the education system.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is mainly national (covering the Estonian education system and the Estonian scientific community) and international, drawing on examples from the USA (the president's statement regarding the two sexes) and England (the halting of puberty blockers) to bolster its arguments. There is no specific regional or local focus.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Insufficient data.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The focus of social issues is on educational content and gender identity, where the speaker adopts an extremely conservative stance. There is strong opposition to teaching multiple social genders (20+) and pansexuality in schools, with demands that the Republic of Estonia only recognize two sexes: male and female. This content is considered anti-child and unscientific.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main legislative focus is opposition to the Ministry of Justice’s proposed hate speech law, which is viewed as a tool for silencing the opposition. In the field of education, administrative measures are being demanded: the recall of specific textbooks, the disbanding of the responsible commissions, and the issuance of a directive confirming the existence of only two sexes in Estonia.
3 Speeches Analyzed