Agenda Profile: Henn Põlluaas
Draft law (642 SE) for withdrawing from the convention prohibiting the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and requiring their destruction – first reading
2025-05-21
Fifteenth Riigikogu, Fifth Session, Plenary Session.
Political Position
The political position is strongly geared towards supporting withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, stressing the necessity of reinstating anti-personnel landmines as a cheap and effective defensive measure against Russian aggression. This policy is framed as correcting a historical mistake and prioritizing national security, while criticizing previous decisions as naive, inadequate, and even suicidal. The speaker emphasizes that national defense must be the priority, thereby avoiding paying with the blood of young men and women.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates authority on topics of national defense and military strategy, using specific terms such as "meat assaults," "operational activity," and comparing the roles of mines and drones in warfare. The expertise is based on experiences from the war in Ukraine, providing examples of using minefields to halt counteroffensives and emphasizing the indispensability of mines as a defensive weapon. Considerations regarding geographical positioning and the controlled procedures for mine laying are also stressed.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is sharp, confrontational, and piercing, employing strong emotional appeals, such as references to the blood of the youth and warnings of "catastrophe." The speaker sharply criticizes opponents for their lack of a grasp on reality, balancing these emotional warnings with strategic and economic arguments regarding the effectiveness of mines. The tone is historically accusatory, emphasizing that Isamaa (the Fatherland party) was right from the very beginning.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
Not enough data
1 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponents are the Reform Party, the Social Democrats (Sven Mikser), and Estonia 200, all of whom are sharply criticized for historical errors and for rejecting the withdrawal from the convention last year. The criticism is both political and personal, accusing the opponents of populism, wishful thinking, and a lack of connection to reality. The speaker also hints that the foreign pressure to join the convention might have been "orchestrated from Moscow."
1 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker is seeking broad-based support, urging all other political parties and members of parliament to back withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention. It is noted with satisfaction that views have changed, and "the vast majority of Riigikogu parties" now support the reintroduction of landmines. The cooperation is focused on achieving the shared national defense objective by correcting past errors.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is heavily on international and regional security, emphasizing Estonia's frontline position and the need to restore a common front with Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Finland. It is mentioned that these countries regret joining the convention and are progressively withdrawing from it. Reference is also made to Russia's aggressiveness and the position of the USA as an ally, which has not joined the convention.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic considerations emphasize cost-effectiveness in national defense, noting that a minefield is "a cheap and very effective defense measure" and an important bulwark. The deployment of mines is viewed as an economically sensible alternative to more costly defense assets.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The social focus is on the defense of the nation and the state, emphasizing the priority of security and the responsibility to avoid paying with the blood of young men and women. The risk of civilian casualties is considered almost negligible, as mines are deployed and removed in a controlled manner only when conflict actually breaks out, thus distinguishing Estonia's behavior from Russia's uncontrolled scattering of mines.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is extremely specific: to support and introduce Bill 642 SE, which addresses withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention in order to restore the right to use anti-personnel landmines. The speaker emphasizes the consistency of their party (Isamaa) in supporting this bill and criticizes previous rejections.
1 Speeches Analyzed