Agenda Profile: Vadim Belobrovtsev
Draft law amending § 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemoration Days Act (637 SE) – First Reading
2025-09-11
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
Political Position
The political position is strongly supportive of establishing the second day of Easter as a national holiday, emphasizing its significance in strengthening family ties and allowing workers to recover. The framework of the draft bill is a blend of value-based (family, rest) and pragmatic approaches (moving closer to the EU average, international cooperation). The speaker stresses persistence, noting that they "won't give up" because the situation has remained unchanged.
13 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise on the topic of working time and public holidays, utilizing Eurostat data regarding the average working week length in Estonia (38 hours) and the EU (37.5 hours). They also reference knowledge of international practice, providing a comparison of the number of public holidays in the Baltic states, Nordic countries, and other EU member states. Furthermore, they rely on the previous positions held by authoritative organizations (the Bank of Estonia, the Ministry of Finance) concerning the complexity of conducting impact assessments.
13 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is analytical and persuasive, relying heavily on data and international comparisons to justify the necessity of the proposed bill. The tone is firm and critical towards the ministries and the coalition, accusing them of convenient tactics and hypocrisy. The speaker employs both logical arguments (economic relations, productivity) and emotional appeals (time spent with family).
13 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker's pattern of activity indicates a sustained focus on this specific bill, which has been repeatedly discussed in the Riigikogu previously. Active communication with coalition members is mentioned in the "corridors" and "backrooms," suggesting lobbying efforts outside the main chamber. All of their appearances are tied to the first reading of this particular draft legislation.
13 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary adversaries are the coalition and the ministries, who face criticism for employing procedural pretexts (specifically, demanding an impact assessment). The speaker accuses the coalition of fostering a political culture where opposition bills are rejected "simply on principle." The ministries' insistence on an impact assessment is labeled a "convenient tactic" and "hypocritical."
13 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker emphasizes cooperation with stakeholders, highlighting the Estonian Council of Churches' approval of the draft bill. Cooperation with the coalition is lacking, as the speaker notes that coalition members support the bill privately but vote against it in the chamber. There is no direct information regarding readiness to compromise, but support for the draft bill is urgently requested.
13 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is strongly international and regional, emphasizing the need to align the number of Estonian public holidays with the majority of the European Union, and particularly with our Baltic and Nordic partners. It is noted that the current situation makes cooperation difficult for Estonian businesses with their Latvian, Lithuanian, and Nordic counterparts.
13 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The economic views are measured, acknowledging the possible negative short-term impact of an extra day off, but emphasizing the positive long-term consequences such as greater productivity, reduced stress, and growth in domestic consumption. Support is given to aligning working hours with the EU average, and it is argued that the draft bill will not result in any expenditures for the state budget.
13 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Among the social themes, emphasis is placed on strengthening family relationships and providing opportunities to spend time with loved ones, as well as allowing employees to recover from work-related stress. The draft bill is also connected to a religious framework, given that it concerns a Christian holiday and has received the approval of the Council of Estonian Churches, even though Estonia is not a very religious country.
13 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on amending the Law on Public Holidays and Commemoration Days to add the second day of Easter (Easter Monday) to the list of national holidays. The speaker is the initiator and rapporteur of this opposition bill, which has been repeatedly debated in the Riigikogu. The main obstacle is the resistance from the ministries, citing the lack of an impact analysis as a pretext.
13 Speeches Analyzed