Agenda Profile: Urmas Reinsalu
Draft law amending the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act and the International Sanctions Act (640 SE) - second reading
2025-06-17
15th Estonian Parliament, 5th session, plenary session
Political Position
The political position is strongly opposed to the amendments to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act (640 SE), particularly concerning the enabling of data mining and the profiling of individuals. This stance is value-based and policy-driven, emphasizing the threat to freedom and the creation of a dangerous legal precedent. Despite acknowledging the existing money laundering issues (bank scandals, e-residency, crypto), the handling of the draft bill is deemed unreasonable and rushed. Isamaa proposes to suspend the second reading of the bill.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise in legislative procedures (principles of good law-making, intention to prepare legislation) and the technical aspects of data processing. Specific terminology is used, such as "data mining," "data obtained in a depersonalized manner," and "super database," indicating a profound understanding of how registers and query systems operate. Furthermore, there is knowledge of Estonia’s past money laundering issues and the risks associated with ensuring banking secrecy.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is critical, analytical, and incisive, focusing on the speed of processing the draft bill and its substantive deficiencies. Logical appeals are utilized, posing detailed questions (e.g., regarding the scope of data mining and precedent), but there is also an emotional emphasis on the threat to freedom and taking a "step into the unknown." The style is formal and often refers to the positions of the Chancellor of Justice and European Union law.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
Activity patterns demonstrate active engagement with the ongoing draft bill, including the submission of detailed questions to the rapporteur and recent communication with foreign partners. The speaker mentioned conversations with business representatives and journalists "yesterday and today," which indicates active outreach and the gathering of opinions outside of the parliamentary setting.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The opposition is aimed at the government and the coalition, sharply criticizing the pace and manner in which the draft bill was processed, as well as the violation of good law-making principles. The criticism is primarily procedural and conceptual, accusing the government of deliberately downplaying the bill's impact and hiding behind European Union law. They also criticize the fact that the Chancellor of Justice's position was not presented in the coordination table.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker is acting on behalf of the Isamaa faction, presenting the party's proposal to suspend the second reading of the draft bill. The proposed cooperation framework includes recommendations for the government to involve external partners, specifically suggesting that they seek the opinion of the Entrepreneurs' Council. The lack of external dialogue within society is considered the primary obstacle to the bill's adoption.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is primarily national (the Estonian legal system) and international, addressing the transposition of European Union law and international money laundering scandals. Mention is also made of foreign citizens (Russia, Belarus, Georgia) involved in remote gambling and shady activities, highlighting the threat posed to Estonia by this international network.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic perspectives center on the necessity of preventing money laundering (AML), recognizing past issues related to the regulation of banks, e-residency, and cryptocurrencies. Concerns are voiced regarding banking secrecy and the overall business environment, citing comments made by the Banking Association. Furthermore, the issue of the remote gambling tax and its true beneficiaries (citizens of Russia, Belarus, and Georgia) is also brought up.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The main social issue is striking a balance between civil liberties and national security, with a strong caution against the profiling of individuals and the creation of a data-mining-based super database. It is emphasized that such activities establish a legal precedent for processing non-personalized data, an area where society lacks minimal consensus. The speaker warns against taking a step into the unknown, even while ruling out the possibility of entering a totalitarian society.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on opposing the draft amendment to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act (Bill 640 SE). The speaker initiated the procedural objection, proposing to suspend the bill’s second reading due to its expedited procedure and substantive issues. The objective is to prevent the rapid entry into force of the new data processing and profiling regime starting July 1st.
3 Speeches Analyzed