Agenda Profile: Urmas Reinsalu
Draft law (645 SE) for the third reading amending the Simplified Taxation Act for Entrepreneurial Income, the Income Tax Act, and declaring the Security Levy Act invalid.
2025-06-18
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Political Position
The political platform centers on strong opposition to the coalition's planned permanent tax hikes, which threaten to undermine economic competitiveness and reduce people's real incomes. This stance is strongly policy-driven, demanding the establishment of "actual tax peace" and the abandonment of the Reform Party's tax hump project. The government's actions are criticized due to a lack of democratic legitimacy, as they lied about their intentions regarding tax increases before the elections.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise in tax policy and macroeconomics, highlighting specific tax figures and rate increases (e.g., income tax 24%, VAT 24%). This expertise is supported by citing the economic confidence indices of the Institute of Economic Research, as well as a detailed count of planned tax increases (26 new taxes in 2026). Statistics are also used for historical comparison of the tax burden (a rise from 33.3% to over 36%, reaching the 1996 level).
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is highly combative, critical, and urgent, employing strong negative metaphors such as "machine-gun taxation" and accusing the government of lying. The speaker combines logical arguments (economic consequences, statistics) with an emotional appeal to the Estonian people, underscoring the necessity for political change. The tone is direct and confrontational, referring to the government as "the tax restaurant run by cooks."
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speeches have focused on a critical legislative event—the bill's third reading and final vote. The speaker directly links the consequences of the current policy to future elections, urging change in the 2025 local and 2027 parliamentary elections.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponents are the Reform Party and the coalition, who are criticized on the basis of both policy (tax increases) and ethics (lying, lack of democratic legitimacy). The intensity of the attacks is high, calling the policy "flawed" and "fragile" and accusing the opponents of arrogance and assuming the public has a lack of memory. Compromise is ruled out, as Isamaa presented a comprehensive alternative "tax peace law."
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker represents the Isamaa party's unified opposition to the coalition's tax policy, voting against the legislation and putting forward a clear alternative bill. There are no indications of a willingness to compromise or engage in cross-party cooperation; the focus is instead on mobilizing public support against the government.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is national, dealing with the competitiveness of the Estonian economy and the broader well-being of its people. The local level is only mentioned in the context of the 2025 local elections, urging changes in cities and municipalities throughout Estonia.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The economic views are strongly opposed to tax increases and favor stability, emphasizing the need for a stable tax environment (or tax peace) to improve the economy's competitiveness. The speaker warns that tax increases will lead to price hikes and a decline in real incomes, and criticizes raising the tax burden to the historical level seen in 1996. Restoring business confidence and stability is the preferred course of action.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Regarding social issues, emphasis is placed on the decline in people's real incomes and the worsening of their ability to cope, which affects both the elderly and working individuals. This is treated as a direct negative consequence of economic policy (tax increases and rising prices).
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus centers on opposing Draft Bill 645 SE, which introduces permanent tax hikes (income tax, VAT, and the taxation of the entrepreneur account). The speaker acts as the opposition, presenting Isamaa's "Tax Peace Law" as an alternative, the purpose of which is to comprehensively repeal the tax increases planned by the government.
2 Speeches Analyzed