Session Profile: Urmas Reinsalu
15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing
2025-04-23
Political Position
The speaker strongly opposes the government’s energy policy, focusing on the predictably high cost of new electricity tariffs (specifically, the balancing reserve fee and the island operation fee), which will heavily burden consumers and businesses. This stance is outcome-based, criticizing the government's uncertain financial forecasts and the strategic decision to postpone the market introduction of the Kiisa power plant. The final price of electricity is viewed as a component of critical basic infrastructure, where stability is paramount.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates deep expertise in the energy market and its regulations, utilizing specific terminology like the isolated operation fee, balancing reserve, Elering, and the share of intermittent electricity. They present detailed financial forecasts (up to 40 million euros, 120–150 million euros annually) and reference the explanatory memorandum of the draft legislation and the current market situation (comparing February versus March price levels). The expertise focuses directly on the financial implications of energy policy.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The speaking style is combative and extremely persistent, repeatedly and insistently posing the same questions to expose contradictions in the government's responses, particularly regarding the price-lowering or price-raising impact of the Kiisa power plant. The tone is critical and analytical, demanding concrete "answers that involve money" (or "financial specifics"), and employing slight sarcasm when addressing the Speaker of the Riigikogu. The appeals are primarily logical and fact-based, emphasizing the importance of figures and forecasts.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The records indicate active participation in the Riigikogu Question Time in April 2025, during which the individual addressed three consecutive and substantively related questions to the Prime Minister. No other patterns of activity or frequency of appearances can be determined from these specific statements.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The speaker is clearly in opposition to the government, criticizing both the Prime Minister and the former Climate Minister for developing new charges. The criticism targets the government's political logic (the postponement of the Kiisa plant) and the lack of transparency in forecasting new tax burdens. The opposition is intense and demands concrete answers, not political ambiguity.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
Lack of data. The speeches are aimed at direct confrontation with government representatives and contain no references to cooperation or willingness to compromise.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on national energy policy and its impact on all consumers and businesses, covering strategic infrastructure (Elering, Kiisa power plant). While the isolated grid operation fee is mentioned, the emphasis is placed more on the fee's total national volume and overall impact, rather than specific regional projects.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker voices strong opposition to new regulatory fees that would significantly increase the final price of electricity, viewing this as a burden on both residential and industrial consumers. They support solutions aimed at easing the pressure on electricity prices (e.g., bringing the Kiisa plant online to shave off peak load). Their views emphasize fiscal prudence and the protection of consumers from excessive taxation.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Lack of Data. The discussions focus exclusively on topics related to energy and the economy.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main legislative focus is Bill 555, which proposes establishing new electricity charges, including the balancing reserve fee. The speaker is critical of the draft law and demands clarity before the second reading regarding whether the balancing reserve fee will be established by the law and what the projected scale of this charge is.
3 Speeches Analyzed