By Plenary Sessions: Signe Riisalo

The political position strongly supports amendments to the Social Welfare Act, emphasizing the necessity of continuously raising the subsistence minimum and ensuring stable funding. This stance is policy-driven, relying on the State Budget Strategy (RES) and methodological research to prevent people from falling below the absolute poverty line. The speaker offers moderate criticism of the outdated methodology used for calculating the minimum living standard and deems the €440 limit for untouchable savings shamefully small, demanding that this specific issue be addressed separately.

The political focus is on family policy, demography, and increasing the birth rate. The speaker is moderately opposed to the specific draft bill that has been presented, arguing that it is too costly (50–55 million euros) and poorly targeted for poverty alleviation. A value-based and evidence-based approach is preferred, one that would take into account all seven different concerns facing families.

The political focus is currently on exemptions for disabled people regarding the introduction of the car tax, stressing that the necessity of the tax itself was real and unavoidable. The speaker strongly defends the policy implementation process, highlighting substantive negotiation and the search for practical solutions. This stance is process-driven and aimed at refuting accusations.

The political focus is on advancing the draft bill concerning end-of-life declarations, emphasizing a thorough engagement process involving 25 stakeholders. The speaker demonstrates a pragmatic attitude by accepting a technical amendment regarding the work ability allowance—one that is procedurally irregular but ensures public benefits—justifying this decision by the approaching summer recess. The overall position is primarily policy- and value-based, centering on dignified departure and social protection.

The political position is pragmatic and procedural, focusing on the expediency of processing the draft legislation. A proposal is being put forward to reject the draft amendment to the Public Health Act because it loses validity before implementation—a purely technical and timing-based justification. Regarding the issue of daylight saving time (clock changing), emphasis is placed on the necessity of public opinion polls and considering the limitations stemming from the European Union directive.

The political focus is on securing the future of vocational education for young people with special needs. The speaker expresses concern about the reduction in study places and curricula and emphasizes the need to maximally prepare this target group for the labor market. The position is policy- and solutions-based, focusing on the lack of a future vision from the Ministry of Education.

The politician strongly supports the bill that replaces the unemployment benefit with the basic rate of unemployment insurance, emphasizing that this will increase the number of recipients from 33% to 64% and improve the standing of people with special needs. His focus is policy-driven, centering on the funding of social services and supporting the return to the labor market. He stresses that the purpose of the benefits is to help those who have lost their jobs, not to provide income to those who have chosen not to work. He also considers it important to alleviate the resource shortage in the field of special care.

The speaker strongly supports Bill 519, which aims to replace the standard unemployment allowance with the basic rate of the unemployment insurance benefit, thereby making the system fairer and constitutionally compliant. This political stance is focused on expanding social protection (increasing coverage from 33% to 64%) and incentivizing working-age individuals to re-enter the labor market. He emphasizes that the bill specifically improves the income of vulnerable groups, such as those with reduced work capacity. The position is clearly policy- and results-driven, serving to defend the reform against opposition criticism.

The speaker strongly supports two socio-political initiatives: accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, and the legalization of end-of-life declarations. Their position is primarily policy-based and procedural, focusing on the implementation of legislation and international obligations. They emphasize the need to respect individual will and autonomy.