Agenda Profile: Helir-Valdor Seeder
Draft law on the 2025 state budget (513 SE) - first reading
2024-10-16
15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting
Political Position
The political position is in strong opposition to the methodology used for the government’s 2025 state budget, highlighting its opacity and fundamental dishonesty. The speaker specifically criticizes the handling of public transport subsidies, where a reduction is publicly disclosed, but the actual, larger expenditure is concealed within the reserve fund. This stance is strongly performance-based, centering on the integrity and clarity of fiscal planning.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise in the methodology of compiling the state budget and specific expenditure lines, especially public transport subsidies, citing concrete figures (a 6 million cut versus 30 million in reserve). They also possess knowledge regarding the usage and interpretation of economic terms, such as "negative economic growth" and "economic contraction."
3 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is critical, analytical, and confrontational, directly accusing the minister of inaccuracy and dishonesty in explaining the budget. The style relies on logical and procedural arguments (methodology, lack of transparency) and includes references to the minister's educational background ("the scholar schoolman").
3 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The patterns of activity are confined to active participation in the first reading of the draft state budget in the Riigikogu, submitting consecutive questions to the minister regarding the budget methodology and terminology.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary confrontation is directed against the government and the minister, who are being criticized for using a dishonest and non-transparent methodology in preparing the budget—a methodology that misleads both those reviewing the budget and the general public. The criticism is both procedural and substantive, accusing the government of deliberately concealing expenditures.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker refers to a question submitted by another Riigikogu member (Aivar Kokk), which indicates a similar concern and sharing of knowledge regarding certain topics, but the broader style of cooperation remains undefined.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is strictly national, covering the general methodology of the state budget and the nationwide public transport subsidy.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic perspectives emphasize fiscal transparency and honesty, strongly opposing the practice of concealing costs in reserve funds, as this distorts the true state of the budget. There is also criticism regarding the government's inclination to use euphemistic terms (e.g., "negative economic growth") when describing economic contraction.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Insufficient data.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is currently on the critical analysis of and opposition to the draft 2025 State Budget Act (513 SE), emphasizing the necessity of improving the budget methodology. The speaker is acting as a strong critic and scrutinizer of the bill.
3 Speeches Analyzed