Agenda Profile: Riina Sikkut
Draft law amending the Competition Act and, in consequence, amending other laws (609 SE) - second reading
2025-06-10
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting.
Political Position
The political stance is highly critical of the government’s (especially Eesti 200’s) priority setting, viewing the overemphasis on the competition law bill as questionable. The speaker challenges the government’s assertions regarding consumer protection, pointing instead to underlying business interests and procedural irony (court overload versus the introduction of new procedures). This position is intended to call the government’s actions and motives into question.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates knowledge of legislative procedures and legal fields, such as competition law, consumer credit, and collective representative action. They reference the growing workload of administrative courts related to consumer credit proceedings, and are familiar with details, such as the minimum number of consumers required to appeal to court. Furthermore, they are aware of coalition agreements and the activities of ministers (Tsahkna, Pakosta).
4 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is combative and accusatory, employing irony (referencing the presentation by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) and direct, repeated questions regarding motives ("Whose business interests are you defending?"). The speaker focuses on logical inconsistencies and procedural failures, attempting to discredit the government's actions.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is actively participating in the legislative debate, making targeted and critical interventions during the second reading of the draft bill. This pattern demonstrates a focus on criticizing the government's activities and the coalition's internal decision-making processes, by referencing previous cabinet meetings and coalition councils.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary criticism is aimed at the Eesti 200 party and its ministers (Margus Tsahkna, Liisa Pakosta), who are being accused of politically overstating the importance of competition law while neglecting consumer protection. The criticism is intense and directly questions whether the government is prioritizing business interests over consumers.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
Insufficient data.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is entirely on national legislative and legal issues, such as the workload of the Supreme Court and the administrative courts, and the work of the Riigikogu Legal Committee. There are no references to specific regional or local problems.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker supports the improvement of the competitive situation and consumer protection, but criticizes the government's actions for failing to restrict quick loan advertising. They emphasize the need to regulate consumer credit and support simplifying the procedure for collective representative actions in the interests of consumers.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The speaker emphasizes the importance of social issues, highlighting the need to process the Consent Act and the Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Act, both of which were agreed upon in the coalition agreement. They criticize the stalling of these draft laws' progress.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus centers on criticizing the priority assigned to the draft Competition Act and demanding the advancement of social bills (the Consent Act, the Equal Treatment Act). Furthermore, the necessity of improving consumer protection is stressed, specifically through collective representative actions and restricting the advertising of quick loans.
4 Speeches Analyzed