Session Profile: Riina Sikkut
15th Riigikogu, Fifth Session, Plenary Session
2025-06-02
Political Position
The political platform focuses on social security (raising the subsistence level) and supporting national defense expenditures. The main criticism is directed at the government's budget policy, highlighting the structural imbalance between permanent expenditures and permanent revenues, the resolution of which is being postponed until after the elections. The framing is strongly policy- and value-based, linking livelihood directly to security.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates deep expertise in budgetary and fiscal policy, citing the positions of the Fiscal Council, the State Budget Strategy (RES) period, and historical precedents (e.g., the 2022 supplementary budget). They also possess thorough knowledge of the administrative organization of healthcare, citing constitutional obligations and the Administrative Cooperation Act regarding the delegation of public duties. Furthermore, the speaker addresses topics concerning the funding of education and youth work, as well as workforce requirements (OSKA reports).
12 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is substantive, formal, and insistent, especially when emphasizing social concerns ("cannot wait") and the need to integrate healthcare ("the political window may close"). Logical and fact-based arguments are used, referencing previous decisions and laws. The speaker is persistent, noting that they asked the Minister of Finance the same question regarding fixed costs twice.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is active in the plenary session, posing several questions to ministers from various fields and delivering a substantive speech regarding the supplementary budget. He/She refers to participation in the work of the Finance Committee, where the Fiscal Council provided an overview of its viewpoints.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main criticism is directed at the government’s fiscal policy, accusing them of postponing unpopular decisions for political reasons (the 2027 elections). The previous Center Party-led Tallinn city government is also criticized for hindering the consolidation of hospitals. The criticism is policy- and procedure-based, highlighting suboptimal management.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The style of cooperation is open, seeking political support in the chamber for the Social Democrats' amendment proposal to raise the subsistence level. It is emphasized that all parties in the chamber are actually unanimous regarding need-based benefits. The decision of the Tallinn city government to move towards hospital consolidation is acknowledged.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is primarily national (budget, social policy), but it includes a strong regional emphasis on the organization of healthcare in Northern Estonia. Specifically, the need for the legal merger of Tallinn’s four hospitals is highlighted to ensure modern service provision for the entire North Estonian region for decades to come.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic perspectives stress the importance of long-term fiscal sustainability and the necessity of addressing the structural deficit, simultaneously criticizing the government's short-term budgetary maneuvering. There is support for increasing needs-based social benefits (specifically the subsistence minimum) to mitigate the effects of inflation, and a proposal has also been put forward to reduce the VAT rate on food items.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
In the social sphere, the focus is placed on guaranteeing adequate livelihood and increasing need-based benefits, while stressing that economic security is a matter of national security. Furthermore, there is an urgent call to initiate discussions regarding a consent law based on the "yes-model" (affirmative consent). The provision of long-term care is also being addressed as a constitutional obligation of the state.
12 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is aimed at amending the supplementary budget to incorporate the Social Democrats' proposal to raise the subsistence level. Furthermore, there is support for utilizing the supplementary budget to establish the necessary financing mechanism for merging Tallinn hospitals. Accelerating the expenditure related to comprehensive national defense is also supported.
12 Speeches Analyzed