Agenda Profile: Riina Solman
First Reading of the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu "On the Development of Measures for Increasing the Birth Rate" (208 OE)
2024-09-16
The 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting.
Political Position
The political focus centers on the demographic crisis and the preservation of the Estonian language, people, and culture, as mandated by the constitution. The attitude towards the government’s policies is strongly oppositional, particularly concerning the Minister of Social Protection’s plans to revoke health insurance from stay-at-home mothers. The policy is framed through the lens of protecting national identity and values, emphasizing that politics is "the art of signals."
4 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise in the field of population policy and demography, citing the negative natural increase and the proportion of the immigrant population in Estonia (33% before the war in Ukraine). Knowledge is utilized regarding the impact of political signals and the decisions made by previous governments, such as the transition to Estonian-language education. It is consistently stressed that the demographic crisis will ultimately subsume all other policy matters.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is passionate, critical, and forceful, repeatedly employing the metaphor that "politics is the art of signals." The speaker combines emotional appeals (such as valuing motherhood and fomenting class enmity) with factual references (migration statistics, previous budget cuts). The tone is anxious and cautionary, stressing that time is not ticking in Estonia’s favor.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker actively participated in the discussion of the Riigikogu bill, having personally attended previous debates and thanking the presenter for the comprehensive overview. Earlier instances of advising predecessors and ministers on the topic of the demographic crisis are mentioned. There is no information available concerning regular public appearances or travel.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main opponent is Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo, who is sharply criticized for her political decisions (such as revoking health insurance and cutting family benefits) and her inappropriate rhetoric (including categorizing mothers as freeloaders and inciting class antagonism). The criticism also extends to the government's policy, which attempts to resolve the birth rate crisis through controlled migration. Opponents are being urged not to simply scrap the draft legislation, a stance that clearly demonstrates an unwillingness to compromise on this matter.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker wholeheartedly supports the bill and the topic raised by their EKRE colleague, demonstrating cooperation with the opposition forces. Reference was made to earlier cooperation with Helir-Valdor Seeder (Isamaa) in forcing through the transition to Estonian-language education. An appeal is being made to the deputies who are following the debate via remote links to support the bill.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on the national level (the preservation of the nation-state, and the maintenance of Estonian language and culture) as well as the international context (including comparisons with the Nordic and Baltic countries, and references to the war in Ukraine and Russian aggression). Local or regional topics are absent.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic perspectives are linked to demography, stressing the importance of human capital as the future workforce, taxpayer, and generator of state budget revenue. The view held by the Minister of Social Protection—that stay-at-home mothers are "freeloaders" who should be directed toward productive employment—is opposed, and the presumed link between staying at home and a family's affluence is refuted.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The primary social issues are the birth rate and the preservation of the nation. The speaker defends women's freedom of choice to dedicate themselves to raising children at home, opposing the government's plan to restrict that choice. There is strong opposition to controlled migration being used as a solution to the birth rate crisis, emphasizing that the proportion of the foreign population in Estonia is already very high.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on supporting Riigikogu Draft Resolution 208 OE, which addresses the development of measures to increase the birth rate. Criticism is being leveled at the government’s decision to terminate the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Population Crisis and abolish the position of Population Minister. Previous contributions to legislating the transition to Estonian-language education are also mentioned.
4 Speeches Analyzed