Agenda Profile: Riina Solman

The political position is one of strong opposition to a specific provision in the Draft Public Health Act concerning the transfer of the authorization norm for issuing a regulation on the conditions of gender reassignment services. The primary concern is related to the government’s potential desire to accelerate gender reassignment procedures at the regulatory level, thereby circumventing the control of the Riigikogu (Parliament). This stance is motivated both by procedural accuracy and the protection of social values, emphasizing caution in sensitive medical matters. Ultimately, the speaker proposes that the reading of the draft bill be suspended.

The speaker demonstrates expertise in legislative procedures, particularly in differentiating between enabling provisions and the level of secondary legislation (regulations), demanding strict legal precision. They possess detailed knowledge regarding the history of regulating gender reassignment services and their medical aspects, citing the 30 years of experience of endocrinologist Maie Väli. They use technical terms such as "hormone replacement therapy" and "lege artis" to explain the medical risks involved.

The speaker's style is consistent, demanding, and detail-oriented, repeatedly asking for clarification on legal specifics ("I even asked three times in the committee"). Both logical argumentation (the difference between a law and a regulation) and strong emotional persuasion are employed, highlighting warnings from medical experts regarding the dangers of rushing and patient regret. They address both members of the Riigikogu (Parliament) and the general public ("those who are able to watch us tonight").

The speaker is actively participating in the Riigikogu plenary session during the second reading of the Public Health Act, posing repeated questions. They refer to their previous activity as the Minister of Population five years ago, when they dealt with these same issues, as well as to repeated questions raised in the Social Affairs Committee.

The confrontation is directed against the Ministry of Social Affairs and the government, who are accused of seeking to move the changes regarding the conditions for gender reassignment to the level of a regulation, thereby bypassing Riigikogu oversight and implementing a "turbo procedure." The criticism is both procedural and political, emphasizing that rushing the process could cause distress for many people.

Insufficient data.

The focus is entirely on the national level, dealing with the full text of the Public Health Act and the policy of the Ministry of Social Affairs. Regional or local issues are not addressed.

Insufficient data

Among social issues, the focus is on the regulation of gender reassignment, where the speaker adopts a cautious and skeptical stance, emphasizing the need to avoid rushing. They highlight medical risks (ovarian cancer, lifelong hormone therapy) and psychological difficulties, referencing patient regret and the necessity of starting with psychological counseling.

The primary legislative focus is the second reading of the Public Health Act Bill (433 SE). While the speaker recognizes the positive aspects of the draft legislation (prevention, requirements for kindergartens and schools), they oppose it due to the inclusion of the authorization norm concerning gender reassignment regulations. The speaker is acting as the initiator, proposing that the reading of the bill be suspended.