Agenda Profile: Riina Solman
Draft law amending the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia (536 SE) – Third Reading
2025-03-26
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Political Position
The political stance is strongly focused on supporting the guarantee of national security and Estonian-language education. The speaker stresses that this is not an act of punishment, but rather a security concern that justifies state intervention at the level of local government. The position is strongly value-driven, prioritizing security and language policy.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise at the intersection of security policy and education management (state gymnasiums, transition to Estonian-language instruction). They refer to threat assessments issued by the Security Police (KAPO) and specific examples of cross-border security, such as the arrest warrant for the director of the Narva Museum. They attempt to use institutional information (committee discussions, KAPO reports) to support their position.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is serious and argumentative, presenting direct counterarguments to the opposition's claims ("No, it is not. This is a security issue"). An insistent tone is employed, especially when addressing security matters, relying on logical appeals and references to assessments by security institutions that have been covered in the media.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker actively participates in the legislative debate (the third reading of the draft bill), posing questions to the rapporteur regarding the substance of the committee's deliberations.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main criticism is aimed at colleagues belonging to the Centre Party, whose understanding of local government politics as merely utility policy the speaker resolutely refutes. The criticism targets the political mindset and the framing of the issue, accusing local governments of obstructing the transition to Estonian-language education.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The cooperation style is institutional, focusing on ascertaining the findings from commission discussions and the assessments provided by security authorities (KAPO) in support of the legislative process. The speaker respectfully addresses the rapporteur, requesting information that is not a state secret.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The regional focus is linked to examples concerning the eastern border and Narva, which are used to illustrate the threat to national security and to justify state intervention. The overall emphasis is on national issues (education, security) that affect local municipalities.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Data is lacking.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The speaker emphasizes the importance of guaranteeing Estonian-language education, linking it directly to national security. He/She supports the construction of state gymnasiums as a means to overcome the resistance of local governments to the transition to Estonian-language instruction.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus centers on the draft act amending the Constitution (536 SE) and the process of its deliberation. The speaker, who is evidently a supporter of the draft, attempts to explain which security assessments (provided by KAPO, the Estonian Internal Security Service) were taken into account when the bill was discussed in the committee.
1 Speeches Analyzed