Session Profile: Riina Solman
15th Estonian Parliament, 5th session, plenary session
2025-02-17
Political Position
The speaker adopts a strong, value-based position concerning the political decisions made by academic institutions, specifically criticizing the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA) for ending its cooperation with Israeli universities. He stresses that state-funded bodies must take into account prevailing societal views and avoid actions that might offend the Jewish community. This stance is explicitly pro-Israel, condemning both the failure to denounce the Hamas attacks and the Foreign Minister's previous vote in favor of Palestine at the UN.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates detailed knowledge of the internal conflict and timeline at EKA (Estonian Academy of Arts), referencing specific dates, individuals (Mart Kalm, Jonathan Ventura, Julia Maria Künnap), and documents (the Sirp article). This knowledge centers on the ethical boundaries concerning the autonomy of educational institutions and state funding, as well as the rise of antisemitic sentiments within the academic setting. The speaker also differentiates between the use of "antisemitic" and "anti-Zionist" terminology.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is formal, yet serious and moral in tone, employing strong emotional appeals that focus on the safety and mental health of the Jewish community. The speaker relies on documented facts (inquiries, journalistic articles) and presents their arguments logically, while emphasizing ethical obligation, criticizing, for instance, the "weighing of corpses" as unethical.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is actively exercising oversight, having initiated a request for information in December, followed by an official query, in response to the delay in the ministry's reply. They also use the query to retrospectively comment on the current situation (the EKA sentiment). Furthermore, they utilize social media (a post) to exert public pressure and initiate debate.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary criticism is aimed at Mart Kalm, the former rector of EKA, for his political decision and his defense of it, which has fostered anti-Semitic sentiments within the university. Indirect criticism is also leveled at the Ministry of Education for procedural delays in responding to an information request, and at Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna for siding with Palestine in UN votes. The criticism is intense and values-driven.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker commends the Minister of Education for the balanced response to the query, which indicates professional communication with the executive branch. However, their primary role is that of a demanding overseer, who uses parliamentary tools to compel the ministry to intervene and investigate the situation.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is divided between national institutions (EKA, Riigikogu, the Estonian Jewish community) and international events (the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, US politics, UN votes). There is no specific regional or local focus within Estonia.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic perspectives concern the role of state funding in academic autonomy, emphasizing that because universities are state-funded, this grants a member of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) the right to intervene in the consideration of ethical and political decisions. Broader economic themes (taxes, trade) are absent.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The central social issue is antisemitism and the security of the Jewish community in Estonia, especially at EKA, where "selective humanity" is prevalent. The speaker demands the prevention of antisemitic sentiments and stresses that the community's feeling of insecurity must be acknowledged and believed, as it threatens people's mental health. They also call for the brutality of the Hamas attacks to be addressed in educational institutions.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus centers on parliamentary oversight and demanding accountability, utilizing a formal query directed at the Minister of Education to compel the government to intervene in the ethical and political decisions made by a state-funded institution. The objective is to prevent antisemitic sentiments and guarantee the safety of the Jewish community.
2 Speeches Analyzed