By Plenary Sessions: Margit Sutrop
Total Sessions: 39
Fully Profiled: 39
2025-10-09
15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
The political stance centers on supporting Research and Development (R&D), commending the state's 1% GDP contribution during challenging times. The speaker strongly advocates for increased cooperation between businesses and universities, putting forward policy measures to guide this. The position is clearly policy- and performance-based, stressing the efficiency of investments.
2025-10-07
The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
The political focus is on the funding of higher education and student welfare. The speaker strongly backs the current positive budget developments (a 10.6% increase in operating support, funding for the doctoral studies reform) but resolutely opposes the €6 million cut slated for 2027. The stance is policy- and performance-based, warning that the cut jeopardizes the reintroduction of tuition fees.
2025-06-18
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
The speaker, representing the Estonian Reform Party, strongly supports the bill aimed at protecting an individual's free will, freedom of choice, and autonomy when making end-of-life decisions. This position is clearly value-based, emphasizing dignity and freedom, and stressing the importance of recognizing the limitations of medical science. Furthermore, the speaker expressed interest in the public disclosure of the results concerning the organization of education and the certification of school principals.
2025-06-11
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
The political position is strongly supportive of two crucial legislative drafts: the law concerning the patient’s end-of-life declaration (advance directive), which underscores patient-centered care and autonomy, and the TAIKS Act, which coordinates research and development activities. The speaker positions themselves as a driver of reforms, focusing on core ethical principles (beneficence and non-maleficence) and structural improvements within research governance. They stress that life should not be prolonged at any cost if it is no longer deemed worth living.
2025-06-10
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting.
The political stance focuses on the concern regarding the delay in solving systemic problems ("we would just go around in circles"). Particular emphasis is placed on the need to improve the quality of legal education and the training of judges. This position is policy-driven, seeking structural solutions (guided practice/residency) to ensure professional competence.
2025-05-15
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
The political stance centers on the structural reform of higher education, offering moderate support for increasing the proportion of applied higher education at the expense of academic programs. This position is policy-driven, underscoring the necessity of channeling resources toward specific fields of study to meet the 40% target. The speaker cites both expert analysis (Aaviksoo) and the coalition agreement as the rationale for this support.
2025-05-13
15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session
The political focus is currently directed toward the efficiency and cost savings within the justice sector, moderately supporting the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in courts to reduce the workload. The speaker also stresses the importance of reducing bureaucracy through legislative means. This approach is primarily policy- and results-driven, centered on optimization.
2025-04-23
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
The most salient issue is the draft legislation concerning the patient’s end-of-life advance directive, which the speaker strongly supports on behalf of the Reform Party, stressing that it is entirely in the patient’s best interests. This political stance is value-based, emphasizing the protection of patient autonomy and a necessary shift away from paternalistic medicine. The speaker stresses that the bill aims to grant the patient control over their life and death in situations where they are incapacitated.
2025-04-22
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
The political position focuses on the impact of technological changes (artificial intelligence) within the cultural sector. The speaker emphasizes a balanced approach, acknowledging both immense opportunities (such as heritage preservation) and threats (copyright issues, the decline in the value of human artists). This is a policy-driven framework seeking strategic direction from the Minister for managing these risks and opportunities.
2025-04-10
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
The speaker firmly supports the principle that people should not have to pay for non-existent assets, and moderately supports the specific amendment designed to solve this problem. The political focus is directed toward the unfair implementation of the car tax and the resulting burden placed upon citizens. The focus is policy- and results-driven, concentrating on correcting errors in the legislative process.
2025-03-11
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
The political position heavily focuses on prioritizing the development of science, higher education, and artificial intelligence to drive economic growth. The speaker supports the government's funding commitments but urgently stresses the necessity of reducing bureaucracy and ensuring stable core funding. The stance is strongly policy- and results-driven, emphasizing the importance of the 1% science agreement and increased funding for higher education.
2025-02-26
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
The politician supports the draft Research and Development Organisation Act, stressing the necessity of ensuring compliance with research ethics and protecting the autonomy of research institutions (especially the Estonian Research Council) from political interference. He is concerned about the stability of funding and financial sustainability, particularly regarding the coverage of infrastructure costs and the lack of clarity in measuring research expenditures. His political framework is strongly policy- and system-based, focusing on reducing regulations and increasing trust in the system.
2025-02-20
15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, plenary session.
The political focus is directed towards the intersection of sports policy and education, emphasizing the role of universities in sports science and the preparation of coaches. The speaker generally agrees with the concerns raised but is seeking clarification regarding the implementation of specific programs and collaboration efforts. The approach is strongly policy- and solutions-based, focusing on the effectiveness of the actions taken.
2025-02-11
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
The political focus is on foreign policy and restoring relations with Israel, which, according to the speaker, have deteriorated. The speaker is demanding a firm pro-Israel stance from the government regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while criticizing the "mixed signals" sent previously.
2025-01-22
15th Estonian Parliament, 5th session, plenary session.
The political focus is on modernizing the Estonian Academy of Sciences Act and giving substance to the principle of academic autonomy enshrined in the constitution. There is strong support for simplifying the legislation and enhancing the Academy's capacity, enabling it to respond promptly to challenges facing the state. This is a policy- and procedure-based approach that emphasizes institutional efficiency.
2024-12-18
15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting
The political focus is directed towards the implementation of the policy and its fundamental principles, specifically concerning the organization of pharmaceutical procurement. The speaker adopts a questioning and policy-driven approach, emphasizing the necessity of relying on the tested practices and experiences of other nations, particularly neighboring countries (Latvia, Lithuania). This stance is characterized by the desire to ensure that political decisions are evidence-based.
2024-12-11
15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary session
The political position strongly supports the adoption of the Basic Education Act, emphasizing its crucial role in guaranteeing quality education and facilitating the transition to Estonian-language instruction. This position is value-based, focusing on the welfare of children, equal opportunities, and the sustainable development of Estonia. The speaker stresses that regarding the transition to Estonian-language education, "There is no turning back."
2024-12-05
15th Estonian Parliament, 4th session, plenary session.
The political focus is on the repeated submission of the draft bill to amend the Citizenship Act. The speaker adopts a moderately critical and procedural stance, demanding clarification as to why the current bill differs from previous versions submitted during the same legislative session. The framing is clearly policy- and procedure-driven, focusing on the efficiency of legislative work.
2024-12-04
15th Estonian Parliament, 4th session, plenary sitting
Strong support for the draft Preschool Education Act, emphasizing its necessity for improving quality, transitioning to Estonian-language education, and integrating childcare into a unified education system. The political position is clearly policy- and value-driven, linking the success of early childhood education to Estonia’s PISA results and highlighting the Reform Party’s satisfaction with the law’s adoption. The most sensitive issue is safeguarding the principle of equality against discrimination based on language.
2024-11-20
15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting
The political focus is on two crucial issues: national security (restricting the voting rights of citizens from aggressor states) and education reform (extending the compulsory education requirement). The speaker strongly supports both legislative proposals, stressing Estonia's right to self-defense regarding security, and the necessity of improving young people's readiness for the labor market regarding education. The political stance is framed by both value-based arguments (human dignity) and strategic objectives (Education Strategy 2035). The Reform Party requests support for the education bill.
2024-11-14
15th Estonian Parliament, 4th session, plenary session
The speaker strongly supports amending the Estonian Academy of Sciences Act, stressing the need for modernization, simplification, and greater autonomy (for instance, in establishing its statutes). He/She indirectly criticizes the long delay of the Research, Development, and Innovation Organisation Act (the TAI Act) and calls on the Riigikogu to be bolder and take the lead in advancing science policy. The political framework is primarily policy- and institution-based.
2024-09-18
15th Estonian Parliament, 4th sitting, plenary session
The speaker strongly supports the initiative to regulate micro-degrees, viewing it as a forward-looking policy ("micro-degrees are our future"). The political focus is on ensuring clarity in policy implementation and addressing public concerns regarding the validity of degrees already issued. The stance is policy-driven and moderately supportive, concentrating on the specifics of implementation.
2024-09-11
Fifteenth Riigikogu, fourth session, plenary session
The speaker strongly supports the development of Estonia's defense capabilities and the provision of aid to Ukraine, while simultaneously emphasizing the necessity of utilizing the output of the Estonian defense industry in this process. The political focus is on national defense and integrating innovation into security, and the speaker is appreciative of the government's actions. The stance is strongly supportive and policy-centric.
2024-06-11
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session.
The political stance centers on supporting Georgia and expresses concern over the situation there, coupled with personal sadness. Emphasis is placed on the role and effectiveness of Estonian diplomacy, particularly concerning the ambassador's operational freedom in Georgia and Armenia. The position is value-based, highlighting previous contributions to the development of Georgian values.
2024-06-10
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
The political focus is on the insufficient funding of the state's research, development, and innovation (RDI) expenditures and the reduction of budget volumes. The speaker challenges the percentage figure for RDI costs presented by the Ministry of Finance, citing its inaccuracy and deviation from international standards. The position is strongly critical of the government's budget execution and statistical transparency.
2024-05-30
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary sitting
The political focus is on a budget balancing strategy that must encompass cuts, tax increases, and investments. The contribution of Research and Development (R&D) investments to economic growth is considered especially crucial. The framework is policy- and solution-based, seeking answers to the question, "What is to be done?"
2024-05-14
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Strong backing for the draft law on early childhood education, highlighting the harmonization of quality standards and the shift toward Estonian-language instruction. This defends the Reform Party's long-standing dedication to early childhood education (e.g., values education since 2008) in response to indirect criticism. The political framework is rooted in values and policy, viewing early childhood education as the bedrock for PISA success and future reductions in social expenditure.
2024-05-07
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
The most striking viewpoints presented on behalf of the Reform Party faction include strong support for raising teachers' salaries to 120% and increasing the differentiation fund to reward good teachers. The political focus is also on streamlining the school network and abolishing the tax hump, which is considered the elimination of a historical injustice. Although the current draft bill is supported, it is emphasized that this is not a sufficient action to save the teaching profession.
2024-04-18
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary sitting
The speaker's main position is advocating for nuclear energy, specifically supporting the construction of a nuclear power plant in Estonia. They stress a value-based approach, considering the sufficient energy, clean natural environment, and security needed to achieve 'the good life.' The political focus is directed at how policymakers (the commission) weigh these opposing values against each other.
2024-04-16
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
The political stance centers on the insufficient funding and support for fundamental research in the humanities compared to the natural and exact sciences. The speaker strongly advocates for the need to prioritize basic humanities research, noting that the current funding threshold for ETAG grants is far too low. This position is driven by policy and values, emphasizing the necessity of balanced development across all scientific disciplines.
2024-04-10
15th Estonian Parliament, 3rd session, plenary session
The political debate centers on two main issues: the preservation of the school network in sparsely populated regions versus the quality of education and teachers' pay, and boosting the prestige of the Estonian language in government communication. The positions taken are strongly policy- and value-driven, with the Reform Party supporting the valuing of the Estonian language but opposing the categorical elimination of Russian-language websites. The issue of conflicting objectives is being raised, for example, between maintaining rural life and providing quality education.
2024-03-19
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
The political focus is on healthcare accessibility and the labor shortage, noting that despite the high standard of service, it fails to meet public expectations. The politician strongly advocates for increasing the training of doctors and nurses to address the projected 10% decrease in the number of physicians. This represents a results-based approach that highlights the system's deficiencies concerning public satisfaction.
2024-03-12
15th Riigikogu, 3rd plenary sitting
The speaker focuses on the issue of budgets for constitutional institutions, particularly the Office of the President of the Republic, emphasizing the significant public attention surrounding the topic. The political focus is procedural and information-based, seeking clarity regarding negotiations and compromises. The stance adopted is moderately critical, demanding public clarification concerning the outcomes of the budget negotiations.
2024-03-07
Fifteenth Riigikogu, third sitting, plenary session
The political focus is on energy security and practical solutions for the transition to renewable energy. The speaker emphasizes the central issue of stabilizing wind and solar power flows to ensure the availability of energy during both economic and political crises. The position is policy-driven, emphasizing the need to resolve technological and security challenges.
2024-03-05
15th Estonian Parliament, 3rd sitting, plenary session
The political position strongly focuses on critical issues within the education system, particularly concerning boys' education and dropout rates. The speaker calls into question the proposed solution (extending the study period) and stresses that the actual problem lies in the catastrophic state of mathematics teachers' qualifications. This position is policy-driven, demanding a systemic solution to enhance the capacity of mathematics instruction.
2024-02-13
15th Estonian Parliament, 3rd session, plenary session
The political focus is heavily centered on foreign policy and security, particularly concerning China and Russia. The speaker demands a clear, public China strategy from the government to guide businesses and mitigate risks. The need to respond to Russia's aggressive actions is also emphasized, specifically its decision to place the Estonian prime minister on a wanted list for removing Soviet occupation monuments.
2024-02-07
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary sitting.
A strong advocate for quality higher education and science, emphasizing the crucial role of internationalization (English-language instruction, foreign students, mobility) in ensuring the competitiveness of the Estonian research sector and economy. This position is firmly policy- and data-driven, standing against arbitrary restrictions that impede international cooperation. It supports the financing of national studies, but opposes solutions that fail to address students' financial difficulties (e.g., high student loan interest rates).
2024-01-23
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
The most important topic is the funding and organization of research and development (R&D). Support is given for upholding the government’s 1% science agreement, but the plan by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (MEAC) to establish a new applied research center that duplicates universities is being criticized. The political focus is on the effective use of resources, ensuring academic succession, and the swift adoption of the R&D and Innovation Act (TAIKS Act). The stance is policy- and results-based, emphasizing the need to maintain actual expenditures on science.
2024-01-18
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
The political focus is on education reform and the reorganization of the school network to ensure high-quality education and a decent salary for teachers. The politician strongly supports these reforms, emphasizing that structural changes in workload and curricula are necessary prerequisites before any salary increase. This position is clearly policy- and results-driven, accepting the reality of demographic shifts (urbanization, low birth rate).