Session Profile: Aivar Sõerd
15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting
2024-11-06
Political Position
A strong focus on making the taxation of financial assets more flexible and modernizing the rules governing investment accounts. The speaker also expresses sharp criticism regarding the activity-based budget project, labeling it "a failure" and an expensive, "pointless extravagance" for the taxpayer. The political framework is clearly policy- and results-oriented, concentrating on the technical refinement of legislation and criticizing state administrative costs.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates deep technical expertise in tax laws and financial regulation, utilizing specific terminology (e.g., covered bonds, crypto assets, prospectus regulation, leveraged loans). He/She possesses thorough knowledge of the Riigikogu's procedural rules, committee work, and topics related to state accounting and auditing (State Audit Office opinion, annual report).
3 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
Overall, the style is highly formal, procedural, and detailed, particularly when introducing draft legislation, where logical and technical arguments dominate. However, when criticism is directed at the performance-based budget, the tone shifts to become sharp and direct, employing judgments such as "a total failure" and raising questions about the cost of the waste.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker actively presents the work of the Finance Committee to the plenary, giving an overview of both the proceedings concerning tax law amendments (four committee meetings) and the debate on the state’s annual economic report. He/She has been appointed as the rapporteur for several draft bills, which demonstrates his/her central role in the committee’s work.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The speaker opposes the state's activity-based budgeting system, criticizing its insufficient connection to practical application and the enormous cost to the taxpayer. The criticism is directed at the system's inefficiency and poor performance, not specific individuals, and the speaker supports the position of the Auditor General.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
It emphasizes consensus-based decisions within the Finance Committee and close cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Defence during the preparation of amendments. Market participants and interest groups (e.g., the Banking Association) were also actively involved, whose proposals formed the basis for several amendments, demonstrating openness to professional input.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The regional focus is limited to one specific issue: the extension of the tax concession to grants paid from the Ministry of Defence budget, which are intended to mitigate disturbances caused by the Nursipalu training area. This has been presented as a necessary legislative amendment.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Supports the easing and modernization of financial asset taxation rules to encourage investment, expanding the list of financial assets eligible for the investment account to include cryptocurrencies and crowdfunding instruments. It is critical of the state's wasteful bureaucratic expenditures related to inefficient budgetary systems.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Insufficient data.
3 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The primary legislative priority is amending the Income Tax Act to modernize the rules for investment accounts, specifically by incorporating new financial assets and addressing practical shortcomings that have become evident. The speaker, acting as the rapporteur for the Finance Committee, supports concluding the bill's proceedings and moving it to the final vote.
3 Speeches Analyzed