Session Profile: Aivar Sõerd
15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
2025-11-05
Political Position
The political stance centers on a sharp critique of public finance management and the system of performance-based budgeting (PBB). The speaker strongly opposes the situation where metrics and funding are moving in opposite directions, demanding that resources be allocated to areas where indicators are deteriorating. The criticism is primarily aimed at the system's inefficiency and its results-based framework.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates deep expertise in public finance and the methodology of activity-based budgeting, utilizing specific terminology (metrics, target levels, program-based modeling). They refer to concrete examples (the number of traffic fatalities) and possess knowledge of the Finance Committee discussions where ministries admitted that the metrics lacked substantive value.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is analytical, critical, and demanding, posing questions to high-ranking officials (the Chairman of the Finance Committee, the Auditor General). The speaker relies on logical arguments and data (the deterioration of metrics) to emphasize the inefficiency and potential wastefulness of the budget system. The tone is formal and businesslike.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is active during plenary sessions, posing questions on budget matters and referencing previous discussions within the Finance Committee. They are fully aware of the session's agenda and the subsequent presentations, including the State Auditor's upcoming address on transport financing.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The opposition is aimed at the government's budget policy and the implementation of the activity-based budgeting model, which is considered a failure and utterly meaningless. The criticism is both procedural and political, emphasizing that the system is costly, and the metrics are self-fulfilling and lack any real substance or value.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker referred to a previous "good, substantive debate" in the Finance Committee, which demonstrated a readiness for constructive cooperation and meaningful discussion at the committee level. However, during the plenary session, his style is rather interrogative and focused on demanding accountability.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
Not enough data
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic perspectives emphasize the rational and results-based allocation of budgetary funds, along with opposition to costly but meaningless bureaucratic systems. They demand that funding allocation must be tied to the actual status of key metrics, and they suspect that activity-based budgeting constitutes significant waste.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Not enough data
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on the state budget process and reforming the underlying activity-based budgeting methodology. The speaker demands that the National Audit Office conduct an audit to evaluate the IT and labor costs for developing and managing the entire activity-based system.
2 Speeches Analyzed