AI Profiling: Rain Epler

The political stance has been strongly and unwaveringly oppositional throughout the entire observed period (01.2024–09.2025), focusing on sharp criticism of the economic, fiscal, and energy policies implemented by the Reform Party-led government. The most prominent themes include opposition to tax increases (including the car tax), the rejection of ideological constraints imposed by the green transition, and the emphasis on energy security (supporting oil shale and nuclear energy). This position is equally framed by both value-based criticism (conservatism, property rights, national interests) and results-based criticism, accusing the government of incompetence, breaking promises, and pursuing undemocratic "steamroller politics," culminating in demands for the prime minister's resignation and snap elections.

The politician exhibits exceptionally deep and consistent expertise in the energy sector, where they demonstrate technical competence (e.g., LCOE, EROI, frequency market, dispatchable capacity) and regularly rely on detailed reports from Elering, the National Audit Office, and international sources (Statistical Review of World Energy), while actively promoting nuclear and oil shale energy. Another strong area of competence is macroeconomics and public finance, where they present specific figures concerning the budget, tax revenues, and the deficit, analyzing the impact of tax policy (VAT, bank tax, excises) through international comparisons. Furthermore, they possess thorough knowledge of Riigikogu procedural norms (rules of procedure, linking of amendments) and legislative details (e.g., ILO conventions, EU founding treaties), which enables them to put forward in-depth, data-driven questions and arguments.

The politician's rhetorical style is consistently intensely combative, sharply critical, and confrontational, frequently employing irony, sarcasm, and direct personal accusations against opponents (ministers, the coalition). The style balances detailed analysis, grounded in facts and statistics, with powerful emotional and value-based appeals, often framing political issues within a broader ideological conflict ("woke-agenda," "totalitarianism"). The speaker utilizes provocative and colorful expressions ("kilplased," "justiitsroim," "banaanivabariik") and historical/literary metaphors to consistently accuse opponents of lying, demagoguery, and incompetence.

The politician has demonstrated exceptionally high and consistent activity throughout the observed period in Riigikogu sessions, speaking almost daily during question rounds, submitting formal inquiries (interpellations), and participating in debates on draft legislation. His pattern of activity is two-fold: detailed, substantive criticism of government actions across all key sectors (economy, energy, climate), coupled with continuous procedural oversight. He systematically utilizes parliamentary tools (such as interpellations, motions to reject bills, and the 'free microphone' session) to ensure the opposition's voice is heard as widely as possible. He frequently criticizes the Riigikogu Board for delays in processing these inquiries and for the inconsistent application of parliamentary rules.

The politician's opposition stance is consistently intense and multi-layered, focusing primarily on the Reform Party and the Social Democrats, whom they label as dishonest, incompetent, and responsible for the country's decline. The main attacks target both the substance of the policy (tax hikes, the green transition, energy) and procedural unfairness (steamroller politics, lack of transparency, hindering the opposition's work), often criticizing the Riigikogu board for perceived bias. The criticism is strongly personal and moral, accusing ministers and the prime minister of outright lying and incompetence, and demanding that opponents admit their mistakes and resign. There is a complete lack of willingness to compromise, emphasizing the need to demand snap elections and refuse to give opponents "an inch."

The politician's cooperation style is consistently confrontational and adversarial towards the governing coalition, characterized by deep distrust and a lack of willingness to compromise on ideological issues. Cooperation occurs almost exclusively within the opposition and across factions (EKRE, Isamaa, Centre Party), focusing on submitting joint interpellations and draft legislation. He seeks political support for rational topics (e.g., nuclear energy, bank taxes), expressing hope of finding allies in other parties as well (including the "reasonable wing" of the Social Democrats), but this cooperation is aimed at challenging government policies, not finding consensus. Additionally, he turns to experienced colleagues for procedural and expert knowledge.

The politician's regional focus is consistently directed toward rural areas and people living outside major cities, who are particularly hard hit by national tax increases and the centralization of services (e.g., the closure of schools and courthouses). A central theme is the criticism of the "policy of moving to Tallinn," using regional problems to illustrate the negative impact of national policy, especially in the context of the car tax, which harms the daily lives of rural residents. Geographically, the most specific and in-depth discussion concerns the problems of Southeast Estonia (Võru County, Põlva County), where emphasis is placed on low income, emigration, and the security-critical depopulation of border regions. In addition to Southeast Estonia, Ida-Viru County (energy sector, teacher shortages) and Lääne-Viru County (road maintenance) are mentioned less often, but the overall regional identity is linked to the protection of rural residents and the border areas of Southeast Estonia.

The politician's economic views are defined by strong fiscal conservatism and support for the free market, manifesting in an unyielding opposition to nearly all tax hikes (including VAT, car tax, and progressive income tax), which he views as brakes on economic growth and a punishment for lower-income groups. He demands strict budgetary discipline, sharply criticizing the state’s ideological and wasteful spending (especially green transition support schemes and large infrastructure projects), and advocates for cutting bureaucracy and regulations that strangle business (including ESG reporting). The key to economic revitalization is seen as cheap and reliable domestic energy (oil shale, nuclear power), contrasting with expensive intermittent power and green energy subsidies. As an exception to his general anti-regulation stance, he consistently supports implementing an extraordinary bank tax to levy taxes on banks’ excess profits, arguing they resulted from central bank actions rather than market effort.

The politician's sociopolitical profile is consistently deeply conservative, focusing on culture wars. They sharply oppose "woke ideology," the promotion of social genders, and gender reassignment treatment, instead emphasizing the traditional concept of family and biological sex. To mitigate the demographic crisis, they call for economic support for large families and criticize the government's tax policies (including the car tax), arguing that these harm rural residents and family livelihoods. They also oppose state funding for elective abortions. On immigration, they maintain a restrictive stance, linking mass immigration to demographic decline and demanding that voting rights be strictly reserved only for Estonian citizens. Simultaneously, they vigorously defend civil liberties, freedom of speech, and privacy, opposing state surveillance, super databases, and the creation of a "thought police," viewing these as threats to democracy and the growth of deep state power.

The politician's legislative focus is consistently centered on improving economic competitiveness through tax cuts (VAT, excise duties) and the reduction of bureaucracy. He is simultaneously a strong opponent of government tax increases (especially the car tax) and the preferential development of renewable energy. In energy policy, he supports nuclear energy and demands that electricity generated from oil shale be exempted from the obligation to purchase CO2 quotas. His primary role is oppositional, which is manifested in systematically proposing the rejection of government bills and overseeing the executive branch, while emphasizing the transparency of the Riigikogu's rules of procedure and the strict adherence to sound legislative drafting standards (HÕNTE). In addition to economic and energy issues, he actively opposes bills that increase bureaucratic control and data collection (e.g., super databases) and promotes socially conservative initiatives (e.g., ending the public funding of elective abortions).