Session Profile: Rain Epler
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary sitting.
2025-09-17
Political Position
The political stance is strongly value-driven, focusing on safeguarding democracy and individual liberties against excessive state intervention. The speaker sharply opposes the "Orwellian" tendency where the officialdom and technocrats attempt to seize control of governance, viewing this as symptomatic of a wider crisis of democracy. He criticizes the government's performance as incompetent for allowing such threats to emerge, and demands the removal of the coalition from power.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates proficiency regarding draft bills concerning state information systems, data protection, and police operations, utilizing terms such as "super database" and "thought police." They are capable of linking various pieces of legislation (the police database, the use of cameras, the super database) into a single, broader trend that threatens democracy. Furthermore, they possess knowledge of the Riigikogu's procedural rules and the order of conducting a session.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is sharply aggressive, critical, and at times personal, employing colorful metaphors (e.g., "greyhounds chasing a rabbit," "the dustbin of history"). The tone is anxious and cautionary, highlighting the symptoms of a democracy crisis, but it also includes humor (the theme of pushing a button). The speaker advocates for brevity and concreteness, suggesting Charles Bukowski's poems as practice material for achieving this.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The pattern of activity demonstrates active participation in the plenary session, posing questions both to the presenters and to the Speaker of the Riigikogu. They use the allotted time both to oppose specific draft legislation and to make broader political statements, while also criticizing the procedural management of time.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main adversaries are the governing coalition, which is accused of incompetence and allowing a crisis of democracy to develop, and the bureaucracy/technocrats who are attempting to seize control of state governance. The opposition is intense and uncompromising, demanding that the coalition be consigned to the dustbin of history. Furthermore, he/she warns against letting the social democrats (SocDems) anywhere near power.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The collaboration style is purely oppositional and critical, focusing on calling into question the actions and motives of government and commission representatives. There is no mention of cooperation, readiness to compromise, or bipartisan activity.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
There is no regional focus; instead, the focus is on national draft legislation that affects all Estonian residents and businesses. Reference is also made to European Union funding (3.5 million), which was the impetus for rushing the bill.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The economic implications are implicit, criticizing the coalition's decision to rush the adoption of the law in order to secure 3.5 million euros from Europe. This points to criticism that financial gain was prioritized over substantive analysis and the principles of the rule of law.
5 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Personal freedoms and privacy are at the forefront of social issues. The speaker sharply opposes the expansion of state surveillance, particularly the creation of a "super database" that would consolidate the data of all Estonian people and companies, as well as the Ministry of the Interior's attempt to establish a "thought police."
5 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
Legislative focus is directed toward opposing government-initiated bills concerning data collection and surveillance. Specifically, there is opposition to the "super database law," which is considered bad and must be voted against in any case. He/She also criticizes the legislative procedure, where things are being rushed through in the name of European funding without delving into the substance.
5 Speeches Analyzed