Session Profile: Madis Timpson
15th Riigikogu, 4th sitting, plenary session
2024-10-23
Political Position
The political position is primarily procedural and informative, focusing on reporting the progress of three draft bills (EU obligations, medicine reserves, state fees). He/She emphasizes his/her role as a presenter of facts, repeatedly refusing to share a personal opinion, arguing that it falls outside the scope of a co-rapporteur’s duties. His/Her focus is therefore more policy-based and procedural, ensuring the smoothness and legality of the legislative process.
18 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of the rules of procedure for the Riigikogu committee, including the voting outcomes of procedural decisions and the formal recording of minutes. Their professional expertise encompasses the legal framework for pharmaceutical reserves, citing the National Audit Office's remarks on the lawfulness of the existing structure. Furthermore, they are familiar with the economic impact of increasing state fees, pointing out the additional cost (€79,000) in proportion to the total volume of the pharmaceutical market (€400 million).
18 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is formal, structured, and focuses on the detailed reporting of facts from the committee discussions, noting who asked what and who responded. The tone is neutral and procedural, becoming slightly defensive when accused of absence or of concealing a personal opinion. It uses logical appeals, relying on protocols, voting results, and the recollection of exactly what was addressed in the committee.
18 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
Her speaking patterns demonstrate active participation in the commission's work, where she serves as the rapporteur for several social committee bills. During the plenary session, her activity is structured, focusing on presenting the results of the commission's work and answering repetitive questions, strictly emphasizing the boundaries of what was discussed between the two readings. She finds it necessary to defend her attendance in the chamber, asserting that she has not "been absent much, if at all."
18 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The speaker himself maintains neutrality but reports on the opposition viewpoints within the committee, particularly Kert Kingo’s comments regarding EU obligations, the gender equality draft bill, and the concerns raised by pharmaceutical wholesalers. He notes that Kingo views the EU mandates as imposing obligations on Estonia and is concerned about a potential loss of income for the wholesalers. The criticism is directed at the policy and the process, rather than being personal.
18 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The collaborative style is open and inclusive, emphasizing that the relevant parties (e.g., the Estonian Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers) were included in the discussions, despite their claims to the contrary. He/She notes the adoption of several procedural decisions by consensus, particularly regarding the draft regulation on pharmaceutical stocks, demonstrating a readiness for broad agreement on procedural matters.
18 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is primarily on national legislative and administrative matters concerning ministries and government agencies. The sole regional reference is the mention of Viljandi voters, which is used to justify the refusal to express a personal opinion, citing the topic’s suitability for an election campaign context.
18 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The economic outlook is tied to the increase in state levies, which is justified by the need to modernize these fees after nearly a decade. It supports the Ministry of Social Affairs' position that the rise in state fees will have only a marginal impact on the pharmaceutical market, thereby refuting fears of a significant increase in drug prices. It also reports on Kingo’s concern that pharmaceutical wholesalers fear a loss of revenue.
18 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Reports on the draft law concerning gender equality and equal opportunities, which was discussed in the Social Affairs Committee and which, according to Kingo, will significantly affect the activities of companies and employees. [The reporter] does not express a personal opinion on social issues, limiting the scope only to conveying the content of the discussion.
18 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is directed toward regulatory and legal improvements, specifically bringing the legal framework governing the management of state pharmaceutical reserves into compliance based on the observations made by the National Audit Office. Other priorities include the transposition of EU obligations and the modernization of state fees. He/She serves as the central facilitator of the proceedings, responsible for forwarding the committee's decisions to the plenary session.
18 Speeches Analyzed