Agenda Profile: Jaak Valge
First reading of the Bill on the Amendment of the European Parliament Election Act (lowering the voting and candidacy age) (414 SE)
2024-05-30
15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
Political Position
The political position is strongly opposed to Draft Bill 414 SE, which addresses lowering the voting age, stressing the necessity of decisions made by mature and stable citizens. This stance is value-based and supported by social science data concerning the increasing age of attaining full adulthood. As an alternative, referendums initiated by the public are proposed as a means of improving parliamentarism.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates knowledge of social and political sciences, referencing European social survey data regarding the rising age of adulthood and the volatility of polling figures published by the Institute of Societal Studies. They emphasize the necessity of involving genuine experts—such as political scientists, biologists, and demographers—in the legislative process. Expertise is utilized to establish historical context, noting that the age of 18 has been the voting age threshold in countries of European origin for the past hundred years.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is critical, intellectual, and procedural, focusing on the lack of persuasiveness and the primitiveness of the opposing side's arguments. Logical and philosophical appeals are employed, challenging, for instance, the definitions of progressiveness and backwardness, which are regarded as Marxist terms. The tone is academic yet simultaneously direct, describing the explanatory memorandum as flimsy and the committee discussion as primitive.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker participated in the work of the Constitutional Committee, where they proposed continuing the debate and involving experts, but these suggestions did not gain approval. During the plenary session, they moved to reject the draft bill, thereby demonstrating active opposition within the legislative process.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
Criticism is aimed at the submitters of the draft bill, whose explanatory memorandum is deemed primitive and unconvincing, and at the procedural shortcomings of the Constitutional Committee's debate. The speaker also criticizes the opposing side's attempts to label conservatives as cynical, countering that national conservatives might even benefit from the change from a purely party-political strategy perspective.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
Collaboration was highlighted with the national-conservative youth group (Blue Awakening), whose negative stance on the draft bill was presented to the committee. Within the committee, the speaker’s proposal to involve experts failed to gain support, which suggests difficulties in reaching a consensus on procedural matters.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is national (covering the Estonian age of majority and voting rights) and international, utilizing comparative data from European countries (Belgium, Germany) and European social surveys. There is no specific concentration on local or regional issues within Estonia.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Not enough data
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The central social issue revolves around the connection between coming of age and political responsibility, with the speaker advocating for increasing the age of social maturity both in Estonia and across Europe. They emphasize that voting is a serious, responsible decision that ought to be made by mature citizens who are more stable and less easily influenced.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main legislative focus is the strong opposition to Bill 414 SE (lowering the voting age), for which a motion to reject was submitted. The speaker procedurally sought to ensure the involvement of experts (biologists, social scientists) in the discussion of the bill. A broader legislative priority is creating the opportunity for citizens to initiate a referendum.
2 Speeches Analyzed