Lemmit Kaplinski is the Deputy Mayor of Tartu. He decided to take a break from politics and will not run in the next elections. Kaplinski said he is happy that the government is reducing renewable energy subsidies. He also said that to address the teacher shortage, qualification requirements need to be lowered.
Kaplinski constantly monitors Kantar Emor surveys. The surveys show that young people support Social Democrats and EKRE the most. These parties do not see a problem with succession. Other parties, however, do.
The worldview of young people is still forming. They see societal issues clearly and more sharply. They have less to lose because they do not yet have major obligations like mortgages. Therefore, extremist parties, whether left or right, offer clear solutions to young people.
Kaplinski believes that politicians should be professional and of high quality. He said that the salary of Riigikogu members is too low, but money should not be the reason to enter politics. The Riigikogu is not a corporation and does not seek the best employees from the market. Entering politics requires a person's conviction and the trust of the people.
One major problem is the succession of politicians. It is difficult for young people to enter politics. The two-chair law, which allows being both a member of the Riigikogu and a local government, limits the opportunities for young people. Kaplinski thinks this should change and new people should have better opportunities to enter politics.
Kaplinski also spoke about energy policy. He said there are two major examples in the world: France and Germany. France invested in nuclear energy and is very successful. Germany invested in renewable energy but is not as effective. Kaplinski believes that nuclear energy is a better solution.
He said he is not satisfied with renewable energy subsidies. He believes that the energy sector should operate under market conditions. It should ensure reliable and affordable energy while also considering the environment.
Kaplinski also spoke about the education sector. He said that the qualification requirements for teachers should be lower. The labor market shows that when there is a shortage of resources, the price must rise. Teaching is a complex and multifaceted job. But if society cannot fund all the demands, then we must accept teachers with lower qualifications.
Kaplinski said he is not driven by party interests. He is satisfied as a person and believes that energy should not depend on subsidies. He supports the market economy but is not a radical right-winger. He does not plan to join the Center Party.