Draft Law on Song and Dance Celebrations (598 SE) – First Reading

Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting

Date: 2025-06-12 07:00

Total Speeches: 39

Membership: 15

Agenda Duration: 38m

AI Summaries: 39/39 Speeches (100.0%)

Analysis: Structured Analysis

Politicians Speaking Time

Politicians

Analysis

Summary

As the final item on the agenda, the first reading of Bill 598, the Song and Dance Festival Act, initiated by the Isamaa faction, was discussed. Presenter Tõnis Lukas emphasized that the Song and Dance Festival tradition is a carrier of national identity, which requires a permanent legal framework, especially considering that Latvia and Lithuania have already adopted corresponding laws. The bill aims to ensure the functioning of the entire tradition's pyramid, covering education, the succession of instructors, and the continuity of funding. The law stipulates that the festival must be apolitical and the repertoire must be predominantly in Estonian, including Estonian classical choral music and heritage dance.

Several questions were raised during the debate. Toomas Uibo and Kadri Tali expressed concern about the over-regulation of artistic freedom, fearing that the law might stifle the free popular movement that has lasted 150 years. Lukas explained that the law provides a framework and a guarantee for continuity rather than prescribing creative content. Ando Kiviberg drew attention to the threat posed by real estate development around the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, to which Lukas responded that the explanatory memorandum provides for the possibility of using a special national plan to preserve the sanctuary's functionality. Riina Sikkut asked about the rules for collectives (including project choirs) to participate in the festival and the effective date of the law. The leading committee (Kadri Tali) supported the further processing of the bill, emphasizing the need for thorough and inclusive discussion to ensure the tradition is supported without being excessively regulated. The first reading of the bill was concluded.

Decisions Made 2
Collective Decision

The first reading of Draft Bill 598 was concluded.

Collective Decision

The deadline for submitting amendments was set as June 30th at 5:15 PM.

Most Active Speaker
Tõnis Lukas
Tõnis Lukas

Isamaa fraktsioon

Tõnis Lukas (from the Isamaa faction) presented the draft bill and actively responded to all questions, clarifying the law's content and objectives, particularly focusing on how to guarantee artistic freedom and secure funding.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
07:00:06
AI Summary

The last item on the agenda is the first reading of Bill 598, the Song and Dance Celebration Act, initiated by the Isamaa faction. The presentation is requested from Riigikogu member Tõnis Lukas.

07:00:20
AI Summary

He pointed out that, in order to preserve the tradition of the Estonian Song and Dance Celebration, a law was adopted which sets goals, the organizational and financing model, and areas of responsibility, and emphasizes the continuity of the tradition and its role as a bearer of national identity in cooperation between the state and local governments.

07:00:20
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas is introducing a new draft bill, the purpose of which is to ensure the continuity of the Estonian Song and Dance Celebration tradition, which is included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, by establishing its status, objectives, and a democratic organizational model. The law regulates the financing of the celebrations, emphasizes valuing the work of collective leaders through state salary support, and defines the responsibility for preserving the tradition, especially concerning work done with children and youth, ensuring that this carrier of national identity remains at a high standard for ages to come.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
07:11:39
AI Summary

Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi expresses his thanks and announces that the audience has questions, whereupon Toomas Uibo begins.

Toomas Uibo
Toomas Uibo
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioon
07:11:41
AI Summary

Toomas Uibo stresses the importance of the Song Celebration as a landmark of Estonian identity, but he expresses concern over the state-imposed artistic control and the prescribed repertoire accompanying the new law, seeing parallels with an earlier regime that restricted civic initiatives.

Toomas Uibo
Toomas Uibo
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioon
07:11:41
AI Summary

I believe the Song Celebration is one of the defining landmarks of Estonian identity for us. And I question why the law should regulate the artistic aspect and the specific repertoire performed, because it brings to mind the eras of old regimes when there were no citizen initiatives.

07:12:43
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas refutes concerns about overly strict language and repertoire restrictions at the Song and Dance Celebration, confirming that although the traditional framework requires Estonian-language content and at least one-third of the program to be classical Estonian choral music, artistic freedom is guaranteed. He adds that the current principles have been long coordinated and approved by the relevant cultural organizations.

07:12:43
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas explains that while there might be some cause for concern, the repertoire for the Song and Dance Festival is not strictly mandated—it is based on tradition and Estonian folk dance regulations, and at least a third of it falls into the classical category of choral and orchestral music. Furthermore, it is approved by all participants through a five-year coordination cycle, meaning that in reality, there are no restrictions on the repertoire.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
07:15:02
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Signe Riisalo.

Signe Riisalo
Signe Riisalo
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioon
07:15:04
AI Summary

Riisalo drew attention to this year's unpleasant public discussion surrounding accessibility. He asked whether accessibility refers only to physical access or also includes a sign language choir, and whether the Song and Dance Celebration will be open in the future to performers with mobility issues or other special needs.

Signe Riisalo
Signe Riisalo
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioon
07:15:04
AI Summary

Signe Riisalo offers a modest acknowledgement, but immediately draws attention to the recent unpleasant public discussion regarding the accessibility of the Song and Dance Celebration. She critically asks whether this accessibility also extends to the participation of people with special needs as performers—for instance, sign language choirs or dancers with mobility impairments.

07:15:47
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that the high artistic standard of the Song and Dance Festival tradition is guaranteed by the artistic committees through pre-rehearsals, where they decide on the suitability of participating collectives purely on artistic considerations. He simultaneously acknowledges that while accessibility primarily means audience access, serious organizational problems persist this year in ensuring access for people with mobility impairments, issues which need to be resolved.

07:15:47
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that the song and dance festival tradition must simultaneously guarantee a high artistic standard and accessibility for the public, aspects which are determined by the artistic committees and preliminary rehearsals. He adds that access for people with mobility impairments is organizationally problematic and requires solutions.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
07:17:22
AI Summary

During the speech, Riina Sikkut was called onto the stage.

Riina Sikkut
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioon
07:17:24
AI Summary

Riina Sikkut commends the preparation of the draft bill and poses two questions: could the law's entry into force symbolically coincide with July 1st, during the Song and Dance Celebration, and, more importantly, does the law differentiate between permanent amateur collectives and project choirs when setting the rules for qualifying for the Song and Dance Celebration, given that the growing popularity of project groups is causing resentment and a decline in motivation among long-standing collectives.

Riina Sikkut
Riina Sikkut
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioon
07:17:24
AI Summary

Riina Sikkut posed two quick questions regarding the draft bill: will the law enter into force on July 1st, exactly during the Song and Dance Celebration, and how will it regulate permanent choirs and dance groups, or project choirs, at the Song and Dance Celebration, and will the decision regarding the rules for their admission be left to the implementing unit?

07:18:30
AI Summary

He noted that the law does not stipulate a specific number of participants or the status of temporary or permanent ensembles, and these decisions are left to the artistic committee, whose goal is the preservation of tradition and ensuring continuity between the festivals. The law will take effect in the next cycle, at the beginning of next year.

07:18:30
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas confirmed that the selection and numerical makeup of the Song and Dance Festival ensembles will remain solely at the discretion of the artistic committees. This is because the law does not mandate prioritizing standing ensembles or setting limits on participant numbers; rather, it focuses on preserving the tradition and ensuring the preparation process during the inter-festival period, taking full effect at the start of the next cycle, which is the most appropriate time from a budgetary perspective.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
07:21:13
AI Summary

Ando Kiviberg was invited to speak at the beginning of the address.

Ando Kiviberg
Ando Kiviberg
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
07:21:14
AI Summary

Ando Kiviberg expressed concern that the high-rise development surrounding the Song Festival Grounds threatens the tradition and could make holding the Song Festival there impossible within 20 years, and he asked whether the drafted bill solves this problem.

07:22:01
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas emphasizes the importance of the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds as the only suitable venue for the song festival. However, the grounds have come under intense real estate development pressure, which endangers its service areas and capacity. For this reason, he considers the framework outlined in the explanatory memorandum of the law to be essential, as it would allow for the halting of unsuitable developments and the establishment of a national special plan for the Song Festival Grounds and its surrounding area.

07:22:01
AI Summary

He emphasizes that the Song Festival Grounds and their surrounding area must be protected from inappropriate real estate developments, and that these developments should be halted until the state special plan is established, ensuring the stage and its surrounding area retain their function.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
07:24:36
AI Summary

Vice-Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Kadri Tali to speak.

Kadri Tali
Kadri Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
07:24:37
AI Summary

Kadri Tali asks for clarification on whether, according to the law, the founder must provide rehearsal rooms, necessary technical equipment, national or other costumes, repertoire booklets and folk dance descriptions, as well as the remuneration and transport for the conductor, instructor, and musical accompanist, and whether this might cause many ensembles to be unable to exist.

Kadri Tali
Kadri Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
07:24:37
AI Summary

Kadri Tali, drawing on her extensive experience in establishing choirs (including the Riigikogu choir), raises concerns about whether the exceptionally strict requirements mandated by law for the founders of these collectives—namely, having to secure everything from rehearsal spaces and equipment to instructors' wages and transportation—will make the continued existence of such groups practically impossible.

07:25:29
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas explains that the purpose of the provision in question is to ensure the sustainability of amateur collectives, emphasizing that in addition to support from the state and local government, the responsibility and the opportunity to have a say must also rest with the participants themselves. These participants must, for example, contribute to the remuneration of the instructor and establish an employment relationship with them, thereby becoming the masters of their own collective.

07:25:29
AI Summary

The core idea of this address is that for collectives to function, responsibility must be shared: participants must be involved in decision-making, establish an employment contract with the supervisor and partially cover their remuneration, and state or fund assistance is only applicable if the collective has made its own independent contribution.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
07:27:27
AI Summary

Kadri Tali was invited to speak.

Kadri Tali
Kadri Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
07:27:29
AI Summary

Kadri Tali warned that by over-regulating and attempting to improve this successful tradition, which has operated for 150 years based on the initiative of free people (and is one of the few things that actually works well in Estonia), the joy of the singing nation and the spirit of self-initiative that form the foundation of this tradition could be extinguished.

Kadri Tali
Kadri Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
07:27:29
AI Summary

Kadri Tali asks whether over-regulation doesn't threaten a 150-year tradition, which began as a civic initiative of a free people, and whether it won't extinguish the joy our singing nation takes in doing this themselves.

07:28:00
AI Summary

Lukas emphasizes that the future of the Song and Dance Celebration hinges on the desire of the enthusiasts to contribute, along with the availability of music education and teachers, rather than strict regulation. He warns that if decisions reduce accessibility or the number of instructors, this jeopardizes the continuity of the tradition, even though the will of the free people remains the primary factor.

07:28:00
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that the new legislative framework surrounding the Song and Dance Celebration tradition is neither oppressive nor overly regulatory. Rather, it is necessary to ensure organizational and logistical continuity, as regional and educational decisions—such as the shortage of instructors or the diminishing availability of music education—threaten the future of the tradition. The law guarantees stability while simultaneously preserving the free will of the people and the participants' desire to contribute.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
07:30:22
AI Summary

Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience, confirms that there are no questions, and the report of the leading committee will be presented by Kadri Tali, a member of the Culture Committee.

Kadri Tali
Kadri Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
07:30:36
AI Summary

Kadri Tali introduced the first reading of the draft bill for the Song and Dance Festival Act to the Riigikogu, explaining that although there is consensus on the need to support the tradition and ensure the succession of instructors, serious doubts have also emerged in the Culture Committee regarding whether the legal framework might begin to restrict the artistic freedom and creative process of the festival, which has persisted for 150 years as a free popular movement. The committee proposed continuing the processing of the draft bill, emphasizing the need for thorough, considered, and broad-based involvement.

Kadri Tali
Kadri Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
07:30:36
AI Summary

During its first reading before the Riigikogu, Draft Bill 598 emphasizes that the Song and Dance Festival tradition must be given a clear legal framework that covers the entire process, from education and the succession of instructors to preparation and financing, but ensures creative freedom, must not restrict the artistic process, and requires a thorough, inclusive discussion to solve the problem of the shortage and succession of instructors through educational and salary subsidies.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
07:34:01
AI Summary

Toomas Kivimägi offers his thanks and opens the debate, stating that there are no questions, and Tõnis Lukas speaks on behalf of the Isamaa faction.

07:34:19
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that the draft law in question is not a strict collection of commands and prohibitions, but rather a necessary framework that ensures the preservation of the recognizable content of the song and dance festivals (e.g., the share of traditional repertoire being up to one-third) and, most importantly, provides a solid, statutory guarantee for the recruitment and salary support of choir and dance leaders. This is crucial because the current subsidies, which are regulated at the level of ministry decrees, are too volatile and temporary, thereby jeopardizing the continuity of the sector.

07:34:19
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that ensuring the pipeline of new choir conductors and dance leaders requires a guarantee at the statutory level, and the repertoire framework must be clearly secured, because the current regulations are unstable and subject to change over time.

Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
07:38:41
AI Summary

Toomas Kivimägi announced that the leading committee is concluding the first reading of Bill 598, the first reading has been concluded, and the deadline for submitting amendments is June 30th at 5:15 p.m.; the sitting is adjourned.