First Reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Language Act (161 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Date: 2024-01-24 17:27
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 15
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 23m
AI Summaries: 15/15 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the first reading of Draft Act 161 on amending the Language Act, which was initiated by Henn Põlluaas and Helle-Moonika Helme. The aim of the draft was to raise the fine rates associated with violations of the Language Act and to supplement the Act with new enforcement measures. The presenter, Helle-Moonika Helme, explained that the current fine rates are too low to compel especially large companies to comply with Estonian language requirements.
Under the draft, the penalty for legal entities would be raised from the current 3,200 euros up to 50,000 euros, and for companies with an annual turnover of at least 5 million euros, the fine could reach up to 5% of their turnover. The Cultural Committee opposed the draft, citing disproportionality and the fact that the government is preparing its own amendments to the Language Act. Ultimately, the Riigikogu rejected the draft with 42 votes in favor and 20 against.
Decisions Made 2
The Culture Committee proposed rejecting Bill 161 at the first reading.
The Riigikogu rejected Bill 161 by a vote of 42 in favor, 20 against, and 0 abstentions.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Helle-Moonika Helme, who served as the bill's rapporteur and answered all the questions that were posed. Her position was right-wing, emphasizing the necessity of protecting the Estonian language and addressing the issues of immigration and the linguistic environment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
We move on to the next item on the agenda: the first reading of Draft Act 161 on the Amendment of the Language Act, initiated by Riigikogu members Henn Põlluaas and Helle-Moonika Helme. The presenter is Helle-Moonika Helme.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Proposal to increase the level of penalties imposed for violations of the Language Act: up to 50,000 euros for individuals and up to 5% of annual turnover for large commercial enterprises. This is intended to enhance compliance with the Language Act in the service, business, non-profit, and public sectors, and to provide the Language Inspectorate with additional tools necessary for carrying out its duties.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks his colleague and announces that questions are welcome, inviting Heljo Pikhof to pose her questions.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof thanked them for the comprehensive overview and affirmed the importance of protecting the cultural space and the Estonian language, but noted that the penalty rates in the draft bill are significantly steeper compared to previous versions, and asked whether anything had changed and why such an approach was being taken.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
We can submit identically structured bills containing different numerical and source data, and the plenary session, together with the committee, will decide which fine rates are supported at any given moment, because the linguistic environment is changing very rapidly, and today we may need stricter measures to protect the language.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Varro Vooglaid to take the floor.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vooglaid points out that the bill raises a deeper question: whether we take seriously the ideal of the Estonian nation-state and the constitutional obligation to ensure the preservation of the language and culture. He then asks whether the coalition's opposition is fundamentally against the enforcement of these mechanisms or merely against the proposed fine rates.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme confirmed that although the draft bill regulates the use of the state language, it is necessary to ensure Estonian-language service in all areas of life and address broader issues, such as immigration and the transition to Estonian-language education, because language is the state language and its implementation requires continuous attention and consensus.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi turned to Anti Poolamets and said, "Anti Poolamets, please!"
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets believes that the state of Estonian language service has spiraled out of control, the fines are having no effect, and problems are evident in Tallinn, as well as in Võru and Otepää.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme states that Estonian-language customer service is deteriorating, and the state should put pressure on both large and small companies through penalty rates to ensure that service in Estonia is provided entirely in Estonian, which is our constitutional right.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker thanked the assembly, announced that there were no questions, and invited Heljo Pikhof, the Chairman of the Culture Committee, to the Riigikogu rostrum as the rapporteur.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Riigikogu Culture Committee discussed Draft Bill 161, which seeks to increase fines related to violations of the Language Act and introduce additional enforcement measures, but the government did not support the bill. The Committee decided to place it on the plenary session agenda for October 11th, while simultaneously recommending its rejection, appointing Heljo Pikhof as the lead committee's representative, and aiming for rapid progress by the spring of 2024.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announces that the debate has been opened and closed, and the steering committee recommends rejecting draft bill 161 at the first reading, and calls upon colleagues to take a stand and vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu rejected Bill 161, and it is thereby dropped from the proceedings; 42 in favor, 20 against, 0 abstentions.