First reading of the Draft Act on Amendments to the Local Government Council Election Act (166 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-02-21 20:01
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 69
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 14m
AI Summaries: 69/69 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The 15th item on the Riigikogu agenda concerned the first reading of Bill 166, which proposed amendments to the Local Government Council Election Act. The bill was initiated by members of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE): Henn Põlluaas, Helle-Moonika Helme, and Mart Helme. The aim of the bill was to add a requirement to the law stating that candidates for local government councils must possess Estonian language proficiency at a minimum C1 level and submit a corresponding certificate.
During the debate, the EKRE faction highlighted that the Language Act is being violated in many local governments because council sessions are conducted partially or entirely in Russian. They stressed that requiring Estonian language proficiency for council members is vital, especially against the backdrop of increasing immigration. The opposition, particularly the Social Democrats, argued that the C1 level is too high a requirement and could restrict candidates' constitutional rights. The Constitutional Committee recommended rejecting the bill.
Decisions Made 1
Upon the motion of the leading committee, the Riigikogu voted to reject Bill 166 at the first reading, with 42 votes in favor and 13 against. The bill was subsequently dropped from the proceedings.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Henn Põlluaas (EKRE), who introduced the draft bill and fielded all questions. He clearly maintained a right-wing, conservative stance, emphasizing the need to protect the Estonian language and criticizing the current government for ignoring the principles of the nation-state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The next item on the agenda is the first reading of the draft act on amending the Local Government Council Election Act, initiated by Riigikogu members Henn Põlluaas, Helle-Moonika Helme, and Mart Helme, and Henn Põlluaas is invited to present the report.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rapporteur Henn Põlluaas submitted a proposal to introduce an Estonian language proficiency requirement (C1 level) for candidates running for local government councils, arguing that the council's work must be conducted in Estonian and the current practice of conducting it in Russian violates the Language Act and impedes integration, especially given the context of increasing immigration.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This address conveys deep gratitude, invites the audience to pose questions, and directs a request toward Helle-Moonika Helme.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme states that their party has submitted a bill to the Riigikogu proposing that only citizens of the Republic of Estonia who are proficient in the Estonian language should be eligible to vote in local elections. She explains that this measure would linguistically change the composition of local governments, and its goal is to protect the Estonian language and the preamble of the constitution. She then asks why this bill has not entered into force and why members of the Reform Party and others have voted against it.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Emphasizing the constitutional duty to maintain and preserve the Estonian language, Põlluaas notes that the dominance of the Russian language in state institutions and the low motivation for language learning threaten Estonia's ability to remain Estonian-speaking.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called upon Martin Helme to speak.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme criticizes the slogans of the Reform Party and others regarding Estonian-language education, claiming that their plan forces poor Estonian children to study in a mixed-language or broken-language environment, and turns people who do not speak Estonian into teachers and integrators. He also asks why the bill is controversial and what his colleagues on the commission and those from the liberal front thought about it.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas asserts that the bill's purpose and arguments have remained unchanged, and the defense of the Estonian-language school system and the nation-state stands in opposition to the coalition's desire to turn Estonia into a multicultural society. Furthermore, if the coalition fails to support the bill, adherence to the coalition agreement cannot be taken seriously.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Jaak Valge is invited onto the stage at the beginning of the talk.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He thanks the Chair and the rapporteur and notes that up to 6,000 people were mentioned—a number which does not include Estonians—which points to the concept of net migration.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speech was extremely brief and contained only an affirmation.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge says that about 10,000 to 15,000 people arrive in Estonia annually (not counting Ukrainian refugees), local councils are not operating in Estonian, previous measures have not worked, and mass immigration is worsening the situation. Therefore, it is not logical to assume that those measures will suddenly start working, and he concludes with the question of what you would call those politicians who do not understand this.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Speaking about immigration, Henn Põlluaas stated that the number of permanent residents in Estonia is increasing by about 6,000 people, and although net immigration is between 10,000 and 15,000, only those who remain here permanently are counted. He called this growth terrifying. He then asked what to call those who advocate for mass immigration and the destruction of the principles of the nation-state, referencing the existing term “national renegades.”
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Eduard Odinets is called upon to speak.
Eduard Odinets
AI Summary
Eduard Odinets highlights misunderstandings based on the draft bill and its explanatory memorandum, requesting clarification on the logic by which citizenship guarantees state language proficiency, particularly when compared to the Latvian system where only citizens are permitted to run for office.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas asserted that Estonian citizenship does not guarantee language proficiency. He called for adopting Latvia's model for a mechanism involving language instruction and, if necessary, departure, adding that the draft legislation was submitted specifically to prevent this situation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech was simply a request to Mart Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme claims that the coalition is destroying high-quality Estonian-language education under the label of "transition to Estonian-language education," is spreading the Russian language in the country, refuses to restrict the voting rights of citizens of the aggressor state and enforce stricter adherence to sanctions, and refuses to establish Estonian as the true state language, meaning that ministry websites would not have to be in Russian.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accuses Kaja Kallas's government of hating the Estonian people, claiming that while they hypocritically speak of being anti-Russian, they are actually Russifying Estonia.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech expresses thanks to a good colleague.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Speaking, Henn Põlluaas stated that the draft bill, following Latvia's example, should require candidates to prove their Estonian language proficiency and include a corresponding field on the application. At the same time, he criticized the decline of the Estonian language's standing and the growing influence of Russian and English, accusing the government of inaction that threatens the nation's identity and security.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls Evelin Poolamets to the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Poolamets claims that Russians living in Estonia, who primarily speak Russian and do not learn Estonian due to a lack of motivation, are fueling Russian propaganda, and local governments are spending money on distributing Russian-language materials. Therefore, ways must be found to increase the Estonian language proficiency of Russian-speaking citizens.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets discusses what motivates people to learn Estonian.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas emphasizes that the greatest motivator is the use of the state language in Estonia, and that bilingualism and multilingualism must be ended, because proficiency in Estonian is a prerequisite for citizenship. Russian propaganda threatens the state and must be fought, otherwise a crisis could occur, and therefore we ourselves must be dignified and demand respect from others as well.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi called Eduard Odinets to the front.
Eduard Odinets
AI Summary
Eduard Odinets is asking whether candidates running for the local municipal council next year must certify C1 level proficiency in Estonian, irrespective of their mother tongue, educational background, or current language skills.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He refers to the feeling of déjà vu and asserts that not everyone is required to do it; Estonians don't have to, but people of foreign origin absolutely must.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi turned to Mart Helme and said, "Please."
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme claims that the approximately 6% figure Kaja Kallas mentioned in Munich regarding Ukrainian war refugees means that the population of Estonia is now over one-third Russian-speaking, because Ukrainians are not automatically Ukrainian-speaking.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the audience.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme hints that there might soon be a demand for the Russian language.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme brought up the ideas that this language could become the second official language.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is a brief thank you to a good colleague.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme asks if they cannot be discriminated against in any other way.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas warns that the increasing proportion of foreign-born residents and the growth of the Russian-speaking population, coupled with open immigration, could eventually lead to the state language being changed or the introduction of bilingualism. This is because the inclusion of family members and the recruitment of foreign labor are bringing more and more immigrants here, causing the proportion of ethnic Estonians to fall—a trend that the Conservative People's Party, at least, is fighting against.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Thanking on behalf of the leading committee, I invite the member of the Constitutional Committee, good colleague Pipi-Liis Siemann, to take the floor and deliver her report to the Riigikogu.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The Constitutional Committee reviewed the draft bill, which the government opposed, and emphasized the legal regularity of conducting official business in Estonian within local municipalities. The discussion highlighted issues concerning language proficiency levels (C1 versus B1), and the committee subsequently decided to reject the bill, appointing the speaker (or 'myself') as its representative and intending to place the bill on the plenary session's agenda for September 19, 2023.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the previous speaker and called upon Henn Põlluaas to ask a question.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas emphasizes that there are local councils where the use of the Estonian language is a problem, and the draft bill establishes the Estonian language requirement as a means of preventing violations of the law. However, the question arises regarding what powers the Language Inspectorate (Keeleamet) will be granted and whether it could potentially annul the mandates of the councils or the election results.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks all the listeners.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas stated that, in the Language Inspectorate's own view, none of them are working.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The commission focused on the supervision of administrative organization, and there was no discussion about granting authorization to revoke the mandate of a council member; although a lack of language proficiency is not always a problem, refusals or simply choosing not to use the language out of convenience occur more frequently. Therefore, supervision should be concentrated on ensuring compliance with administrative rules, considering that the shaping of the linguistic environment is largely in the hands of local governments, and these steps could be utilized by the Language Inspectorate, the Language Board, and local governments alike.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler is discussing the language barriers faced by qualified individuals in local government. He raises the question of whether a competent person should be allowed to hold a leadership position in a state agency regardless of their language skills, and whether this stance represents his personal opinion or the committee's official position.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She clarified that working in a local government institution is not permitted by law, and Estonian language proficiency is required for officials. He/She hopes that this requirement will be adhered to, but the commission did not discuss the topic.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Jaak Valge to speak.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She asks why these measures should work now, given that previous measures failed and the proportion of other languages in Estonia has rapidly increased, and why [someone] voted in the commission to reject the draft bill.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She explains that they voted for its rejection because the C1 level of Estonian might not be necessary for the work of the local government council, and people with even lower language proficiency can successfully participate there.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This speech is merely a request to invite Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He argues that if only Estonian citizens were allowed to vote in local elections, and the linguistic makeup of the electorate were to influence the results, would this lead to a greater Estonian-language focus in the composition and language use of the council?
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Pipi-Liis Siemann states that the commission failed to reach the intended topic, stressing her deep concern regarding the status of the Estonian language. She promises to defend the interests of Russian native speakers at the local level and hopes for their continued support in the local government elections, irrespective of language.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar invites Rain Epler to the stage.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asked two questions: whether the language requirement in the council is essential or if the focus should be on competencies, and whether, for the sake of political objectives, one can make concessions on certain values in order to gain votes.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Pipi-Liis Siemann stated that while a C1 language proficiency level might not be strictly necessary for council work, a council member must still be proficient in the state language, consider the interests of local residents, adhere to the laws, and strive to explain and uphold them.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar turns to Evelin Poolamets and asks her.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets personally asked about their Russian language skills and whether they would be able to communicate with a non-communicative council member.
Pipi-Liis Siemann
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
In summary, he says that although his Russian language skills are poor, it is beneficial for him because Russian speakers in Estonia have usually spoken Estonian with him.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Thank you to the rapporteur. There are no questions. The debate is now open, and the first speaker to take the floor will be Anti Poolamets of the EKRE faction.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets warns that the situation regarding the Estonian language is rapidly deteriorating again and there is a lack of political will to stop it, which is why adherence to the law must be treated more seriously than a cultural matter, and sanctions must be implemented and Estonian-language service guaranteed.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked for three minutes of extra time.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets highlights that the situation amounts to legal nihilism, stressing that in Narva and elsewhere, Estonian language proficiency must be a prerequisite for joining the local council, and conducting sessions in Russian cannot be permitted. This is because laws must be obeyed, not merely subjected to the scrutiny of a red pen.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked the previous speaker and invited Eduard Odinets, representing the Social Democratic Party faction, to the Riigikogu podium; Mr. Odinets then requested three minutes of additional time.
Eduard Odinets
AI Summary
Eduard Odinets asserts that EKRE's draft bill, which demands a C1 level of proficiency for local council candidates, is unacceptable under the constitutional order and the Local Government Organisation Act, and is populist. He argues that such a language examination is disproportionate, and the solution should rely on the candidates' responsibility and the voters' judgment, rather than on restrictive requirements.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concludes the debate and announces that the lead committee recommends rejecting Bill 166 at the first reading, and asks the Riigikogu to vote on it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman announced that Draft Bill 166 was rejected on the first reading and would therefore be dropped from consideration. Since the initiators and the rapporteur for agenda item 16 were absent, and the initiator of agenda item 17, Ants Frosch, was not present, the discussion could not be opened, and the session ended.