First Reading of the Draft Act Amending the Language Act and the Public Transport Act (Bill 397 SE)

Total Speeches: 50

Membership: 15

Agenda Duration: 1h 23m

AI Summaries: 50/50 Speeches (100.0%)

Analysis: Structured Analysis

Politicians Speaking Time

Politicians

Analysis

Summary

The topic of the presentation is the first reading of Draft Law 397, initiated by the Isamaa faction, amending the Language Act and the Public Transport Act. The purpose of the draft law is to rapidly strengthen the role of Estonian-language administration at the level of the state and local governments, and to extend this role to companies with majority state ownership, foundations established by the state, and non-profit organizations with state participation. Additionally, it foresees the possibility of using foreign-language curricula in a mutually suitable manner for public universities. The need for these changes arose because migration in the labor market and insufficient Estonian-language preparation have increased the urgency of enforcing the Language Act and prevented the emergence of opportunities for circumvention. The discussion raised questions regarding language use in service provision, language proficiency requirements for platform workers and taxi drivers, and the specific planning of Estonian-language labeling and information obligations in public spaces. It was debated whether to expedite the procedure or proceed with the preparation of a more thorough development plan (VTK). The final decision was that the bill was rejected during the first reading and the procedure was terminated, with 39 votes in favor and 15 against; there were no abstentions.

Decisions Made 1
Collective Decision

Bill 397 was rejected at its first reading. The result: 39 in favor, 15 against, no abstentions; the bill is dropped from the proceedings.

Most Active Speaker
Tõnis Lukas
Tõnis Lukas

Isamaa fraktsioon

The most active speaker was Tõnis Lukas (a member of the Isamaa faction), who presented a thorough and extensive report and answered questions. His position is that of a representative of the national right-wing policy line (the right-wingers).

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:03:29
AI Summary

The Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu announced that we would be moving to the third item on the agenda, which is the first reading of Draft Act 397, the Act amending the Language Act and the Public Transport Act, initiated by the Isamaa faction, and requested Riigikogu member Tõnis Lukas to serve as the rapporteur.

15:03:49
AI Summary

He stressed that the urgent revision of the Language Act is imperative. Isamaa has therefore submitted amendments designed to guarantee Estonian-language documentation and service provision at both state and local government levels, limit evasion through legal loopholes, and reinforce the dominance of Estonian text and language use in the public sphere, covering language requirements for trademarks, domains, audio advertisements, and services provided by platform workers and taxi drivers.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:23:59
AI Summary

Jüri Ratas thanked the speaker, said that no extra time was needed, praised the presentation, directed the proceedings toward questions, and invited Evelin Poolamets to speak.

Evelin Poolamets
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
15:24:07
AI Summary

Presenter Evelin Poolamets points out that when short-term work permits expire, people do not leave Estonia, but instead start working via apps (for example, as a taxi driver or food courier), and asks whether a situation that does not require language skills encourages illegal immigrants to remain in the country.

15:24:41
AI Summary

Speaking about Ukrainians arriving in Estonia, Tõnis Lukas notes that although it is possible to live here without learning Estonian, and communities communicate freely in Russian or English, this does not help foster respect for local customs, and illegal employment remains a problem. However, many Ukrainians show respect, learn the language, and try to integrate.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:26:40
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas calls on Martin Helme to speak.

Martin Helme
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioon
15:26:40
AI Summary

Martin Helme confirmed his support for the draft legislation, stressing that the position of the Estonian language is worse than ever, and warned against mass immigration, while also asking at what point integration becomes impossible.

15:27:48
AI Summary

He/She stresses that Estonia is facing immigration pressure and we must move forward immediately and adopt the self-confidence bill, otherwise we will lose years and the country's capacity for integration will suffer.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:29:40
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas calls Priit Sibul to the stage.

15:29:45
AI Summary

Priit Sibul posed a general question: why have language usage and the influence of foreign languages—particularly Russian and English—grown, and what is the core issue that puts us in this situation?

15:30:43
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that Estonia must reach the level of a mature nation-state, adhere to constitutional agreements, and not make exceptions in important matters, while simultaneously developing and protecting the Estonian language and culture and making it clear that those who come here must communicate in Estonian.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:32:39
AI Summary

Jüri Ratas announced that Liina Kersna had submitted a proposal to extend the May 14, 2024 session until the agenda was exhausted, but no later than 14:00, and called upon the participants to state their position and vote.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:35:34
AI Summary

The proposal was adopted with 45 votes in favor, 12 against, and 1 abstention. Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas then returned to the Riigikogu rostrum, thanked the participants, and moved on to the questions.

Jaak Valge
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
15:36:19
AI Summary

He/She expresses great thanks to the esteemed Deputy Chairman.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:36:20
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas requested silence in the chamber and respect for both those asking questions and those responding. He then granted Jaak Valge an additional 60 seconds so that he could present his question calmly.

Jaak Valge
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
15:36:40
AI Summary

Jaak Valge cited data from Statistics Estonia, noting that approximately 18,000 people with third-country citizenship became permanent residents in Estonia (13,000 of them being Ukrainian citizens) and about 4,000 departed. Although he supported the bill, he questioned whether it wouldn't be more reasonable to prioritize stopping mass immigration, given that, even without counting Ukrainian refugees, the number of people entering from third countries annually is about 2.5 times greater than the number of adults who pass the Estonian language proficiency exam.

15:37:41
AI Summary

He stresses that the conditions enabling mass immigration must be severed and immigration controls must be tightened. This is because, even though registration is possible, the actual impact on society cannot be controlled, necessitating the establishment of rules and respect for Estonian laws and culture.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:39:27
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas calls Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart.

15:39:29
AI Summary

The rapporteur pointed out that, according to the draft bill, foreign language advertising may follow Estonian-language audio advertising, up to 20% of the total volume. They questioned the logic of deriving this percentage from the proportion of individuals who do not speak Estonian, and asked whether this means that 20% of the population receives 20% of the total information.

15:40:20
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas emphasized that information must be in an understandable format and accessible in Estonian, arguing that the state cannot be run by catering to everyone's mother tongue, and therefore, access to information in Estonian must be guaranteed in the public space.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:41:30
AI Summary

The presenter invites Priit Sibul to the stage.

15:41:31
AI Summary

Priit Sibul criticizes the redefinition of professions as innovation, arguing that control is insufficient, which could lead to a situation where anyone who knows how to ride a bicycle or drive a car gets a job. He also asks whether the bill grants inspectors from the Language Board the right to begin checking the occupants of those positions.

15:42:36
AI Summary

In light of the new law, it will be possible to establish control over language proficiency in the service sector and ensure that platform work—including taxi and courier services, as well as social services—uses the Estonian language. Otherwise, the Estonian language may disappear from public life.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:44:33
AI Summary

The speech is simply a request to invite Mart Maastik to the stage.

Mart Maastik
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
15:44:35
AI Summary

Maastik stated that the burden of 700 years of serfdom has delayed Estonians in becoming masters in their own land, and criticized Lauri Läänemets, who, regarding the revocation of voting rights, claims to see threats concealed by the Security Police (KAPO). He questioned what those dangers actually are, whether the Security Police has issued recommendations, and why the Culture Committee failed to support their draft bill.

15:45:24
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that the Culture Committee's plans must be thoroughly considered and time must be taken, but the lack of Estonian language proficiency among the non-Estonian-speaking population could create closed information spaces and threaten the cultural cohesion and security of the Estonian state, something KAPO has previously warned about.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:48:59
AI Summary

The statement simply contains an address to Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart.

15:49:04
AI Summary

The presenter explains that the draft bill requires state and local government domain names to be recognizably in Estonian (not in a foreign language), but emphasizes that this might be unreasonable from a cooperation standpoint. They provide examples of English-language sites that would need to be changed or shut down, such as the Rescue Board’s rescue.ee, while simultaneously questioning the sensibility of this requirement.

15:49:59
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas said that the Rescue Board has started evolving, utilizing different domains for external communication and distinct solutions for internal affairs. He added that although the Estonian language must remain the standard, it is crucial for the state to communicate in multiple languages, and duplicated communication is not a technological problem.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:52:01
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas invites Mart Maastik to take the floor.

Mart Maastik
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
15:52:03
AI Summary

Mart Maastik thanks the Chair, greets Tõnis, and asks how the government views this draft bill, even though I have already requested the committee's position.

15:52:12
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that the government’s delays and the tailoring of legislation to the interests of firms threaten the role of the Estonian language in the public sphere and in several sectors, and do not help the language recover, but instead make society non-Estonian speaking.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:53:41
AI Summary

At the start of the address, Henn Põlluaas was asked to speak.

Henn Põlluaas
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
15:53:41
AI Summary

Henn Põlluaas asserts that although the adoption of the law is essential in light of the constitution, he criticizes the government's move to open up mass immigration, the absence of a language proficiency requirement for local government candidates, and the continuation of the Deputy Secretary General and department for cultural diversity. He then questions how these steps align with the future of Estonia and the constitution.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:54:52
AI Summary

The time for questions is now—it's your turn.

15:54:54
AI Summary

He emphasizes that rules must be established to control mass immigration, and immigrants must be required to demonstrate proficiency in the Estonian language. Otherwise, cultural and security control will be lost. The bill seeks to implement the constitution and close the loopholes currently being used to bring in people who are not informed of the rules here.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:56:20
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas asks Urve Tiidus to come forward and speak.

Urve Tiidus
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioon
15:56:22
AI Summary

Urve Tiidus acknowledges that the Estonian language is complex, noting that even linguistic errors heard in the chamber might go unnoticed. She then raises the question of whether opportunities for learning Estonian are truly accessible and whether we are doing enough to ensure the language remains beautiful and that proficiency in it is seen as an advantage.

15:57:18
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that proficiency in Estonian is developed through reading and communication, and that respecting the language and adhering to proper usage sets an example for both future generations and immigrants. Furthermore, he notes that both high-quality materials and the learner's motivation are crucial for language acquisition.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
15:59:29
AI Summary

The Chair thanked the speaker for the report and the answers, announced that there were no further questions, and invited Signe Kivi, a member of the Culture Committee, to the Riigikogu rostrum to deliver her report.

Signe Kivi
Signe Kivi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioon
15:59:44
AI Summary

Signe Kivi noted that the session focused on the draft amendment to the Language Act and the Development Intention (VTK), discussed the status of the Estonian language, language instruction, the teaching of foreign languages, and international examples, and the committee decided to advance the bill to the plenary session agenda and appointed Kivi as the representative of the lead committee.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
16:11:59
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas thanked the rapporteur, opened the floor for questions, and invited Evelin Poolamets to speak.

Evelin Poolamets
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
16:12:03
AI Summary

Evelin Poolamets stated that while the various remarks made by the commission supported the Estonian language and stricter language requirements, the commission nonetheless proposed rejecting the draft bill. She is now asking what the underlying reason for this was—whether it was solely the Language Act or if there was some other motive within the commission.

Signe Kivi
Signe Kivi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioon
16:12:48
AI Summary

Signe Kivi stressed that the legislative intent document encompasses a broader range of sectors than this specific bill, and she considers it crucial that the new draft law assigns a greater role to oversight.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
16:13:30
AI Summary

Jüri Ratas closed the Q&A session, opened the floor for debate, and invited Evelin Poolamets, the representative of the EKRE parliamentary group, to deliver a speech.

Evelin Poolamets
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmed
16:13:38
AI Summary

Estonian is the sole official state language and must be usable in the public sphere; consequently, the enforcement of the Language Act must be strengthened, the requirement for Estonian language proficiency for taxi drivers and platform workers must be reinstated, and the full implementation of existing laws must be ensured, in order to reduce confusion and illegal employment — EKRE supported the bill.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
16:18:17
AI Summary

Deputy Speaker Jüri Ratas thanked his esteemed colleagues, explained that only representatives of the factions may take the floor during the first reading, and invited Tõnis Lukas, the representative of the Isamaa faction, to the podium.

16:18:55
AI Summary

Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that the Estonian language must dominate in the public sphere, and that oversight of language proficiency must be strengthened to ensure education, employment, and security, and to prevent the Estonian language from retreating to the level of a kitchen language.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
16:24:08
AI Summary

Jüri Ratas announced that the lead committee recommends rejecting Draft Law 397 at the first reading, and called the members to a vote.

Aseesimees Jüri Ratas
16:26:48
AI Summary

The result was 39 in favor, 15 against, and no abstentions; draft bill 397 was rejected in the first reading and has been dropped from the proceedings. The consideration of the third agenda item is concluded, and since there is no fourth agenda item, today's session is adjourned. I thank you and wish you success in our continued work.