Session Profile: Signe Kivi
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
2024-05-14
Political Position
Kivi views the decline of the Estonian language in the service sector and public space as a serious problem that threatens the integrity of the state and encourages the formation of a parallel society. He stresses that learning the language is the responsibility of every person arriving in Estonia, and society must be more demanding regarding language requirements. At the same time, he also emphasizes the importance of foreign language proficiency to prevent Estonia from becoming provincial.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
Kivi demonstrates a thorough knowledge of language policy and legislative procedures, referencing previous draft bills (from the XIV and XV compositions of the Riigikogu) and the handling of the Intention to Draft (VTK). He/She utilizes statistical data, highlighting the approximate number of workers who do not speak Estonian (80,000) and those who are subject to established language proficiency requirements but fail to communicate in Estonian (20,000).
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The speech is predominantly formal and procedural, as it is a committee report, but includes personal and emotional appeals concerning the regrettable state of the Estonian language. He/She employs logical argumentation, drawing upon ministry positions and committee discussions, and acknowledges a personal "burden" when initiating conversation in Russian, which lends a self-critical tone to the rhetoric.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
Kivi serves as the representative of the Culture Committee, presenting the plenary session with a detailed overview of the committee meeting's discussions and voting results. He/She has been appointed as the representative of the lead committee during the processing of the language law bill initiated by Tõnis Lukas. His/Her operational pattern is linked to legislative procedures and committee work.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
Kivi indirectly criticizes the Ministry of Education and Research (HTM) for its protracted delays in addressing language issues, noting that the ministry has consistently prioritized comprehensive analysis (VTK) over concrete legislative drafts. He also takes a stand against the societal attitude that provides excessive translated information and fosters a parallel society, thereby encouraging individuals to shirk responsibility for language acquisition.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
Kivi actively participates in committee work, presenting the questions and viewpoints of other members and collaborating with the committee chairman. Although he was appointed as the committee representative by consensus, he voted against the proposal to reject Tõnis Lukas’s draft bill, demonstrating a willingness to dissent while simultaneously supporting procedural order.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is heavily on the national level, addressing the status of the Estonian language and the capacity for language instruction in Estonia. Internationally, the focus is limited to seeking best practices from other small nations (Iceland and Ireland) in the context of language policy.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Kivi addresses economic issues through the labor force and the service sector, noting that companies should take greater responsibility for language training. He/She commends entrepreneurs who launch internal language learning programs, thereby highlighting the need to improve the language skills of the workforce.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The central social issue is the status of the Estonian language and its use in the public sphere, highlighting the necessity of preventing the formation of a parallel society in education and services. He/She stresses that learning the state language is the personal responsibility of every individual, and advocates for a more rigorous approach to language usage.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
Kivi's focus is on the draft amendment to the Language Act, the purpose of which is to strengthen the position of the Estonian language. He/She was against the rejection of the draft but considers it crucial that the future law (based on VTK) assigns a greater role to supervision and the monitoring of compliance with established requirements.
2 Speeches Analyzed