By Plenary Sessions: Heljo Pikhof

The political emphasis is placed on increasing funding for the cultural sector in order to halt the decline in the Ministry of Culture’s share of the state budget—a share that has nearly halved over the past 20 years. We strongly support guaranteeing social benefits for creative professionals and ensuring culture is equally accessible throughout all of Estonia. This political framework is value-based, stressing that the very survival of the Estonian state hinges upon the preservation of its language and culture.

The political focus is on the educational arrangements for Ukrainian war refugees in Estonia, emphasizing the need to support their rapid return to their homeland, rather than their permanent settlement in Estonian society. Politicians express strong opposition to the forced integration of Ukrainian children into Estonian-language instruction, particularly in the context of the transition to Estonian-only schooling, given that this situation is linked to temporary protection. This position is value-based, centered on the interests of the Estonian nation-state and the prevention of a demographic catastrophe in Ukraine. Opponents, however, simultaneously stress the necessity of avoiding ghettoization and ensuring that compulsory education requirements are met under Estonian law.