The Narva City in the NE of Estonia (pop.54,000). council webcast session took place on the 15th of August. As a surprise for many who observed the meeting, it was predominantly conducted in Russian. Furthermore, the discussion of the Soviet tank's monument future did not come up for discussion.
The Minister of Culture, Piret Hartman Estonian politician(SDE). (SDE), considers it regrettable that the sessions of the Narva City in the NE of Estonia (pop.54,000). council are in Russian. According to her, the state could also support council members and candidates with Estonian language courses.
The video transmission of the session sparked heated debates over the use of language, the constitution, language skills, and the Estonian language proficiency requirement.
"It is unfortunate that the council sessions are held in Russian. The Local Government Organization Act also states that council meetings must be conducted in the national language," says the Minister of Culture. She adds that, in her opinion, the politicians should confirm their willingness to work in the Estonian language. This point can be written into the local government election law. The state, however, should offer Estonian language courses to candidates and members.
According to Minister of Public Administration Riina Solman Riina Solman is an Estonian politician. and Minister of Justice Lea Danilson-Järg, council meetings in a foreign language violate the law, and things should not be like that. The chairman of the Socialists, Lauri Läänemets Estonian politician. , also recognized that the problem must be dealt with.
Solman and Danilson-Järg have promised to discuss the chances of changing the law. But beforehand, they will concentrate on the possibilities of changing the situation within the frames of the existing law.