TALLINN - The Estonian government on Oct. 23 officially passed a bill to abolish language proficiency requirements for national and local election candidates. It is scheduled to be voted on by the Parliament next week.
The withdrawal of language requirements, which currently mandate candidates to have a top-level command of spoken and written Estonian, would solve the long-running problem of the compatibility of Estonian laws with international standards of human rights. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has been pointing to the issue for some years.
Three MPs in the ruling coalition, Kadri Jaatmaa from the Pro Patria Union, Tonu Koiv of the Moderates and Paul-Eerik Rummo from the Reform Party, filed the amendments on Oct. 15.
They believe the current law hampers the interests of many Estonian citizens.
However, to prevent time-consuming situations in which MPs need an interpreter if other members of the Parliament speak a different language, the Pro Patria Union plans another bill to change the Parliament's house rules, according to the prime minister's press office. This one will intensify the usage of Estonian as the Parliament's working language.
Prime Minister Mart Laar said in an interview to Aktuaalne Kaamera, the news service of Estonian public television ETV, that an OSCE mission is not necessary for Estonia and its presence harms the country's reputation.
The mission shows up Estonia as an underdeveloped country, according to Laar. "I don't want to say anything good or bad about the work of the mission here, but it is clear that it does not suit such a mature democracy," he told Aktuaalne Kaamera.
"Delaying the amendments means the OSCE mission will continue its work Estonia to the delight of forces that oppose Estonia," he continued.
Doris Hertfampf, head of the OSCE mission in Estonia, told The Baltic Times she was not going to comment on Laar's statements or the opinions of the government.
"I really emphasize that Estonia is a sovereign country and has its own political aspirations," said Hertrampf.
The mission was established at the request of the Estonian government in 1992 to help the country cope with a tricky transition period. "Although the mission has contributed to this work, I would like to say Estonia did most of the work itself," Hertrampf continued.
Estonia has been extremely successful in the development of democracy it has achieved over the years, she conceded, adding that the mission welcomes the introduction of the amendments as they confirm the strength of democracy.
"The amendments would bring the [election] law into accordance with the Estonian constitution and with the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Estonia ratified in 1991," said Hertrampf.
Article 25 of the covenant says, "Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity... to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections... guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors, and to have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country."
The OSCE mission in Estonia had no consultations with the MPs who introduced the amendments.
"We have reported the amendments to the permanent council of the OSCE. The election law has been an important issue and has a certain influence on whether the mission should continue its work in Estonia," said Hertrampf.
She added that in view of a positive conclusion of the election law and the overall positive assessment of progress in Estonia, the mission would recommend to regard its mandate as fulfilled by the end of the year.
