Local Government Organisation Act Amendment Act

The Riigikogu passed with 42 affirmative votes (9 against, 4 abstentions) the Local Government Organisation Act Amendment Act (893 SE), initiated by the Isamaaliit Faction. The Act establishes that council regulations and resolutions and minutes of council sessions are prepared in Estonian. In local governments units where the majority of permanent residents are non-Estonian speakers, the minutes of council sessions, in addition to Estonian, may be prepared in the language of the national minority constituting the majority of the permanent residents of the local government unit. The language of public administration in local governments is Estonian. Everyone has the right to address a local government and its officials in Estonian and to receive responses in Estonian. The use of foreign languages including languages of national minorities is provided for in the Language Act. Pursuant to § 11 of this Act, on the proposal of a local government council the permission to use the language of the national minority constituting the majority of the permanent residents of the local government as the language of internal public administration of the corresponding local government is in force until the expiry of the term of office of the corresponding council. If pursuant to subsection (3) of the present section a local government was given a consent to use the language of the national minority constituting the majority of the permanent residents of the local government as internal language of public administration alongside Estonian, the council and the government may decide to translate the work of a sitting of the council or the government, partially or fully into the language of the national minority. The Act enters into force on October 21, 2002.