Postimees Digest, Monday, February 4

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Photo: Liis Treimann

Postimees

MP says Estonian is a dying language.

Center Party MP Yana Toom said in an interview given to Russian magazine Russky Reportyor that Estonian is a dying language and Estonians a dying nation. "The Estonian language cannot win. It is a dying language of a dying people - that is the point," the MP was quoted as having said. Toom also mentions what she refers to as a "demographic agony" in the article, giving various figures of falling birthrate and emigration.

Toom said that the media has distorted what she said by ripping a few sentences out of what is ten pages of context and attributed the journalist's words to her.

"The continuation of the Estonian language and people can be ensured through sensible social policy and efforts to create a friendly state as opposed to a witch hunt," the politician said. "There is no such thing as a civil war a language and culture could win and I am sincerely sorry if war minister Reinsalu believes otherwise," Toom added, referring to Minister of Defense Urmas Reinsalu's reaction to the article.

Tallinn to open advance polls in shopping malls.

The Tallinn electoral committee is considering opening advance polling stations in major shopping malls for the fall local elections to give people who cannot or do not want to participate in e-voting the chance to participate in advance polls. The committee is considering Lasnamäe Centrum, Viru, Solaris, Rocca al Mare and Kristiine shopping centers as possible locations for advance polling stations. Advance polls will be open between October 10 and 13 while the elections will take place on October 20.

Puppet theater forced to ask for money to pay salaries.

The Estonian State Puppet Theater (NUKU) was forced to turn to the culture ministry for support in order to be able to pay its workers in January. The ministry had to pay out a part of the theater's state support before the prescribed time as NUKU's treasury was empty in January. The ministry is now set to audit the theater to determine the extent of debts and its actual financial situation.

Ansip to run for party chairman.

Chairman of the Reform Party, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said that he will run for party chairman in June. "The party has been under constant attack for six months and I have absolutely no right to abandon it on the battlefield at this time," the PM said.

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