Referendum in Estonia in 1923

The Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Jakob Kukk

The referendum in Estonia in 1923 took place from February 17th to 19th. It was the first and only referendum in Estonia in the 1920s. A majority of the people voted in favor of introducing a voluntary subject religion in public elementary schools.

background

The Republic of Estonia declared its state sovereignty in 1918. She gave in December 1920, a democratic and constitutional Constitution . The constitution placed a parliamentary system of government at the center of the political system . In addition, the people had the opportunity to participate in legislation through referendums and referendums .

The only referendum in Estonia in the 1920s took place on the question of whether a government-funded subject religion would be offered in the curricula of public primary schools (with voluntary participation of pupils and teachers) by changing the Primary School Act.

Dispute over the subject of religious studies

The Estonian Constitution of 1920 granted extensive freedom of religion . At the same time, it provided for a strict separation of state and church , in contrast to the Republic of Finland , which became independent in 1917 and opted for a state church model.

The majority of political parties in Estonia strictly rejected religious education in public schools. The primary school law (algkooli seadus) adopted on May 2, 1920 , in its section 2, expressly forbade the school authorities to study religious studies.

Referendum

In contrast, the conservative Christian People's Party ( Kristlik Rahvaerakond ) in particular advocated greater state funding for the Evangelical Lutheran Church . In particular, the two prominent party representatives Jaan Lattik and Leopold Raudkepp campaigned in the early 1920s for the implementation of a referendum on the introduction of religious education.

25,000 signatures were required for a referendum. The party's signature campaign began in August 1922. The result far exceeded expectations. About 100,000 support signatures were collected within a few weeks. This showed the high level of mobilization that the topic could achieve.

In November 1922 the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) rejected a change of the primary school law by a majority.

Referendum

Encouraged by the success of the referendum, the party, and especially the Evangelical Lutheran Church, subsequently succeeded in gathering the necessary number of 250,000 signatures for the implementation of a referendum, mainly thanks to the strong support of the Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Jakob Kukk and numerous Evangelical Lutherans and Baptist clergyman. The Orthodox Church was divided on the issue.

The referendum on the introduction of a state-funded subject religion in the curriculum of public elementary schools with voluntary participation of students and teachers took place from February 17 to 19, 1923. It was surprisingly successful with a majority of 71.9% of the vote. A total of 461 005 people took part in the referendum. Of these, 328,369 voted for the introduction of religious education, 130,476 against.

The amendment to the law came into effect in March 1923.

consequences

As a legal consequence of the successful referendum, according to Article 23 of the Constitution, Parliament had to be dissolved early because the people had expressed their distrust in Parliament. Early elections were held in May 1923 . The Christian People's Party was able to achieve electoral success with eight out of a total of 100 seats. However, the party system was further fragmented as a total of fourteen parties and groups moved into parliament.

After the referendum, support for the Christian People's Party declined due to the lack of attractive political issues. In the parliamentary elections in 1926 she was only able to win five seats.

literature

• Sulev Vahtre (Ed.): Eesti Ajalugu. Volume 6: Vabadussõjast Taasiseseisvumiseni. Ilmamaa, Tartu 2005, ISBN 9985-77-142-7 , p. 66 f.
• Marge Tasur: Usuõpetuse diskursus (ed) 1923. aasta üleriigilistes Eesti päevalehtedes Postimees ja Päewaleht. Master's thesis, University of Tartu , 2014

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Ursula Haava: "Kristliku poliitika õnnelik aasta." In: Kirik ja Teoloogia , September 27, 2013 (online version)
2. ^ RT 1923, 35, 36, text version