Martin Eessalu to lead Estonia’s Language Board

Martin Eessalu will become director general of Estonia’s Language Board on January 1, ERR reported. The education and research minister will appoint him on the recommendation of the Government Office’s top executives selection committee. His term will last five years.

Eessalu will take over from Ilmar Tomusk, who led the board for 30 years. Asked on Vikerhommik radio how he plans to lead the agency, Eessalu said he would remain himself, noting that his predecessor had served with distinction for a long time.

He identified oversight and support for language policy as key responsibilities. That support includes promoting the standing of Estonian and coordinating language learning for adults. Eessalu said he would not set out detailed plans before becoming familiar with the agency’s work, but said prevention should receive more attention alongside oversight.

He said preventive work could involve partnerships with businesses, employers and individuals, with the aim of encouraging people’s own motivation to use and learn Estonian. He also wants to consider how a small team can carry out its duties efficiently, including whether artificial intelligence could help. Any use would depend on the agency’s workflows and legal requirements, he said.

Eessalu has worked at the Institute of the Estonian Language and in language and research roles at the Ministry of Education and Research. He has also served as acting director of the Estonian Literary Museum. Based on his experience, he said people of different ages continue to care deeply about Estonian and hold strong views about it, which may be conservative or liberal and are not necessarily linked to age.

He said promoting the standing of Estonian could encourage greater public interest in its future. The language’s well-being, he said, is a shared concern for Estonian society.