Law From 1925 Blocks Government From Endorsing New Logo
Officials are debating over the possible adoption of a new government logo, which is in conflict with a law from 1925.
The widely popular logo - three familiar blue lions from the Estonian coat of arms - is the winning idea of the design contest held by the government last year.
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip is a fan. "The winning concept is a great one in my opinion. It follows the same logic that we see in Germany, Norway, Czech Republic and Canada," Ansip said at a Cabinet press conference on Thursday.
The purpose of the new logo is to streamline the colorful and confusing assortment of government agency insignia so that the layman can immediately recognize it.
In the last decade, ministries have changed their visual identiy on 18 occasions in symbols that range from frogs to obscure plants.
"It's a modern solution that represents transparent government. Currently, each ministry has adopted a completely different visual identity, and some use a tree, others a corkscrew - I'm exaggerating, of course - but this is not appropriate for a modern, transparent and innovative country,” Ansip said.
But despite support for the new logo, the problem is that the lions are set on a white background, not a golden shield as mandated by an Estonian law from 1925.
"In the year 1925, knowledge of logos and, say, the internet was relatively scant,” Asko Künnap, the author of the design, told ETV.
Supporters of the new design say the law may be open to interpretation because it specifically describes an emblem, while the government is seeking a logo.
Gert Uiboaed, the symbolics adviser for the Government Office, said officials are now considering a law change that might come by the end of the year.
Ott Tammik