The Christian People's Party ( et, Kristlik Rahvaerakond, KRE) was a political party in

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

between 1919 and 1931.

History

The party had its roots in the campaign for the 1918 Constituent Assembly elections, which was contested by a group known as the "Independent Christians".Vincent E McHale (1983) ''Political parties of Europe'', Greenwood Press, p374 The Christian Democratic Party (''Kristlik Demokraatlik Partei'', KDP) was established the following year by the Independent Christians and some defectors from the Estonian People's Party. The new party won five seats in the Constituent Assembly elections that year. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p581 The KDP went on to win seven seats in the 1920 elections, and joined

Konstantin Päts Konstantin Päts (; – 18 January 1956) was an Estonian statesman and the country's president in 1938–1940. Päts was one of the most influential politicians of the independent democratic Republic of Estonia, and during the two decades prior ...

' Farmers' Assemblies-led the government on 5 January 1921, being given the Education ministry post. However, the following year it caused a split in the government by introducing a bill to provide religious education in state schools, funded by the state. Although the proposal was rejected by the

Riigikogu The Riigikogu (; from Estonian ''riigi-'', of the state, and ''kogu'', assembly) is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. In addition to approving legislation, the Parliament appoints high officials, including the Prime Minister and Chief Just ...

, the party forced a referendum on the issue in early 1923, which resulted in a "yes" vote. As this was considered to be a vote of confidence on the rest of the government, the Riigikogu was subsequently dissolved and fresh elections called. In the 1923 elections the party won eight seats, and were part of a minority government headed by its leader

Friedrich Akel Friedrich Karl Akel ( in Kaubi Manor, Kaubi Parish (now in Pornuse village, Mulgi Parish) – 3 July 1941 in Tallinn) was an Estonian diplomat and politician, a member of the International Olympic Committee, and Head of State of Estonia ...

between March and December 1924. Prior to the

1926 elections The following elections occurred in the year 1926. Africa * 1926 Egyptian parliamentary election * 1926 Lagos by-election * 1926 Northern Rhodesian general election * 1926 South West African legislative election Asia * 1926 Hong Kong sanitar ...

the party was renamed as the Christian People's Party, but was reduced to five seats. It later suffered a further reduction to four seats in the 1929 elections. In October 1931, the party merged with the Estonian People's Party to form the United Nationalists Party. The following year the

Estonian Labour Party The Estonian Labour Party ( et, Eesti Tööerakond, ETE) was a political party in Estonia. It was formed in 1919 by a merger of the Radical Socialist Party and the Social Travaillist Party, and ceased to exist in 1932, when it merged with other ce ...

joined the merged party, which became the National Centre Party.McHale, p384

References

{{Authority control 1919 establishments in Estonia 1931 disestablishments in Estonia Conservative parties in Estonia Defunct Christian political parties Defunct political parties in Estonia Political parties disestablished in 1931 Political parties established in 1919