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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 justice of the Supreme Court, and elects (either alone or, if necessary, together with representatives of local government within a broader electoral college) the president. Among its other tasks, the Riigikogu also ratifies significant foreign treaties that impose military and proprietary obligations and bring about changes in law, as well as approves the budget presented by the government as law, and monitors the executive power. History History 23 April 1919, the opening session of the Estonian Constituent Assembly is considered the founding date of the Parliament of Estonia. Established under the 1920 constitution, the Riigikogu had 100 members elected for a three-year term on the basis of proportional representation. Elections ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2023 Estonian Parliamentary Election
Parliamentary elections were held in Estonia on 5 March 2023 to elect all 101 members of the Riigikogu. The officially published election data indicate the victory of the Estonian Reform Party, Reform Party, which won 37 seats in total, while the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) placed second with 17 seats. The Estonian Centre Party, Centre Party won 16 seats, a loss of 10, while Estonia 200 won 14 seats, gaining representation in the Riigikogu. After the 2019 Estonian parliamentary election, previous parliamentary election in 2019, the Centre Party, led by Jüri Ratas, formed a government with Ratas serving as prime minister. His government was brought down in January 2021 after a corruption investigation, and Kaja Kallas of the Reform Party formed a Kaja Kallas' first cabinet, coalition government with the Centre Party, which collapsed in June 2022. Kallas then formed a Kaja Kallas' second cabinet, government with Isamaa and the Social Democratic Party (Estonia), ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
President Of Estonia
The president of the Republic of Estonia () is the head of state of the Estonia, Republic of Estonia. The current president is Alar Karis, elected by Parliament on 31 August 2021, replacing Kersti Kaljulaid. Estonia is one of the few parliamentary republics in which the president is a ceremonial figurehead without even nominal executive powers. The president is obliged to suspend their membership in any political party for the term in office. Upon assuming office, the authority and duties of the president in all other elected or appointed offices terminate automatically. These measures should theoretically help the president to function in a more independent and impartial manner. The president holds office for five years. They may be elected any number of times, but not more than twice consecutively. In Estonia, the president is elected by the Riigikogu; [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Prime Minister Of Estonia
The prime minister of Estonia () is the head of government of the Estonia, Republic of Estonia. The prime minister is nominated by the President of Estonia, president after appropriate consultations with the parliamentary factions and confirmed by the parliament (''Riigikogu''). In case of disagreement, the parliament can reject the president's nomination and choose their own candidate. In practice, since the prime minister must maintain the confidence of parliament in order to remain in office, he or she is usually the leader of the senior partner in the governing coalition. The current prime minister is Kristen Michal of the Estonian Reform Party, Reform Party. He took the office on 23 July 2024 following the resignation of Kaja Kallas. The prime minister does not head any specific ministry. Rather, in accordance with the Constitution of Estonia, constitution, the prime minister supervises the work of the government. The prime minister's significance and role in the government ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Next Estonian Parliamentary Election
Parliamentary elections will be held in Estonia by 7 March 2027 to elect all 101 members of the Riigikogu. Electoral district reform has been discussed for the next election. Background Political developments Following the 2023 Estonian parliamentary election, in which the Reform Party managed to maintain its position as biggest party in parliament, its leader and incumbent Prime Minister Kaja Kallas was reconfirmed in the office, forming a coalition with the Social Democrats and Estonia 200. Reform Party In the first year, the party's performance in opinion polls suffered significantly from the party's decision to back several tax increases unpopular with the economically liberal voter base as well as due to a scandal involving party leader Kaja Kallas. In August 2023, she came under the international spotlight after it was revealed that her husband held a significant share in a transportation company, Stark Logistics, which continued business with Russia despite Kall ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Estonia
Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Russia. The territory of Estonia consists of the mainland, the larger islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, and over 2,300 other islands and islets on the east coast of the Baltic Sea. Its capital Tallinn and Tartu are the two largest List of cities and towns in Estonia, urban areas. The Estonian language is the official language and the first language of the Estonians, majority of its population of nearly 1.4 million. Estonia is one of the least populous members of the European Union and NATO. Present-day Estonia has been inhabited since at least 9,000 BC. The Ancient Estonia#Early Middle Ages, medieval indigenous population of Estonia was one of the last pagan civilisations in Europe to adopt Christianity following the Northern Crusades in the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toomas Kivimägi
Toomas Kivimägi (born 16 February 1963 in Lihula, Lääne County) is an Estonian politician and lawyer. He has been a member of the XIII and XIV Riigikogu. In 1986 he graduated from the University of Tartu, studying law. In 1990, he became the lawyer of the Pärnu County Agriculture Department. From 1992 until 1993, he was the Vice County Governor of Pärnu. From 7 December 1993 until 18 November 2009, Kivimägi was the County Governor of Pärnu, and from 19 November 2009 until 30 March 2015, he was the Mayor of Pärnu. On 1 March 2015, he was elected a member of the Riigikogu. Since 2014 he has been a member of Estonian Reform Party The Estonian Reform Party () is a liberal political party in Estonia. The party has been led by Kristen Michal since 2024. It is colloquially known as the "Squirrel Party" () or as "the Squirrels" (), referencing its logo. It was founded in .... References 1963 births 20th-century Estonian lawyers Estonian Reform Party politicians ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Social Democratic Party (Estonia)
The Social Democratic Party (, SDE) is a centre-left political party in Estonia. It is currently led by Lauri Läänemets. The party was formerly known as the Moderate People's Party (). The SDE has been a member of the Party of European Socialists since 16 May 2003 and was a member of the Socialist International from November 1990 to 2017. It is orientated towards the principles of social-democracy, and it supports Estonia's membership in the European Union. From April 2023 until March 2025, the party was a junior coalition partner in the Kaja Kallas' third cabinet, third Kallas government and the Kristen Michal's cabinet, Michal government. History During the perestroika, perestroika era, the Estonian Social Democratic Party (''Eesti Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Partei'', ESDP) was formed as Estonia's social-democratic movements merged in 1990. The movements were: the Estonian Democratic Labour Party (1989), Estonian Democratic Labour Party, the Estonian Social Democratic Inde ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Supreme Court Of Estonia
The Supreme Court of Estonia () is the court of last resort in Estonia. It is both a court of cassation and a constitutional court. The courthouse is in Tartu. History During the first independence period (1919-1940) With the First Constitution of Estonia and the Supreme Court Act, the Estonian Constituent Assembly established the Supreme Court of Estonia as a court of cassation on 21 October 1919. The first Justices of the Court were Kaarel Parts (Chief Justice), Paul Beniko, Rein Koemets, Jaan Lõo, Hugo Reiman, Martin Taevere and Peeter Puusepp. The Court first sat in Tartu Town Hall on 14 January 1920. During the centralisation of power in 1935, the Supreme Court was transferred to Tallinn, operating from a specially remodelled building on Wismari Street. When the Court last sat on 31 December 1940, it accepted an order by the government of the Estonian SSR to disband itself as of 1 January 1941. Soviet occupation (1940-1991) The Supreme Court of the Estonian SSR ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lauri Hussar
Lauri Hussar (born 4 September 1973) is an Estonian journalist and politician serving as the president of the Riigikogu since 2023. He was the editor-in-chief of ''Postimees'' 2016–2019. Between October 2022 and November 2023 he was the chairman of the party Estonia 200. Career Hussar studied theology at Tartu University from 1992 to 1996. From 1998 to 2006, he worked as a TV reporter and editor for TV3, including work as one of the hosts of '' 2000 Today''. He then hosted '' Vikerraadio'', a radio program broadcast nationwide by Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR, Estonian Public Broadcasting), until the spring of 2016. In March 2016, he became deputy editor-in-chief of ''Postimees''. Three months later, he was promoted to editor-in-chief. On 15 October 2022 Hussar was elected as leader of the political party Eesti 200. Personal life Lauri Hussar has been married since July 2008. In 1994, he was one of the refounders of the Christian Studentenverbindung () or , ofte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toompea Castle
Toompea castle () is a medieval castle on Toompea hill in the central part of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. In modern times, it houses the Parliament of Estonia (''Riigikogu''). History The Toompea castle's predecessor, an ancient Estonian stronghold had been in use since at least the 9th century AD. In 1219, the castle was taken over by Denmark's crusaders led by king Valdemar II. According to a popular Danish legend, the flag of Denmark (''Dannebrog'') fell from the sky during a critical stage of the battle (known as the Battle of Lindanise). This first proper castle was referred to as the "Castle of the Danes", in Latin ''castrum danorum'' and in contemporary archaic Estonian ''taani linna''. From the latter, the modern name of the city of Tallinn is possibly derived accesse ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Estonian Reform Party
The Estonian Reform Party () is a liberal political party in Estonia. The party has been led by Kristen Michal since 2024. It is colloquially known as the "Squirrel Party" () or as "the Squirrels" (), referencing its logo. It was founded in 1994 by Siim Kallas, then-president of the Bank of Estonia, as a split from Pro Patria National Coalition Party. As the Reform Party has participated in most of the government coalitions in Estonia since the mid-1990s, its influence has been significant, especially regarding Estonia's free-market and low-taxation policies. The party has been a full member of Liberal International since 1996, having been an observer member between 1994 and 1996, and a full member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE). Reform Party leaders Siim Kallas, Taavi Rõivas, Andrus Ansip, Kaja Kallas and Kristen Michal have all served as prime ministers of Estonia. From 11 March 2025, the party has been the senior member in a coalition g ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Estonian Centre Party
The Estonian Centre Party (, EK) is a populist political party in Estonia. It was founded in 1991 as a direct successor of the Popular Front of Estonia, and it is currently led by Mihhail Kõlvart. The party was founded on 12 October 1991 from the basis of the Popular Front of Estonia after several parties split from it. At that time, the party was called the People's Centre Party (''Rahvakeskerakond'') to differentiate from the smaller centre-right Rural Centre Party (''Maa-Keskerakond''). The party was a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe until 14 September 2024. History In the parliamentary elections of March 1995, the Centre Party was placed third with 14.2% of votes and 16 seats. It entered the coalition, Edgar Savisaar taking the position of the Minister of Internal Affairs, and four other ministerial positions (Social Affairs, Economy, Education and Transportation & Communications). After the " tape scandal" (secret taping of talks with oth ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
