Politics of Estonia - Definition and Overview

On June 28, 1992, Estonian voters approved the constitutional assembly's draft constitution and implementation act, which established a parliamentary government with a president as chief of state and with a government headed by a prime minister.

The Riigikogu, a unicameral legislative body, is the highest organ of state authority. It initiates and approves legislation sponsored by the prime minister. The prime minister has full responsibility and control over his cabinet. Parliamentary and presidential elections were held on September 20, 1992. Approximately 68% of the country's 637,000 registered voters cast ballots. An outstanding writer and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lennart Meri, won on the first ballot and became president. He chose 32-year-old historian and Christian Democratic Party founder Mart Laar as prime minister.

In February 1992, and with amendments in January 1995, the Riigikogu renewed Estonia's liberal 1938 citizenship law, which also provides equal civil protection to resident aliens.

In 1996, Estonia ratified a border agreement with Latvia and completed work with Russia on a technical border agreement. President Meri was re-elected in free and fair indirect elections in August and September in 1996. During parliamentary elections in 1999, the seats in Riigikogu were divided as follows: the Center Party received 28, the Pro Patria Union 18, the Reform Party 18, the People's Party Moderates (elecion cartel between Moderates and People's Party) 17, Coalition Party 7, Country People's Party (now People's Union) 7, United People's Party's electoral cartel 6 seats. Pro Patria Union, the Reform Party, and the Moderates formed a government with Mart Laar as prime minister whereas the Center Party with the Coalition Party, People's Union, United People's Party, and Members of Parliament who were not members of factions formed the opposition in the Riigikogu.

Moderates joined with People's Party (agarain) in 1999 27th November. The name after joing was People's Party Moderates. But media called it often Moderates.

In fall 2001 Arnold Rüütel became the President of the Republic of Estonia. In January 2002 Prime Minister Laar stepped down and President Rüütel appointed Siim Kallas the new prime minister. The Reform Party and the Center Party formed a new coalition government in power January 28, 2002.

During parliamentary elections in 2003, the seats were allocated as follows: Center 28, Res Publica 28, the Reform Party 19, the People's Union 13, the Pro Patria Union 7 and the Moderates 6 seats. United People's Party failed to meet the 5% threshold. The government was formed by the Res Publia, the Reform Party and the Peoples Union. In February 2004 the People's Party Moderates renamed themselves as Social Democratic Party of Estonia.

In July 2004 the seats are allocated as follows: Res Publica 28, Center 20, the Reform Party 19, the People's Union 13, Social Liberal group (unformally, formal Centrists who left the party after the Center said "no" to European Union.) 8, Pro Patria Union 7, Social Democratic Party of Estonia 6.

Estonia joined to European Union on 14 th September in 2003. Voting results were:

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: EN

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Tallinn

Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad, singular maakond):

1. Harjumaa (Tallinn)
2. Hiiumaa (Kärdla)
3. Ida-Virumaa (Jõhvi)
4. Järvamaa (Paide)
5. Jõgevamaa (Jõgeva)
6. Läänemaa (Haapsalu)
7. Lääne-Virumaa (Rakvere)
8. Pärnumaa (Pärnu)
9. Põlvamaa (Põlva)
10. Raplamaa (Rapla)
11. Saaremaa (Kuressaare)
12. Tartumaa (Tartu)
13. Valgamaa (Valga)
14. Viljandimaa (Viljandi)
15. Võrumaa (Võru)

note: counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses

Independence: 24 February 1918 (from Russia)
restored 20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)

Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Lennart Meri (since 5 October 1992); currently Arnold Rüütel

head of government: Prime Minister Mart Laar (since 29 March 1999); currently Juhan Parts

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament

elections: President elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held August-September 1996 (next to be held fall 2001); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament

election results: Lennart Meri reelected president by an electoral assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between Meri and Rüütel; percent of electoral assembly vote - Lennart Meri 61%, Arnold Rüütel 39%

Legislative branch:

type: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 2 March 2003 (next to be held 4th March 2007)

election results: percent of vote by party - Center Party 25.4%, Res Publica 24.6%, the Reform Party 17.7%, People's Union 13.0%, Fatherland League 7.3%, People's Party Moderates 7.0% , United People's Party 2.2%, Christain People's Party 1.1%, the Independence Party 0.5%, Estonian Socialdemocratic Labour Party (now the Left Party, eurocommunistic) 0,4%, Russian Party in Estonia 0.2%, independents (total) 0.4%. Percents nationality. The threshold is 5% nationality. Turnout was 58.2%.

seats by party - Center Party 28, Res Publica 28, Reform Party 19, People's Union 13, Union of Pro Patria (Fatherland League) 7, Moderates 6.

Judicial branch:

type: National Court, chairman appointed by Parliament for life

Political parties and leaders (2004):

1. Center Party or Keskerakond (Edgar Savisaar)
2. Res Publica (Juhan Parts)
3. Reform Party or Reformierakond (Siim Kallas)
4. People's Union or Rahvaliit (Villu Reiljan)
5. Social Democratic Party (former People's Party Moderates) or Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond (Ivari Padar)
6. Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League or Isamaaliit (Tunne Kelam)

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Sven Jürgenson

chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: +1(202)588-0101

FAX: +1(202)588-0108

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DeThomas

embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: +372(6)312-021

FAX: +372(6)312-025

Flag description: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

See also : Estonia