Prime Minister of Estonia
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The Prime Minister of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti Vabariigi Peaminister) is the head of government of the Republic of Estonia. The prime minister is chosen by the President and conferred by Parliament. This is usually the leader of the largest party or coalition in the Parliament. The current Prime Minister is Andrus Ansip, who took office on 12 April 2005, representing the coalition of Estonian Reform Party (Eesti Reformierakond), the Estonian Centre Party (Eesti Keskerakond), and the People's Union of Estonia (Eestimaa Rahvaliit).
The activity of the government is directed by the Prime Minister, who is the actual political head of state. He does not head any specific ministry, but is, in accordance with the constitution, the supervisor of the work of the government. The Prime Minister’s significance and role in the government and his relations with other ministries often depend on the position of the party led by the prime minister in vis-à-vis the coalition partners, and on how much influence the prime minister possesses within his own party. If the prime minister has a strong position within his party, and the government is made up solely of representatives of that party, he can enjoy considerable authority. In all crucial national questions, however, the final word rests with Riigikogu as the legislative power.
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[edit] History
Estonia was governed by a Prime Minister during the first two years (1918-1920) of its independence after the collapse of the Russian Empire.
Under Estonia's 1920 constitution, a Presidential system was adopted with the State Elder of Estonia holding executive powers. Under a new constitution passed by plebiscite in 1933, the position of Prime Minister was recreated as head of government in 1934 in a more parliamentary system. The sitting State Elder, Konstantin Päts, appointed himself to the position of Prime Minister and in this position was then able to suspend elections for Elder of State and for the Estonian Parliament. He remained Prime Minister, declaring himself "State Protector", until 1938, when elections were held under a new constitution and he was elected President.
[edit] Prime Ministers
[edit] 1918 to 1920
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party | Coalition | |
| 1 | Konstantin Päts 1 | 24 February 1918 | 26 November 1918 | Union of Rural People | Non-party big coalition |
| 2 | Konstantin Päts 1 | 26 November 1918 | 9 May 1919 | Union of Rural People | Non-party big coalition |
| 3 | Otto Strandman | 9 May 1919 | 18 November 1919 | Estonian Labor Party | ESDTP+TE+RE |
| 4 | Jaan Tõnisson | 18 November 1919 | 28 July 1920 | Estonian People's Party | ESDTP+TE+RE |
| 5 | Ado Birk 2 | 28 July 1920 | 30 July 1920 | Estonian People's Party | TE+RE+KRE |
| 6 | Jaan Tõnisson (2nd time) 3 | 30 July 1920 | 26 October 1920 | Estonian People's Party | RE |
| 7 | Ants Piip4 | 26 October 1920 | 21 December 1920/25 January 1921 | Estonian Labor Party | TE |
The first two governments were Country Councils (Maapäeva or Maanõukogu valitsused); the next five were appointed by the directly-elected Constituent Assembly (Asutav Kogu).
[edit] 1920 to 1934
The head of government was called the "State Elder" (Riigivanem). He was the head of the cabinet and was elected by parliament as well as depending on it. Thus he was closer to a PM, although he had some responsibilities of a president as well. A specific president did not exist; presidential functions were shared between the State Elder and the speaker of the parliament. A government could be, as in 1919-1920, and sometimes was, put into office by a simple majority vote with even less than an absolute majority, and could be removed in the same way.
| Name | Took office | Left office | Party | Coalition | |
| 1 | Konstantin Päts | 25 January 1921 | 21 November 1922 | Farmers Unions | TE+PK+RE+KRE |
| 2 | Juhan Kukk | 21 November 1922 | 2 August 1923 | Estonian Labor Party | TE+PK (+RE) |
| 3 | Konstantin Päts | 2 August 1923 | 26 March 1924 | Farmers Unions | PK+TE+RE+KRE |
| 4 | Friedrich Akel | 26 March 1924 | 16 December 1924 | Christian Peoples Party | TE+RE+KRE |
| 5 | Jüri Jaakson | 16 December 1924 | 15 December 1925 | Estonian Peoples Party | PK+ESDTP+TE+RE+KRE |
| 6 | Jaan Teemant | 15 December 1925 | 23 July 1926 | Farmers Unions | PK+TE+KRE+AS+RVP |
| 7 | Jaan Teemant | 23 July 1926 | 4 March 1927 | Farmers Unions | PK+AS+RE+KRE+MAJA |
| 8 | Jaan Teemant | 4 March 1927 | 9 December 1927 | Farmers Unions | PK+AS+RE+KRE+MAJA |
| 9 | Jaan Tõnisson | 9 December 1927 | 4 December 1928 | Estonian Peoples Party | PK+AS+TE+RE |
| 10 | August Rei | 4 December 1928 | 9 July 1929 | Estonian Socialist Workers Party | ESTP+AS+TE+KRE |
| 11 | Otto Strandman | 9 July 1929 | 12 February 1931 | Estonian Labor Party | PK+AS+TE+RE+KRE |
| 12 | Konstantin Päts | 12 February 1931 | 19 February 1932 | Farmers Unions | ESTP+PK+RE+MAJA |
| 13 | Jaan Teemant | 19 February 1932 | 19 July 1932 | Farmers Unions | PK+AS+TE+RE |
| 14 | Kaarel Eenpalu | 19 July 1932 | 1 November 1932 | United Peasants Party | ÜPE+RKE |
| 15 | Konstantin Päts | 1 November 1932 | 18 May 1933 | United Peasants Party | Non-party |
| 16 | Jaan Tõnisson | 18 May 1933 | 21 October 1933 | National Centre Party | RKE+AS (+ PK internal opposition) |
| 17 | Konstantin Päts | 21 October 1933 | 12 March 1934 | Ühinenud Põllumeeste Erakond | Non-party |
[edit] Legend
PK - Farmers Unions (Põllumeeste Kogud)
TE - Estonian Labor Party (Eesti Tööerakond)
RE - Estonian Peoples Party (Eesti Rahvaerakond)
ESDTP - Estonian Social Democratic Workers Party /Eesti Sotsiaaldemokraatiline Partei; since 1925 ESTP - Estonian Socialist Workers Party (eesti Sotsialistlik Tööliste Partei
AS - Settlers party (Asunikud ...)
KRE Christian Peoples Party (Kristlik Rahvaerakond)
RVP - National Liberal Party (Rahvuslik Vabameelne Partei)
MAJA - Union of the Real Estate Owners Societies (Üleriiklik Majaomanike Seltside Liit)
ÜPE - United Peasants Party (Ühinenud Põllumeeste erakond), former and later PK+AS
RKE - National Centre Party (Rahvuslik Keskerakond), former RE+TE+KRE+MAJA
Governments of:
1-2 - I Riigikogu
3-6 - II Riigikogu
7-10 - III Riigikogu
11-13 - IV Riigikogu
14-17 - V Riigikogu
[edit] 1934 to 1937
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party | |
| Konstantin Päts (2nd Time) | 24 January 1934 | 3 September 1937 | Non-party |
[edit] 1938 to 1940
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party | |
| 6 | Kaarel Eenpalu 5 | 9 May 1938 | 12 October 1939 | Non-party |
| 7 | Jüri Uluots | 12 October 1939 | 21 June 1940 | National Association |
| 8 | Johannes Vares | 21 June 1940 | 25 August 1940 | Estonian Communist Party |
[edit] 1991 to present
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party | |
| Edgar Savisaar (acting) | August 20, 1991 | January 29, 1992 | Popular Front of Estonia | |
| Tiit Vähi (acting) | January 29, 1992 | October 21, 1992 | (none) | |
| 9 | Mart Laar | October 21, 1992 | November 8, 1994 | Pro Patria Union |
| 10 | Andres Tarand | November 8, 1994 | April 17, 1995 | (none) |
| 11 | Tiit Vähi (2nd time) | April 17, 1995 | March 17, 1997 | Estonian Coalition Party |
| 12 | Mart Siimann | March 17, 1997 | March 25, 1999 | Estonian Coalition Party |
| Mart Laar (2nd time) | March 25, 1999 | January 28, 2002 | Pro Patria Union | |
| 13 | Siim Kallas | January 28, 2002 | April 10, 2003 | Estonian Reform Party |
| 14 | Juhan Parts | April 10, 2003 | April 12, 2005 | Res Publica |
| 15 | Andrus Ansip | April 12, 2005 | Estonian Reform Party |
[edit] Footnotes
- Note 1: Päts was imprisoned until 20 November 1918. From the time he was appointed to the post of Prime Minister until he was released, Jaan Poska assumed the duties of Prime Minister of his behalf.
- Note 2: Though appointed, Birk never assumed office.
- Note 3: Was acting Prime Minister from July 29 to July 30, 1920.
- Note 4: State Elder since December.
- Note 5: Was acting Prime Minister from time of appointment to 9 May 1938.
