Social Democratic Party (Estonia)

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Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond
Image:Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond.png
Leadership Ivari Padar
Founded September 8, 1990
Political Ideology Third Way,
Social democracy
International Affiliation Socialist International
European Affiliation Party of European Socialists
Euro. Parliament Group PES
Colours Red
Headquarters Ahtri 10a
V floor
Tallinn 10151
Website www.sotsdem.ee
Politics of Estonia
Political parties in Estonia
Elections in Estonia

The Social Democratic Party (Estonian: Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond or SDE) is a social democratic party in Estonia, led by Ivari Padar. It has been a member of the Party of European Socialists since 16 May 2003 and a member of the Socialist International since November 1990.

It was formerly known as the Moderate People's Party (Rahvaerakond Mõõdukad), and as such secured 6 seats with 7.0% share of vote in the Riigikogu (the parliament of Estonia) in 2003. It was the most successful party in the 2004 European Parliamentary Election, obtaining 36.8% of the national vote and returning 3 MEPs.

The party's youth wing is called Young Social Democrats.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] 1989-today

For the history of Estonian Social Democracy before 1980s, see Estonian Social Democratic Workers' Party

During the perestroika era the Estonian Social Democratic Party (Eesti Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Partei) was formed as Estonia's social democratic movements merged in 1990. The movements were: Estonian Democratic Labour Party (Eesti Demokraatlik Tööerakond), Estonian Social Democratic Independence Party (Eesti Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Iseseisvuspartei), Russian Social Democratic Party in Estonia (Vene Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Partei Eestis) and Estonian Socialist Party's Foreign Association (Eesti Sotsialistliku Partei Välismaa Koondis) (successor of Estonian Socialist Workers Party in exile).

ESDP’s first leader was Marju Lauristin. They restored their contacts with the Socialist International in 1990. ESDP formed an electoral alliance with centre-right-agrarian Estonian Rural Centre Party (Eesti Maa-Keskerakond, formed in 1990) for 1992 and 1995 elections. In 1996, after electoral defeat these two parties finally merged and named themselves "The Moderates" (Mõõdukad)

In 1999 the Moderates joined People’s Party (Eesti Rahvaerakond), a centre-right party, formed in May 1998 after fusion of small Peasants' Party (Eesti Talurahva Erakond) and People's Party of Republicans and Conservatives, a 1994 splinter group from Fatherland Alliance. The ostensibly unlikely decision to fuse took place on May 29, 1999, being compared by some reporters with formaing 'right-wing socialists'.[1] In November the same year, the unification was formally approved by party general assembly.

Moderates' contacts with People’s Party predecessors had started in 1998. The two parties had a joint list in 1999 parliamentary election and formed a governing coalition with Pro Patria Union and Reform Party. In 2003 the People's Party moderates joined the PSE. After disappointing election results in 2003, they renamed themselves Social Democratic Party (SDE) on February 7, 2004.

The SDE's values are: social market model which esteems work, equality, social justice, solidarity, welfare state. On May 10, 2005 former social liberals Peeter Kreitzberg and Sven Mikser joined them. On the 28th November former social liberal Mark Soosaar re-joined the SDE. The party has been in opposition from 2002 on, but they participated talks for a common alternative presidential candidate to Arnold Rüütel, SDE's Toomas Hendrik Ilves was elected on September 23, 2006 as the next president of Estonia (apart from the Social democrats, he was supported by the Reform Party, Pro Patria Union and Res Publica deputies).

After last elections to the local government councils on October 16, 2005, the party in most major cities is in opposition, but are a part of the governing coalition in Rakvere and Tapa. The party improved its position in most areas. In Tallinn, it formed a joint list with the agrarian People's Union (Rahvaliit) which got 6 seats out of 63 seats with 11.1% share of votes. Comparing to 2003. elections to the local government council in Tallinn SDE and People's Union gained seats. In the 2003 election, SDE got a 4.9% share of votes and People's Union 3.4% share of votes, which were both below a 5% election threshold. In Estonia SDE local lists won totally 6.43% share of votes. In 2003 they got only 4.39% share of votes nationally. SDE is today represented on 65 local councils out of 206 and is governing in 20 local councils. After the 2003 election the party was represented in 104 local councils out of 247.

[edit] 2007 election results

SDE's aim in the 2007 Estonian parliamentary election was to win at least 17 seats out of 101. Independent member of current Riigikogu Liina Tõnisson ran as a candidate in their list. All SDE's MEPs and their current MPs were candidates in the 2007 election. The party got 58,354 votes (10.6% of the total), a gain of +3.6%; it will have 10 seats in the new Riigikogu, a gain of four.

[edit] Leaders of ESDP/SDE

[edit] Riigikogu election results

  • 1992: 12 seats (as electoral cartel Moderates, i.e joint list of Estonian Social Democratic Party and Rural Centre Party)
  • 1995: 6 seats (as electoral cartel Moderates, i.e joint list of Estonian Social Democratic Party and Rural Centre Party)
  • 1999: 17 seats (as Moderates, which included People's Party candidates)
  • 2003: 6 seats (as People's Party Moderates)
  • 2007: 10 seats

[edit] The periods in Government

1992-1994, 1994-1995, 1999-2001. They formed three centre-right oriented governments (ESDP was in a minority inside these governments) with today's Fatherland Union and Reform Party. Social democrats were in government in 1992-1994 Mart Laar's first government, in 1994-1995 Andres Tarand's government (often called to Christmas Peace government (jõulurahu valitsus)) and in 1999-2001 Mart Laar's second government (often called Triple Alliance (kolmikliit)).

[edit] Members of Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu)

MP, electoral district

  • Ivari Padar (faction chairman), Võru-, Valga- ja Põlvamaa
  • Eiki Nestor (faction vice-chairman), Tallinna Haabersti, Põhja-Tallinna ja Kristiine
  • Kadi Pärnits, Lääne-Virumaa
  • Mart Meri (son of the late Lennart Meri), Tallinna Mustamäe ja Nõmme
  • Jarno Laur, Tartu linn
  • Jüri Tamm, Harju- ja Raplamaa
  • Peeter Kreitzberg, Lääne-Virumaa
  • Sven Mikser, Tartu linn
  • Mark Soosaar, Pärnumaa

[edit] Other notable SDE members

[edit] Members of European Parliament

[edit] References

  1. ^ Right-wing Socialists. An unlikely merger by Mel Huang http://www.pecina.cz/files/www.ce-review.org/authorarchives/amber_archive/amber37old.html

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Political Parties in Estonia
Represented in the Riigikogu:

Reform (31) | Centre (29) | Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (19) | Social Democratic (10) | Greens (6) | People's Union (6)
Represented in the European Parliament:

Social Democratic (3) | Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (1) | Centre (1) | Reform (1)
Other parties:

Christian Democrats | Independence | Left | Constitution | Russian Party in Estonia
Historical parties:

People's Party of Republicans and Conservatives | Pro Patria | Res Publica | Estonian Coalition Party | Estonian Social Democratic Workers' Party
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