State Elder of Estonia
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The State Elder or Elder of State (a direct translation of the Estonian: Riigivanem) was the official title of the Estonian Head of State from 1921 to 1934. He was the equivalent of a president and prime minister.
According to the Estonian Constitution, which was enforced by the “Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, the Referendum Act and the Citizens’s Initiative Act Implementation Act“ on July 2, 1920, after being approved by the Constituent Assembly on June 16, 1920 (Riigi Teataja August 9, 1920 No. 113/114), the Government of the Republic consisted of the Riigivanem (Elder of State) and Ministers (Section 58).
The responsibilities of the Elder of State were representing the Republic of Estonia, administration and co-ordination of the activities of the Government of the Republic, chairing the Government meetings; the Elder of State had the right to make inquiries about the activities of the Ministers (Section 62). The Government of the Republic appointed one of its members the Deputy of the Elder of State.
[edit] Elders of State
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party | |
| 1 | Ants Piip | 21 December 1920 | 25 January 1921 | Estonian Labour Party |
| 2 | Konstantin Päts | 25 January 1921 | 21 November 1922 | Unions of Farmers |
| 3 | Juhan Kukk | 21 November 1922 | 2 August 1923 | Estonian Labour Party |
| Konstantin Päts (2nd time) | 2 August 1923 | 26 March 1924 | Unions of Farmers | |
| 4 | Friedrich Akel | 26 March 1924 | 16 December 1924 | Estonia People's Party |
| 5 | Jüri Jaakson | 16 December 1924 | 15 December 1925 | Estonia People's Party |
| 6 | Jaan Teemant | 15 December 1925 | 9 December 1927 | Unions of Farmers |
| 7 | Jaan Tõnisson | 9 December 1927 | 4 December 1928 | Estonia People's Party |
| 8 | August Rei | 4 December 1928 | 9 July 1929 | Estonian Socialist Party of Workers |
| 9 | Otto Strandman | 9 July 1929 | 12 February 1931 | Estonian Labour Party |
| Konstantin Päts (3rd time) | 12 February 1931 | 19 February 1932 | Non-party | |
| Jaan Teemant (2nd time) | 19 February 1932 | 19 July 1932 | Unions of Farmers | |
| 10 | Kaarel Eenpalu | 19 July 1932 | 1 November 1932 | Unions of Farmers |
| Konstantin Päts (4th time) | 1 November 1932 | 18 May 1933 | Non-party | |
| Jaan Tõnisson (2nd time) | 18 May 1933 | 21 October 1933 | National Centre Party | |
| Konstantin Päts (5th time) | 21 October 1933 | 24 January 1934 | Non-party |
