Indrek Tarand

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Indrek Tarand MEP (born February 3, 1964, Tallinn) is an Estonian politician, reserve officer, civil servant, journalist and historian.

Tarand has served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of Estonia and as the Secretary General of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Biography

Tarand is the eldest son of Andres Tarand. His mother Mari Tarand is a well-known linguist and the elder sister of Juhan Viiding.

He studied history at the University of Tartu. As a student during the Soviet occupation, he was expelled in his first year for lighting candles with his fellow Estonian patriots on the grave of Julius Kuperjanov, an Estonian military commander.[1] Tarand was forced to the Soviet military service and after that he finished the university in 1991.

In 2005, Tarand caused a scandal at a soccer game by wearing a shirt that bore the names of some former Communist Party members, including Estonian president Arnold Rüütel and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip with the words Kommarid ahju! ("Commies to the oven!") This was one of the reasons that caused defense minister Jaak Jõerüüt to resign.[2]

In 2006, Tarand participated as a celebrity contestant on the first season of Tantsud tähtedega, an Estonian version of Dancing with the Stars. His professional dancing partner was Kaisa Oja.

He is also a freelance journalist hosting programmes in radio and television, including the Estonian version of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?.

He was elected to the European Parliament in June 2009. He ran as an independent candidate and secured a seat for himself with 25.8% of the total votes, narrowly trailing the Estonian Centre Party. Tarand is member of The Greens–European Free Alliance parliamentary group.[3] Mr Tarand made public his support for a federal Europe by signing the Spinelli Group manifesto.

He also held the post of the Director of the Estonian War Museum – General Laidoner Museum. However, shorty after taking the MEP seat, Tarand relinquished his directorship. As a reserve officer, Tarand holds the rank of second lieutenant (nooremleitnant).

In 2011, Tarand ran in the indirect presidential election of Estonia against incumbent Toomas Hendrik Ilves. His candidacy was supported by the Centre Party, while the other three parliamentary parties backed Ilves. Tarand received 25 votes in the Riigikogu against Ilves's 73.

References

  1. ↑ Vahtre, Lauri (1999). Meenutusi kadunud maailmast. Tallinn: Avita. pp. 209–210. ISBN 9985-2-0126-4. 
  2. ↑ Defence minister suddenly resigns
  3. ↑ Indrek TARAND on europarl.europa.eu

External links

  • Category
  • European Union
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