Mart Laar

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Mart Laar
Mart Laar in 2011
Prime Minister of Estonia
In office
March 25, 1999 – January 28, 2002
Preceded by Mart Siimann
Succeeded by Siim Kallas
In office
October 21, 1992 – November 8, 1994
Preceded by Tiit Vähi (acting)
Succeeded by Andres Tarand
Minister of Defence
In office
6 April 2011 – 11 May 2012
Preceded by Jaak Aaviksoo
Succeeded by Urmas Reinsalu
Leader of the IRL
In office
26 May 2007 – 28 January 2012
Succeeded by Urmas Reinsalu
Personal details
Born (1960-04-22) April 22, 1960
Viljandi, Estonia
Political party Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
Alma mater University of Tartu
Nickname(s) Mõmmibeebi (Babybear)[1]

Mart Laar (born April 22, 1960) is an Estonian statesman and historian. He served as the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1992 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2002.[2] Laar is credited with having helped bring about Estonia’s rapid economic development during the 1990s.[3]

In April 2011, Mart Laar became Minister of Defence in the cabinet of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip[4] and served until his resignation for reasons of health in May 2012.

In April 2013, Riigikogu appointed Laar as chairman of the supervisory board of the Bank of Estonia, his term beginning on 12 June 2013.[5]

Career

Mart Laar was born in Viljandi. He studied history at the University of Tartu, graduating in 1983; he received his Master's degree in philosophy and his doctorate in history in 2005. Laar taught history in Tallinn, and served as president of the Council of Historians of the Foundation of the Estonia Inheritance, the Society for the Preservation of Estonian History, and the Estonian Students' Society. Laar has written many books on Estonian and Soviet history, among them War in the Woods: Estonia's Struggle for Survival, 1944–1956, a book about the Forest Brothers anti-Soviet resistance movement.

Laar's political career began when he became a member of the conservative Pro Patria Union party (which later merged with the more technocratic Res Publica Party in 2006). He was elected prime minister by the Riigikogu on 21 October 1992.

In barely two years, from 1992 to 1994, the radical reforming Estonian government of Mart Laar was the first in Europe to introduce the flat tax, privatized most national industry in transparent public tenders, abolished tariffs and subsidies, stabilized the economy, balanced the budget, and perhaps most crucially, restored the prewar kroon and pegged it to the stable deutsche mark.[6]

Laar claims the only book on economics he had read before becoming prime minister at the age of 32 was Free to Choose by Milton Friedman.[7]

Due to several scandals, Laar was defeated in 1994 by no-confidence vote, when some members of the coalition withdrew their support.[8] Reasons for the vote were publicized details of arms deal with Israel and so called "Ruble scandal" - the sale of 2.3 billion Soviet rubles,[9] withdrawn from circulation during the Estonian monetary reform of 1992, to breakaway Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, carried out by Laar's associates at an Estonian private company, Maag, without consulting Parliament.[10][11][12][13]

Five years later, in 1999, Laar returned to the post, with his main policy goals being to pull the economy out of a slump and lead the country toward the European Union. He remained in the post until he stepped down in 2002.

On 13 May 1999 while Prime Minister, Mart Laar with security advisor Jaan Tross, Võru County head Robert Lepikson and Government Office coordination director Eerik-Niiles Kross used a shotgun to shoot at a photo of Edgar Savisaar, leader of opposition party Keskerakond.[14][15][16] Later he explained that during shooting he acted as a private person, not as the Prime Minister.[17][18] Mart Laar apologized for this event as Prime Minister and army officer.[19][20]

Recognition

Laar has multiple Orders from Estonia and other countries.[21][22][23]

The results of the radical reforms have been recognized by Cato Institute, which awarded Laar the Cato Institute's Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty in 2006.[24]

The Acton Institute awarded Dr. Laar their Faith & Freedom Award on October 24, 2007.[25]

Mart Laar is member of Honorary Board of the European Association of History Educators (EUROCLIO).[26] He is also a member of the international advisory council of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.[27]

The House of Terror Museum in Hungary has given Mart Laar the Sándor Petöfi Award for his contributions to investigating the crimes of communism.[28]

Recent activities

Laar during an EPP summit in September 2010

Together with Václav Havel, Filip Dimitrov, Árpád Göncz, Petr Pithart, Vytautas Landsbergis, Patricio Aylwin and other transition leaders, he participates in the International Committee for Democracy in Cuba.[29]

Laar and Mikheil Saakashvili at the European People's Party summit in 2010

Laar is a member of the International Council of the New York-based Human Rights Foundation[30] and a founding member of the Unitas Foundation.[31]

Minister of finance of Finland Jyrki Katainen, Mart Laar and the chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel in the EPP Summit of 2010

In 2003, Laar received the Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award brought about the development of electronic systems in Estonia to upgrade the country's infrastructure.[32]

After the Rose Revolution in Georgia, Laar became advisor to the country's President Mikheil Saakashvili and on 2010 received Order of St. George.[33]

In September 2006, Laar announced that he will come out of political retirement to run for the candidacy for Prime Minister of the new Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica party.

Mart Laar was Mont Pelerin Society member.[34]

On 26 May 2007 he was elected a Chairman of the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica.

On 18 February 2012 Mart Laar suffered from a stroke[35] and stepped down as Defence Minister three months later.[36] Until October 2012 Laar had still been staying out of the public eye, but was reportedly recovering.[37]

On year 2012 National Audit Office declassified 1995 audit about arms deal caused newspaper Eesti Ekspress to publish critical article about Laar[38]

Relationship with the media

In 1994, the Estonian Newspaper Association declared Laar the Year's Press Friend. This was the first time this award was given; since that, it has been a yearly occurrence.[39] In 2001, Laar was given the complementary award of Year's Press Enemy.[40]

In January 2012, Laar became a meme, when in the heat of ACTA discussion in Estonia, he explained the disappearance of ACTA-releated posts from his Facebook page with "lack of space" in Facebook.[41][42][43] Later he clarified that posts were deleted by his page's moderator without his approval and that ACTA requires further discussion.[44]

Published works

References

  1. ↑ "Priimägi: Kas Mart Laar on armas mõmmibeebi, tugev isakaru või ohtlik mesipuurüüstaja?". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). 5 September 2009. 
  2. ↑ "Europe Review 2003/04: The Economic and Business Report - Google Boeken". Books.google.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17. 
  3. ↑ Braithwaite, Rodric (2008). "Misreading Russia". Survival (Routledge) 50 (4): 169–176. doi:10.1080/00396330802329097. 
  4. ↑ "Mart Laar becomes Estonia's new Defense Minister". Acus.org. Retrieved 2013-10-17. 
  5. ↑ Riigikogu nimetas Laari keskpanga nõukogu esimeheks, uudised.err.ee, 23 April 2013.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "Walking on Water: How to Do It". The Brussels Journal. Retrieved 2013-10-17. 
  8. ↑ Hare, P. G; Judy Batt, Saul Estrin (1999). Reconstituting the Market. Routledge. p. 205. ISBN 90-5702-329-6. 
  9. ↑ Smith, David James (2002). The Baltic States. Routledge. p. 91. ISBN 0-415-28580-1. 
  10. ↑ "Allah's Mountains: The Battle for Chechnya, New Edition - Sebastian Smith - Google Boeken". Books.google.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17. 
  11. ↑ "Baltic Voices". Baltic Voices. Retrieved 2013-10-17. 
  12. ↑ "Archive | No. 1 (3) 2001". The Baltic Course. Retrieved 2013-10-17. 
  13. ↑ "Eesti Päevaleht". Epl.ee. Retrieved 2013-10-17. 
  14. ↑ "Mart Laar 50: kaksteist kaadrit kahekordsest peaministrist - Arvamus". Arvamus.postimees.ee. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  15. ↑ "“Mart Laar vassis ja valetas”. | Õhtuleht". Ohtuleht.ee. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  16. ↑ "m.aripaev.ee". Ap3.ee. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  17. ↑ DELFI. "Laar: ma olin pilti tulistades eraisik - Eesti Päevaleht". Epl.ee. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  18. ↑ Deevision Webgraphics. "<< Saarlane >> - Eesti uudised: Laar väidab, et peaministrina polegi ta kogu aeg peaminister". Saarlane.ee. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  19. ↑ DELFI. "Mart Laari pihtimus - Eesti Päevaleht". Epl.ee. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  20. ↑ "Uus raamat «". Martlaar.ee. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  21. ↑ "Eesti Vabariigi President 1992-2001 - Ametitegevus - Teenetemärgid - Riigivapp". Vp1992-2001.president.ee. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  22. ↑ "m.aripaev.ee". Ap3.ee. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  23. ↑ "Riigikogu". Riigikogu.ee. 1960-04-22. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  24. ↑ Lindsey, Brink (2006-05-18). "Mart Laar, Friedman Prize Winner | Cato @ Liberty". Cato.org. Retrieved 2013-10-17. 
  25. ↑ "Mart Laar to Receive Acton Institute's Faith & Freedom Award | Acton Institute". Acton.org. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  26. ↑
  27. ↑ "International Advisory Council". Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-05-20. 
  28. ↑ Teesalu, Ingrid (2011-12-15). "Laar Receives Award for Shedding Light on Communist Crimes". ERR. Retrieved 27 December 2011. 
  29. ↑ "ICDC: International Committee for Democracy in Cuba". Icdcprague.org. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  30. ↑ "Human Rights Foundation - International Council". Thehrf.org. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  31. ↑ "Home". Unitas Foundation. Retrieved 11 September 2012. 
  32. ↑ "Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Awards 2003 Honor Innovative Users of Technology; Fujitsu Siemens, ING Direct, Imperial Sugar Company Among the Winners. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  33. ↑ "The President of Georgia awarded Mart Laar with the Order of St. George". Expertclub.ge. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  34. ↑ "The Mont Pelerin Society | RNH". Rnh.is. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  35. ↑ "Mart Laar Leaves Intensive Care | IRL". Irl.ee. 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2013-10-17. 
  36. ↑ "Mart Laar tendered his resignation to the Prime Minister | IRL". Irl.ee. Retrieved 2013-10-17. 
  37. ↑ "Mart Laar astub pärast kaheksakuulist vahepausi taas avalikkuse ette" (in Estonian). 19 October 2012. 
  38. ↑ Ekspress. "Riigisaladuste avalikustamine paljastas Laari vale - Eesti uudised - Eesti Ekspress". Ekspress.ee. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  39. ↑ (Estonian) Eesti Ajalehtede Liit 3 December 1998: Ajalehtede Liit valis viiendaks pressisőbraks president Meri
  40. ↑ (Estonian) Eesti Ajalehtede Liit 6 December 2001: 2001. aasta pressisőbraks valiti Ingrid Rüütel
  41. ↑ "Dear Minister Laar: The Internet is not running out of space". Toronto Star. 2 February 2012. 
  42. ↑ "Minister gets caught deleting FB comments, claims he "ran out of Facebook space". Empire Chronicles. 26 January 2012. 
  43. ↑ "Estonian politician becomes a meme". The Daily Dot. 28 January 2012. 
  44. ↑ "Laar postituste kustutamisest: Facebookis sai ruum otsa" (in Estonian). ERR. 26 January 2012. 

External links

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Preceded by
Tiit Vähi		 Prime Minister of Estonia
1992–1994 		Succeeded by
Andres Tarand
Preceded by
Mart Siimann		 Prime Minister of Estonia
1999–2002 		Succeeded by
Siim Kallas
Preceded by
Jaak Aaviksoo		 Minister of Defence of Estonia
2011–2012 		Succeeded by
Urmas Reinsalu
Chairman
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