Jürgen Ligi

Jürgen Ligi
Minister of Finance
In office 3 June 2009 – 3 November 2014
Prime Minister	Andrus Ansip Taavi Rõivas
Preceded by	Helir-Valdor Seeder (Acting)
Succeeded by	Maris Lauri
Minister of Defence
In office 10 October 2005 – 5 April 2007
Prime Minister	Andrus Ansip
Preceded by	Jaak Jõerüüt
Personal details
Born	(1959-07-16) 16 July 1959 Tartu, Estonia
Political party	Reform Party
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Tartu

Jürgen Ligi (born 16 July 1959 in Tartu) is an Estonian politician, a member and the Vice-Chairman of the liberal Reform Party. Ligi was Estonia's Minister of Finance 2009-2014. He is known for his bluntness and rationalism.

Early life

After graduating from high school in 1977, he entered the University of Tartu, where he studied Geography. From 1982 to 1989 he worked at an institute of economic planning. In 1989 he went back to the University, where he studied International Economics.

Member of Parliament

He is a long-time member of the Estonian parliament Riigikogu (1995–2005 and 2007–2009). For the last two years in the Riigikogu he served as the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Budget Control.

Minister of Defence

From 2005 to 2007 Jürgen Ligi was Minister of Defence.

Minister of Finance

On 3 June 2009 he was nominated Minister of Finance and sworn in a day later.

Personal life

Jürgen Ligi is the son of archeologist Herbert Ligi. Jürgen's mother Reet's father was archeologist Harri Moora. His brother Priit Ligi was also an archeologist; he died on the cruise ferry MS Estonia that sank in 1994. Jürgen's sister Katre is married to poet Hando Runnel. He is also related to poet Juhan Viiding and politician Indrek Tarand. Jürgen Ligi himself is married and has two sons.^[1]

References

External links

• Curriculum vitae - Government of Estonia