Taavi Rõivas

Taavi Rõivas
Prime Minister of Estonia
Incumbent
Assumed office
26 March 2014
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Preceded by Andrus Ansip
Minister of Social Affairs
In office
11 December 2012 – 26 March 2014
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
Preceded by Hanno Pevkur
Succeeded by Helmen Kütt (Social Security)
Urmas Kruuse (Health and Labour)
Personal details
Born 26 September 1979
Tallinn, Estonia
Political party Reform Party
Spouse(s) Luisa Värk
Children 1 daughter
Alma mater University of Tartu

Taavi Rõivas (Estonian pronunciation: [ˈtɑːʋi ˈrɤiʋɑs]; born 26 September 1979) is an Estonian Reform Party politician, Prime Minister of Estonia since 26 March 2014 and leader of the Reform Party since 6 April 2014.[1]

Before his term as Prime Minister, Rõivas was Minister of Social Affairs (2012–2014). On 14 March 2014, he was nominated as successor to Prime Minister Andrus Ansip by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves[2] and began to head talks between the Reform Party and the Social Democratic Party to form a new government.[3] The coalition agreement was signed on 20 March[4] and the nomination was confirmed by the Riigikogu on 24 March.[5] He became Prime Minister after the President approved his proposed cabinet on 26 March 2014. Rõivas is the youngest government leader in the European Union.[6]

Career

Taavi Rõivas (2014)

Rõivas joined the Reform Party in 1998. His political career began as an advisor to Minister of Justice Märt Rask from 1999 to 2002.[7] He was mayor of Haabersti district of Tallinn 2004-2005 and advisor to Minister of Population Affairs Paul-Eerik Rummo from 2003 to 2004. In 2005 he became an advisor to Prime Minister and Reform Party leader Andrus Ansip. He was elected to Tallinn city council in 2005 and to Riigikogu in 2007 and again in 2011.

In December 2012, Rõivas became the youngest member of the government as Minister of Social Affairs, replacing Hanno Pevkur. Pevkur in turn replaced Kristen Michal as Minister of Justice; Michal had resigned due to corruption allegations by fellow party member Silver Meikar.

In February 2014, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip announced he would resign a year before elections in 2015 and hand his post to European Commissioner Siim Kallas, former Reform Party leader and Prime Minister 2002-2003. Kallas began coalition talks with the Social Democratic Party, deciding to replace the conservative Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica as Reform Party's coalition partner. On March 12, Kallas unexpectedly announced he would not seek the post, due to media scrutiny of his actions as President of the Bank of Estonia in the early 1990s. On the same day, the leadership of the Reform Party chose Rõivas as the new candidate for Prime Minister.[8]

Personal life

Rõivas speaks Estonian, English, Russian and Finnish.[9]

Rõivas is married to pop singer Luisa Värk. They have one daughter together.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Taavi Rõivas sai Reformierakonna esimeheks - Eesti uudised - Postimees.ee". Postimees. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "Rõivas: küllap on võimalik ka autoriteet tööga välja teenida". Postimees. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "New Coalition Will Split Two Ministries". News - ERR. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Reform Party and Social Democrats Sign Coalition Agreement". News - ERR. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Rõivas Receives Parliament Approval to Form Government". News - ERR. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Taavi Roivas designated Estonia PM, EU's youngest". GlobalPost. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Website of the Estonian Government , archived at Internet Archive on March 2, 2014
  8. ↑ "Reform Party Picks Dark Horse as New PM Candidate". News - ERR. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Viron tuleva pääministeri Taavi Rõivas, 34: Emme saa Suomea kiinni elintasossa - Viro - Ulkomaat - Helsingin Sanomat
Political offices
Preceded by
Andrus Ansip		 Prime Minister of Estonia
2014–present 		Incumbent