Urmas Reinsalu

Urmas Reinsalu
Minister of Defence
In office
11 May 2012 – 26 March 2014
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
Preceded by Mart Laar
Succeeded by Sven Mikser
Leader of the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
Incumbent
Assumed office
28 January 2012
Preceded by Mart Laar
Personal details
Born 22 June 1975
Tallinn, Estonia
Political party Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
Children 2
Alma mater University of Tartu

Urmas Reinsalu (born 22 June 1975) is an Estonian politician who is the leader of the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica. He served as the minister of defence of Estonia 11 May 2012 to 26 March 2014.

Early life and education

Reinsalu was born in Tallinn on 22 June 1975.[1] He studied law at the University of Tartu and graduated in 1997.[2]

Career

After serving as a specialist in the ministry of defence from 1995 to 1996 and as an advisor to then Estonian President from 1996 to 1998, Reinsalu was named as the director at the Office of the President of the Republic when Lennart Meri was in office.[2][3] He served in the post from 1998 to 2001. Then he became the political secretary of the Res Publica Party (2001-2002).[2]

He transferred to the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences and worked there as a lecturer for one year. Reinsalu has been a member of parliament (Riigikogu) since 2003.[1] He has been chairman of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) since 28 January 2012, replacing Mart Laar in the post.[4][5] Reinsalu was elected the chairman of the party with an absolute majority in the first round of voting at the congress held in Tallinn.[5]

Reinsalu was appointed minister of defence on 11 May 2012,[1][4] replacing Mart Laar who resigned from office on 6 May 2012 due to health reasons.[6][7]

Reinsalu's term as defense minister ended on 26 March 2014 when Sven Mikser was appointed to the post.[8]

In 2015 parliamentary election, Reinsalu was re-chosen to the parliament with 2,949 individual votes.[9] As IRL was the biggest loser in the election, losing 9 parliament seats, Reinsalu announced that he would resign as IRL chairman after the party's congress in June.[10]

Personal life

Reinsalu is married and has two children.[1] He is fluent in English, German, Russian and Finnish.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Minister". Estonian Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Urmas Reinsalu". IRL. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "Urmas Reinsalu - IRL". European People's Party. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Minister of Defence of Estonia". NATO Parliamentary Assembly. 27 May 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Estonia: EPP President congratulates new IRL leader". European People's Party. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  6. ↑ "Minister of Defence Urmas Reinsalu Assumes Office". Estonian Review. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Prime Minister Ansip Makes Proposal to President to Appoint Urmas Reinsalu Minister of Defence". Government Communication Unit. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "Minister of Defence Sven Mikser". Government of Estonia. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "Riigikogu valimised 2015: Detailne hääletamistulemus". Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Reinsalu to resign as IRL chairman". ERR. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
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Political offices
Preceded by
Mart Laar		 Minister of Defence
2012–2014 		Succeeded by
Sven Mikser