Prime Minister of Estonia

Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia Eesti Vabariigi peaminister
Coat of Arms of Estonia
Incumbent Taavi Rõivas since 26 March 2014
Residence	Stenbock House, Tallinn
Appointer	President of Estonia
Term length	General elections to the Riigikogu are held every four years at most. The Prime Minister is by convention the leader of the victorious party. No term limits are imposed on the office.
Inaugural holder	Konstantin Päts
Formation	24 February 1918
Website	http://valitsus.ee/

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The Prime Minister of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti Vabariigi peaminister, literally translated as Head Minister of Estonia) is the head of government of the Republic of Estonia. The prime minister is nominated by the President after appropriate consultations with the parliamentary factions and confirmed by the Parliament. In case of disagreement, the Parliament can reject the President's nomination and choose their own candidate. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the ruling coalition. The current Prime Minister is Taavi Rõivas of the Reform Party.

In his role as appointed by the President and laid forth in the Constitution, the Prime Minister serves as the head of government. He does not head any specific ministry, but is, in accordance with the constitution, the supervisor of the work of the government. The Prime Minister’s significance and role in the government and his relations with other ministries often depend on the position of the party led by the prime minister in vis-à-vis the coalition partners, and on how much influence the prime minister possesses within his own party. If the prime minister has a strong position within his party, and the government is made up solely of representatives of that party, he can enjoy considerable authority. In all crucial national questions, however, the final word rests with Riigikogu as the legislative power.

History

Estonia was governed by a Prime Minister during the first two years (1918–1920) of its independence after the collapse of the Russian Empire.

Under Estonia's 1920 constitution, the head of government was called the State Elder (riigivanem), who was also head of state. This system was a radically parliamentary system because the State Elder could be dismissed by the Parliament with a simple majority. Moreover, the State Elder was not the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, nor could he ratify laws or dissolve Parliament. The dissolution of Parliament was only possible through a referendum (see, for example, Seppo Zetterberg, "A History of Estonia" / Viron historia. 3rd edition. Helsinki: The Finnish Literary Society / Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, 2007, pages 524–525). Under a new constitution passed by plebiscite in 1933, the position of Prime Minister was recreated as head of government in 1934 in a more presidential system. Under this constitution, the President could appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister and Cabinet, veto laws, give decrees (statutes) and dissolve Parliament (see Zetterberg 2007, pages 558–559). The sitting State Elder, Konstantin Päts, appointed himself to the position of Prime Minister and in this position was then able to suspend elections for Elder of State and for the Estonian Parliament. He remained Prime Minister, declaring himself "President-Regent", until 1938, when elections were held under a new constitution and he was elected President.

Prime Ministers of Estonia

1918 to 1920

The first two governments were Country Councils (Maapäeva or Maanõukogu valitsused); the next five were appointed by the directly-elected Constituent Assembly (Asutav Kogu).

1920 to 1934

The head of government was called the "State Elder" (Riigivanem). He was the head of the cabinet and was elected by parliament as well as depending on it. Thus he was closer to a PM, although he had some responsibilities of a president as well. A specific president did not exist; presidential functions were shared between the State Elder and the speaker of the parliament. A government could be, as in 1919–1920, and sometimes was, put into office by a simple majority vote with even less than an absolute majority, and could be removed in the same way.

Governments of:
1–2 – I Riigikogu
3–6 – II Riigikogu
7–10 – III Riigikogu
11–13 – IV Riigikogu
14–17 – V Riigikogu

State Elder, acting as Prime Minister (1934–1937)

Nº	Name	Portrait	Took Office	Left Office	Political Party
1	Konstantin Päts		24 January 1934	3 September 1937	Non-party

President-Regent (1937–1938)

Nº	Name	Portrait	Took Office	Left Office	Political Party
1	Konstantin Päts		3 September 1937	21 April 1938	Non-party

Prime Minister (1938–1944)

Status

Nº	Name	Portrait	Took Office	Left Office	Political Party
6	Kaarel Eenpalu 5		21 April 1938	9 May 1938	Non-party
			9 May 1938	12 October 1939
7	Jüri Uluots		12 October 1939	21 June 1940	Non-party
Estonia occupied by Soviet troops, June 1940.
8	Johannes Vares 6		21 June 1940	25 August 1940	Estonian Communist Party
Estonia annexed by the USSR, August 1940. Estonia invaded by Nazi German forces, July 1941. Nazi German forces retreated from Estonia, September 1944.
–	Otto Tief (acting)		18 September 1944	22 September 1944	Non-party (EVRK)
Estonia re-annexed by the USSR, September 1944.

Acting Prime Ministers of the Government in Exile (1944–1992)

• Otto Tief (18 September 1944 – 12 January 1953, remained in Estonia, Soviet prisoner since 10 October 1944)
• Johannes Sikkar (12 January 1953 – 22 August 1960)
• Tõnis Kint (22 August 1960 – 1 January 1962)
• Aleksander Warma (1 January 1962 – 29 March 1963)
• Tõnis Kint (2 April 1963 – 23 December 1970)
• Heinrich Mark (8 May 1971 – 1 March 1990)
• Enno Penno (1 March 1990 – 15 September 1992)

Prime Minister (1991–present)

Status

Nº	Name	Portrait	Took Office	Left Office	Political Party	Government	Riigikogu (Election)
–	Edgar Savisaar (acting)		20 August 1991	29 January 1992	Popular Front of Estonia	Savisaar	SS (1990)
–	Tiit Vähi (acting)		29 January 1992	21 October 1992	none	Vähi I
9	Mart Laar		21 October 1992	8 November 1994	Pro Patria Union	Laar I I, ERSP, RM	7 (1992)
10	Andres Tarand		8 November 1994	17 April 1995	Moderate People's Party	Tarand I, ERSP, RM
11	Tiit Vähi		17 April 1995	6 November 1995	Estonian Coalition Party	Vähi II EK/EME, K	8 (1995)
			6 November 1995	17 March 1997		Vähi III EK/EME, RE (until 1996)
12	Mart Siimann		17 March 1997	25 March 1999	Estonian Coalition Party	Siimann EK/EME
(9)	Mart Laar		25 March 1999	28 January 2002	Pro Patria Union	Laar II I, RE, RM	9 (1999)
13	Siim Kallas		28 January 2002	10 April 2003	Estonian Reform Party	Kallas RE, K
14	Juhan Parts		10 April 2003	12 April 2005	Res Publica	Parts Res Publica, RE, ER	10 (2003)
15	Andrus Ansip		12 April 2005	5 April 2007	Estonian Reform Party	Ansip I RE, K, ER
			5 April 2007	4 April 2011		Ansip II RE, IRL, SDE (until 2009)	11 (2007)
			6 April 2011	26 March 2014		Ansip III RE, IRL	12 (2011)
16	Taavi Rõivas		26 March 2014	30 March 2015	Estonian Reform Party	Rõivas I RE, SDE
			9 April 2015	Incumbent		Rõivas II RE, SDE, IRL	13 (2015)

Footnotes

• ^1 Päts was imprisoned until 20 November 1918. From the time he was appointed to the post of Prime Minister until he was released, Jaan Poska assumed the duties of Prime Minister of his behalf.
• ^2 Though appointed, Birk never assumed office.
• ^3 Was acting Prime Minister from 29 to 30 July 1920.
• ^4 State Elder since December.
• ^5 Was acting Prime Minister from 21 April 1938 to 9 May 1938.
• ^6 Appointment declared illegal by the Estonian Electoral College convened on 20 April 1944.

See also

• List of heads of government of Estonia

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