GOVERNMENT
Estonia is a parliamentary democracy, with a 101-member parliament (the Riigikogu) and a president who is elected indirectly by parliament or, if no candidate wins a two-thirds majority in parliament, by an electoral college composed of members of parliament and of local government representatives. Estonia holds presidential elections every five years. The last presidential election was in 2006. The President serves a maximum of two terms. The President is also the Supreme Commander of the National Defense of Estonia.
Parliamentary elections take place every four years; members are elected by proportional representation. The most recent elections took place on March 4, 2007. A party must gather at least 5% of the votes to take a seat in Parliament. Citizens 18 years of age or older may vote in parliamentary elections and be members of political parties. In addition, resident non-citizens and those who have lived permanently in the area for at least 5 years preceding the election may vote in local elections, although they may not run for office.
After parliamentary elections, the President traditionally asks the party with the most votes to form a new government. The President chooses the Prime Minister--usually the leader of the largest party or coalition in the Parliament--with the consent of the parliament to supervise the work of the government. The Estonian government has a total of 14 ministers.
At the local level, Estonians elect government councils by proportional representation. The individual councils vary in size, but election laws stipulate minimum size requirements depending on the population of the municipality.
Estonia's Supreme Court, the Riigikohus, has 19 justices, all of whom receive lifetime tenure appointments. The parliament appoints the Chief Justice on nomination by the President.
Estonians may vote via the Internet in local and parliamentary elections.
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Currently, half a dozen parties represent Estonia's 1.3 million citizens. The
Reform Party, the Isamaa and Res Public Union, and the Social Democrats form the
current government with 31, 19, and 10 seats in parliament, respectively. Other
major parties include the Centre Party, the Estonian Greens, and the People’s Union.
Reform Party Chairman Andrus Ansip is the current Prime Minister of the coalition government.
Toomas Hendrik llves (Social Democrat Party), a former Ambassador to the United States, two-time Minister of Foreign Affairs, Estonian parliamentarian, and a former member of the European Parliament, is the President of Estonia. President Ilves narrowly defeated incumbent Arnold Rüütel in an electoral-college vote in September 2006, and he took office on October 9, 2006.
Principal
Government Officials
President--Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Prime Minister--Andrus Ansip (Reform)
Foreign Affairs--Urmas Paet (Reform)
Interior--Juri Pihl (Social Democrat)
Social Affairs--Maret Maripuu (Reform)
Education--Tonis Lukas (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union)
Economy and Communications--Juhan Parts (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union)
Justice--Rein Lang (Reform)
Defense--Jaak Aaviksoo (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union)
Environment--Jaak Tamkivi (Reform)
Agriculture--Helir-Valdor Seeder (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union)
Finance--Ivari Padar (Social Democrat)
Culture--Laine Janes (Reform)
Population Minister--Urve Palo (Social Democrat)
Minister of Regional Affairs--Vallo Reimaa (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union)
Riigikogu Chairman--Ene Ergma (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union)
Estonia
maintains an embassy in the
United States at 2131 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC
20008 (tel: [1] (202) 588-0101; fax: [1] (202) 588-0108). It operates
a consulate at 600 Third Avenue, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10016-2001
(tel: [1[ (212) 883-0636; fax: [1] (212) 883-0648).
Type:
Parliamentary democracy.
Constitution: On June 28, 1992 Estonians ratified
a constitution based on the 1938 model, offering legal continuity
to the Republic of Estonia prior to Soviet occupation.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state),
elected by Parliament every 5 years; prime minister (head of government).
Legislative--Riigikogu (Parliament--101 members, 4-year term).
Judicial--Supreme Court.
Administrative regions: 15 counties, 42 towns,
and 205 municipalities.
Political parties/coalitions: Estonian Center
Party--Chairman, Edgar Savisaar; Estonian Reform Party--Chairman,
Siim Kallas/Coalition; Pro Patria Union--Chairman, Mart Laar;
Estonian People's Union--Chairman, Villu Reiljan/Coalition; Moderates--Chairman,
Ivari Padar; Estonian United People's Party--Chairman, Jevgeni
Tomberg; Estonian Social Democratic Labor Party--Chairman, Tiit
Toomsalu; Estonian Independence Party--Chairman, Vello Leit; Res
Publica--Chairman, Juhan Parts/Coalition; Estonian Christian People's
Party--Chairman, Aldo Vinkel; Russian Party in Estonia--Chairman,
Stanislav Cherepanov; Estonian Democratic Party--Chairman, Jaan
Laas; Republican Party--Chairman, Kristjan-Olari Leping.
Suffrage: Universal at 18 years of age; noncitizen
residents may vote in municipal elections.
Government budget: $2.3 billion.
Defense: 2% of GDP.
National holidays: Jan. 1 (New Year's Day), Feb.
24 (Independence Day), Good Friday, Easter Sunday, May 1 (May
Day), Whitsunday, June 23 (Victory Day--anniversary of Battle
of Vonnu in 1919), June 24 (Midsummer Day), Aug. 20 (Day of Restoration
of Independence), Dec. 25 (Christmas Day), Dec. 26 (Boxing Day).
Government of Estonia Web site: http://www.riik.ee/en/
