Estonian United Left Party

Estonian United Left Party
Estonian United Left Party; Eestimaa Ühendatud Vasakpartei
Leader	Sergei Jürgens, Heino Rüütel
Founded	28 June 2008
Headquarters	Tallinn
Ideology	Democratic socialism,; Eco-socialism,; Russian minority politics
International affiliation	None
European affiliation	Party of the European Left
European Parliament group	None
Colours	Red
Website
	http://www.vasakpartei.ee/
	Politics of Estonia; Political parties; Elections

The Estonian United Left Party (Estonian: Eestimaa Ühendatud Vasakpartei, Russian: Объединённая левая партия Эстонии, Ob'edinënnaja levaja partija Estonii) is a political party in Estonia. It has left-socialist characteristics, and also seeks to represent the Russian minority in Estonia. It is a member of the European Left.

History [edit]

In June 1988 Communist Party of Estonia (EKP), i.e. the Estonian branch of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, chief Karl Vaino was replaced by the reform-minded Soviet Ambassador to Nicaragua Vaino Väljas, the former ideological secretary of the EKP. Some of the Estonian members declared that they were fighting for Estonian national interests and tried to contribute to the solving of Estonian problems.

1990 was registered the independent Estonian Communist Party (EKP)
1992 the congress of EKP renamed party to the Estonian Democratic Labour Party (EDTP).
July 1995 EDLP joined New European Left Forum
1997 the party was renamed the Estonian Social Democratic Labour Party (ESDTP).
2004 ESDTP is a founding member of European Left party.
December 2004 Estonian Social Democratic Labour Party changed the name to Estonian Left Party (EVP).

According to the statutes of party the party congress elects the Party Chairman and Executive board as well as nominates a consultative Central Council representing all regional organizations. Local policies are developed by local organizations, while central bodies formulate national policies.

EVP lost representatives in parliament on the 2003 elections when they got 2,059 votes (0,4%). In 2007 election, it fell further to 0,1% and again got no seats.

On 28 June 2008, Estonian Left Party (a left-socialist party) and the Constitution Party (one of two parties representing the Russian minority in Estonia) merged to form the Estonian United Left Party (Eestimaa Ühendatud Vasakpartei).^[1]