Prime Minister of Estonia
| Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia | |
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| Eesti Vabariigi peaminister | |
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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
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party | Coalition |
| 1 | Konstantin Päts 1 | 24 February 1918 | 26 November 1918 | Rural League | Non-party big coalition |
| 26 November 1918 | 8 May 1919 | Rural League | Non-party big coalition | ||
| 2 | Otto August Strandman | 8 May 1919 | 18 November 1919 | Estonian Labour Party | ESDTP+TE+RE |
| 3 | Jaan Tõnisson | 18 November 1919 | 28 July 1920 | Estonian People's Party | ESDTP+TE+RE |
| 4 | Ado Birk 2 | 28 July 1920 | 30 July 1920 | Estonian People's Party | TE+RE+KRE |
| (3) | Jaan Tõnisson (2nd time) 3 | 30 July 1920 | 26 October 1920 | Estonian People's Party | RE |
| 5 | Ants Piip4 | 26 October 1920 | 25 January 1921 | Estonian Labour Party | TE |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| 1 | Konstantin Päts | 
|
24 January 1934 | 3 September 1937 | Non-party |
President-Regent (1937–1938)
| Nº | Name | Portrait | Took Office | Left Office | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| 6 | Kaarel Eenpalu 5 | File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-09721, Karl Einbund.jpg | 21 April 1938 | 9 May 1938 | Non-party |
| 9 May 1938 | 12 October 1939 | ||||
| style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| 7 | Jüri Uluots | 
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12 October 1939 | 21 June 1940 | Non-party |
| Estonia occupied by Soviet troops, June 1940. | |||||
| style="background:Template:Communist Party/meta/color; color:white"| 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. | |||||
| style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"| – | 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
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
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers | | |
|---|---|---|
| Prime ministers | ||
| State Elders | ||
| Prime Minister in Duties of the State Elder | ||
| President-Regent | ||
| Prime ministers | ||
| Prime ministers in exile | ||
| Prime ministers | ||
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See also: Timeline of Estonian history |
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