THE ESTONIA TIMES

NOVEMBER 2014

BACKGROUND
Estonias history has been one of occupation.
Until 1917, Estonia was primarily occupied and
controlled by Russia.
When the Russian
government failed in 1917, the Estonians and
Livonians formed a government and declared
independence on February 24, 1918. A day later
the Germans occupied Estonia. Estonia was
occupied by Russia during WWII. In 1991,
Russia recognized Estonias independence. In
1992, the new constitution of the Republic of
Estonia came into force.
THE CONSTITUTION AND CABINET
The Government of the Republic of Estonia
exercises power through a Constitution. The
Constitution gives power the power to enforce its
rules to a Cabinet. The Cabinet consists of
Parliamentary leaders appointed from each of the
political parties. The Cabinet carries out the
countrys domestic and foreign policy that is
created by the Parliament or Riigikogu.

THE PRESIDENT
The President of Estonia, currently Toomas
Hendrik Ilves, is mainly a symbolic figurehead
and holds no power. The Riigikogu, elects the
President for a five-year term.
THE RIIGIKOGU
The Riigikogu is the Parliament of Estonia. The
Riigikogu is unicameral. It appoints the Prime
Minister and the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court. There are 101 members of the Riigikogu.

POLITICAL PARTIES
Estonia has multiple parties that must work
together to form coalition governments. The
Estonian Reform Party currently holds 33 seats
and defines itself as Classical liberalism. The
Estonian Centre Party holds 26 seats and is
centrist. The Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
party has 23 seats and indicates it is Liberal
conservatism and the Social Democratic Party has
19 seats and supports Social democracy.
ELECTIONS
The Riigikogu members are elected for a fouryear term by proportional representation.
PRIME MINISTER
The President appoints the Prime Minister. He is
usually a member of the Party with the largest
representation and he is in charge of the day-today operation of the government.