Andrus Ansip (born 1 October 1956) is the current
Prime MinisterThe Prime 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 conferred by Parliament. This is usually the leader of the largest party or coalition in the...
of
EstoniaEstonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by the Russian Federation...
, and chairman of the
Estonian Reform PartyThe Estonian Reform Party is a centre-right, free market liberal party in Estonia. The party has been a full member of Liberal International since 1996, having been an observer member between 1994–1996, and a full member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.It is led by Andrus Ansip,...
.
Born in
TartuFor the French captain, see Jean-François TartuTartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university....
, Ansip graduated from the
University of TartuThe University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia. Regarded by many Estonians as the country's "national university", it is the highest-ranked university in Estonia as well as one of the highest-ranked in former Eastern Europe...
with a degree in
ChemistryChemistry is the science concerned with the composition, behavior, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions...
in 1979. He worked as engineer in Tartu State University in 1979-1983 (with 2-year break for mandatory military service). He was Instructor of Industry Department and Head of Organisational Department
of Tartu District Committee of Estonian Communist Party in 1986-1988.
Andrus Ansip (born 1 October 1956) is the current
Prime MinisterThe Prime 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 conferred by Parliament. This is usually the leader of the largest party or coalition in the...
of
EstoniaEstonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by the Russian Federation...
, and chairman of the
Estonian Reform PartyThe Estonian Reform Party is a centre-right, free market liberal party in Estonia. The party has been a full member of Liberal International since 1996, having been an observer member between 1994–1996, and a full member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.It is led by Andrus Ansip,...
.
Early life and career
Born in
TartuFor the French captain, see Jean-François TartuTartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university....
, Ansip graduated from the
University of TartuThe University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia. Regarded by many Estonians as the country's "national university", it is the highest-ranked university in Estonia as well as one of the highest-ranked in former Eastern Europe...
with a degree in
ChemistryChemistry is the science concerned with the composition, behavior, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions...
in 1979. He worked as engineer in Tartu State University in 1979-1983 (with 2-year break for mandatory military service). He was Instructor of Industry Department and Head of Organisational Department
of Tartu District Committee of Estonian Communist Party in 1986-1988. Ansip has been involved in several banking and
investmentInvestment or investing is a term with several closely-related meanings in business management, finance and economics, related to saving or deferring consumption. Investing is the active redirection of resources: from being consumed today, to creating benefits in the future; the use of assets to...
ventures. He has served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the People’s Bank of Tartu , Chairman of the Board of Livonia Privatisation IF, and CEO of Investment Fund Broker Ltd . He also has served as
Chairman of the boardThe Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organisation, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
for Radio Tartu.
Mayor of Tartu
In 1998, Ansip was elected as
Mayor"Mayor" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government....
of
TartuFor the French captain, see Jean-François TartuTartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university....
as a candidate of the centrist-right
Reformierakond (Reform Party), a position which he held until 2004, to great popular acclaim and very high ratings in the opinion polls. He had run in previous elections for the
RiigikoguThe Riigikogu is the parliament of Estonia. All important state-related questions pass through the Riigikogu...
, the Estonian
ParliamentA parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French parlement, the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at...
, but had always given up his seat in order to stay Mayor. He was succeeded by fellow Reform Party member
Laine JänesLaine Jänes is an Estonian politician from the Reform Party. She was the Mayor of Tartu from 23 September 2004 to 2007, and previously she was Deputy Mayor from 2002 to 2004. Since 5 April 2007 she has been the Minister of Culture in Andrus Ansip's second government.-References:...
.
Chairman of Reformierakond and Minister of Economics
However, on November 21, 2004, Ansip became Chairman of
Reformierakond because the party's founder and hitherto chairman, former Prime Minister
Siim KallasSiim Kallas is an Estonian politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud. He is also one of five vice-presidents of the 27-member Barroso Commission. Kallas has been Prime Minister of Estonia, Estonian Minister of Finance, Estonian Minister...
, had become EU Commissioner and Vice President and thus had to move to
BrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the de facto capital city of the European Union and the largest urban area in Belgium...
. It was obvious that Ansip would have to move to
TallinnTallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies a surface of in which 405,867 inhabitants live. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki.-Historical names:...
, and a chance opened up when the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications in the coalition government of
Juhan PartsJuhan Parts is a former Prime Minister of Estonia, and former chairman of the Res Publica Party. Since 5 April 2007 he is the Minister of Economy and Communication in Andrus Ansip's second government...
, Meelis Atonen, a party colleague, had to resign. Ansip became his successor on September 13. His track record as Minister is more difficult to evaluate because of the short duration of his service.
Prime Minister
On March 31 2005, Ansip was charged by
PresidentThe President of the Republic is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia.Estonia is a parliamentary democracy, therefore President is mainly a symbolic figure and holds no executive power. The President has to suspend his membership in any political party for his term in office...
Arnold RüütelArnold Rüütel was the President of the Republic of Estonia from October 8, 2001 to October 9, 2006. He was the second President since Estonia regained its independence in 1991....
to form a government, following the 24 March 2005 resignation by Prime Minister Juhan Parts. Ansip was able to form a coalition with
Keskerakond ("Center Party", populist) and
Rahvaliit ("Peoples' Party", agrarian), which was approved by the Riigikogu on April 12 2005. Ansip thus became Prime Minister of Estonia (see
Andrus Ansip's cabinetAndrus Ansip is the current Prime Minister of Estonia; his first cabinet took office on 12 April 2005 after being approved by Riigikogu by 53 members out of 101. His cabinet was formed with pragmatic calculations, as it consisted of ministers from free market liberal Reform Party of Estonia,...
). He was backed by 53 out of 101 members of the Estonian parliament; forty deputies voting against. He and the ministers were inaugurated in office the next day, on April 13.
On March 4 2007, Ansip's Reform Party won 27 percent of the vote in the Estonian parliamentary elections, raising its mandate in the Riigikogu to 31 seats from 19. Ansip personally received over 22,500 votes, the highest ever by any parliamentary candidate in the history of independent Estonia. He was again charged by
PresidentThe President of the Republic is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia.Estonia is a parliamentary democracy, therefore President is mainly a symbolic figure and holds no executive power. The President has to suspend his membership in any political party for his term in office...
, this time
Toomas Hendrik IlvesToomas Hendrik Ilves is the current President of Estonia. He is a former diplomat and journalist, was the leader of the Social Democratic Party in the 1990s and later a member of the European Parliament...
, to form a government. This time he formed a coalition with
Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit ("Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica", liberal conservative) and
Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond (Social Democratic Party). His second term as Prime Minister began on April 5 2007. In
MayMay is the fifth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. It is also a month within the northern season of spring....
2009,
Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond left the government, and as coalition talks with
Eestimaa Rahvaliit failed, it was decided to continue with
minority governmentA minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when the governing political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament. It is also known as a hung parliament...
.
The Cabinet
The cabinet after removal of ministers from the
Social Democratic PartyThe Social Democratic Party is a social democratic party in Estonia, led by Jüri Pihl. It has been a member of the Party of European Socialists since 16 May, 2003 and a member of the Socialist International since November 1990....
and decision to continue with minority government in June 2009, was as follows:
Estonian Reform Party
- Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet
Urmas Paet is an Estonian politician and currently the Foreign Minister of Estonia. He is a member of the Estonian Reform Party.-Biography:...
(held this position previously; former Minister of Culture; journalist)
- Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi
Jürgen Ligi is an Estonian politician, a member of the libertarian Reform Party.He is a long-time member of the Estonian parliament Riigikogu . For the last two years in the Riigikogu he served as the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Budget Control.From 2005 to 2007 Jürgen Ligi was...
(former Minister of Defence)
- Minister of Justice Rein Lang
Rein Lang, born July 4, 1957 in Tartu, Estonia, is an Estonian politician, a member of the Estonian Reform Party since 1995, and a diplomat. He is currently serving as the Minister of Justice.- Personal life :...
(held this position previously; former Minister of Foreign Affairs)
- Minister of Culture Laine Jänes
Laine Jänes is an Estonian politician from the Reform Party. She was the Mayor of Tartu from 23 September 2004 to 2007, and previously she was Deputy Mayor from 2002 to 2004. Since 5 April 2007 she has been the Minister of Culture in Andrus Ansip's second government.-References:...
(former Mayor of Tartu)
- Minister of the Environment Jaanus Tamkivi
Jaanus Tamkivi is an Estonian politician of the Estonian Reform Party who is the current Minister of the Environment. He was Mayor of Kuressaare from 1996 to 2005, a member of the Riigikogu from 2005 to 2007, and he has been Minister of the Environment since April 2007....
(former mayor of Kuressaare)
- Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur
Hanno Pevkur is an Estonian politician, a member of the libertarian Estonian Reform Party.He graduated in 2002 with a BA degree from the law faculty of the University of Tartu....
Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
- Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts
Juhan Parts is a former Prime Minister of Estonia, and former chairman of the Res Publica Party. Since 5 April 2007 he is the Minister of Economy and Communication in Andrus Ansip's second government...
(former Prime Minister)
- Minister of Education and Research Tõnis Lukas
Tõnis Lukas is an Estonian politician. He is a Vice-Chairman of the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica, member of the Estonian Parliament , and Minister of Education....
(held this position formerly from 1999-2002)
- Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo
Jaak Aaviksoo, born 11 January 1954 in Tartu, Estonia is an Estonian politician and current Estonian Minister of Defense. He is a member of liberal conservative Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica....
(former Minister of Education, former rector of the University of Tartu)
- Minister of Internal Affairs Marko Pomerants
Marko Pomerants is an Estonian politician, currently a member of the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica....
(former Minister of Social Affairs)
- Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder
Helir-Valdor Seeder is an Estonian politician of the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica who is the current Minister of Agriculture...
- Minister of Regional Affairs Siim-Valmar Kiisler
Relocation of the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn
One of the most controversial actions of Ansip's government was relocation of the main
TallinnTallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies a surface of in which 405,867 inhabitants live. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki.-Historical names:...
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
memorial known as the
Bronze Soldier of TallinnThe Bronze Soldier is the informal name of a controversial Soviet World War II war memorial in Tallinn, Estonia, marking several war graves. Originally named "Monument to the Liberators of Tallinn" , it is sometimes called Alyosha, or Tõnismäe monument after its old location...
from a prominent location in the center of Tallinn to the
Defence Forces Cemetery of TallinnThe Defence Forces Cemetery of Tallinn , sometimes called the Tallinn Military Cemetery, is one of the three cemeteries of the Tallinn City Centre Cemetery . It is situated about 3 kilometres outside the centre of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia...
adjacent to the city center. The removal of the monument, as well as war graves, from its current location on April 27 2007 led to mass protests and two nights of the worst rioting Estonia has seen since gaining independence.
Personal life
Andrus Ansip is married to gynecologist Anu Ansip (b. 1956) and they have three daughters Reet (b. 1977), who is a
stomatologistStomatology is that part of medicine that relates to the mouth and its diseases; originally practiced by physicians, it was a standard medical specialty through the early 20th century but in the U.S. it is now the province of dentists...
; Tiina (b. 1981) who is a
journalistJournalism is the craft of conveying news, descriptive material and comment via a widening spectrum of media. These include newspapers, magazines, radio and television, the internet and even, more recently, the mobile phone...
and Liisa (b. 1997).
Awards
- On July 31, 2007 Ansip was recognized for "his service in fight for Estonian freedom and Estonian national idea" by Estonian Central Council in Canada.
- Estonian Newspaper Association named Ansip Press Enemy of 2007.
External links