Liberalism in Estonia
Encyclopedia
This article gives an overview of liberalism and centrism in Estonia
. It is limited to liberal
and centrist parties
with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary that the party has labeled itself as a liberal party.
(Eesti Reformierakond, member LI
), ELDR is a free market liberal party. Despite its liberal international affiliations the Estonian Centre Party
(Eesti Keskerakond, member LI
, ELDR) is generally not considered a liberal party, so therefore it is not included.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of 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 Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. It is limited to liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and centrist parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary that the party has labeled itself as a liberal party.
Background
At the beginning of the twentieth century liberal parties emerged and played an important role in Estonia. They lost influence in the 1930s.History
After the restoration of independence in 1990, both pragmatic centrist and liberal forces arose. Nowadays the Estonian Reform PartyEstonian Reform Party
The Estonian Reform Party is a centre-right, free market liberal party in Estonia. It is led by Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, and has 33 members in the 101-member Riigikogu, making it the largest party in the legislature...
(Eesti Reformierakond, member LI
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), ELDR is a free market liberal party. Despite its liberal international affiliations the Estonian Centre Party
Estonian Centre Party
The Estonian Centre Party is a centrist, social liberal party in Estonia. Keskerakond is a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. It has the largest membership of an Estonian party, with over 12 000 members....
(Eesti Keskerakond, member LI
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) is generally not considered a liberal party, so therefore it is not included.
From Estonian Progressive People's Party to National Centre Party
- 1905: Jaan TõnissonJaan TõnissonJaan Tõnisson VR I/3, II/3 and III/1 was an Estonian statesman, serving as the Prime Minister of Estonia twice during 1919 to 1920 and as the Foreign Minister of Estonia from 1931 to 1932.-Early life:...
founded the Estonian Progressive People's Party (Eesti Rahvameelne Eduerakond) - 1917: The party is renamed Democratic Party (Demokraatlik Erakond)
- 1919: The Democratic Party merged with the ⇒ Radical Democratic Party into the Estonian People's PartyEstonian People's PartyThe Estonian People's Party was a centre-right political party in Estonia. Its predecessor, the Estonian Popular Progress Party was founded by Jaan Tõnisson in 1905 as one of the first Estonian political parties. After the Revolution of 1905, it remained the only legal political party in Estonia...
(Eesti Rahvaerakond) - 1931: The Estonian People's Party merged with the Christian People's Party (Kristlik Rahvaerakond) into the United People's Parties (Ühendatud Rahvaerakonnad)
- 1932: This is followed by the merger with the ⇒ Estonian Labour Party (Tööerakond) and the Union of Landlords (Üleriikline Majaomanikkude Seltside Liit) into the National Centre Party
- 1934: The party is banned
Radical Democratic Party
- 1917: Konstantin PätsKonstantin PätsKonstantin Päts VR I/1 and III/1 was the most influential politician of interwar Estonia. He was one of the first Estonians to become active in politics and started an almost 40-year political rivalry with Jaan Tõnisson, first through journalism with his newspaper Teataja, later through politics...
, the later conservative leader, founded the Radical Democratic Party (Radikaal-Demokraatlik Erakond). - 1919: The party merged with the ⇒ Democratic Party into the ⇒ Estonian People's Party
Radical Socialist Party / Estonian Labour Party
- 1917: Inspired by the French Radical Socialist and the Russian Trudoviki the Radical Socialist Party (Radikaalsotsialistlik Erakond) is founded.
- 1919: The party merged with the Social Travaillist Party into the Estonian Labour PartyEstonian Labour PartyThe Estonian Labour Party was a centre-left political party in Estonia. It emerged in 1917 with the merger of the Estonian Radical Socialist Party and Estonian radicals from Petrograd and remained an important coalition party until 1932, when it merged with other centrist parties to form the...
(Eesti Tööerakond) - 1931: The Estonian Labour Party merged into the ⇒ National Centre Party.
From Popular Front to Estonian Centre Party
- 1988: Edgar SavisaarEdgar SavisaarEdgar Savisaar , is an Estonian politician, one of the founding members of Popular Front of Estonia and the leader of the Centre Party. He has served as the acting Prime Minister of Estonia, Minister of Internal affairs and Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications...
and Marju LauristinMarju LauristinMarju Lauristin is an Estonian politician and social scientist. She is the daughter of Johannes Lauristin and Olga Lauristin. Her father signed away Estonia's freedom to the Soviet Union in 1940. Together with Edgar Savisaar, in 1988 Lauristin established Rahvarinne, the first large-scale...
founded the Popular Front (Rahvarinne) officially aiming at consolidating reform minded people. - 1992: The Popular Front fell apart and Savisaar founded the Estonian People's Centre Party (Eesti Rahva-Keskerakond), which was later re-named the Estonian Centre PartyEstonian Centre PartyThe Estonian Centre Party is a centrist, social liberal party in Estonia. Keskerakond is a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. It has the largest membership of an Estonian party, with over 12 000 members....
(Eesti Keskerakond). - 1996: A faction formed the ⇒ Progressive Party
- 2004: A faction leaves and joins various parties (see Social LiberalsSocial Liberal group (Estonia)Social Liberal group was formed on 8 May 2004 and ended 10 May 2005, from the formal Centrists who left to form the Centre Party. The social-liberals had only a group status, not even a fraction or a party status....
). The liberalLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and centrist character of the party is often disputed, whereby the party is usually considered a left of centre populistPopulismPopulism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
/personalistPersonalismPersonalism is a philosophical school of thought searching to describe the uniqueness of a human person in the world of nature, specifically in relation to animals...
party.
Estonian Liberal Democratic Party / Estonian Reform Party
- 1990: Liberals formed the Estonian Liberal Democratic PartyEstonian Liberal Democratic PartyThe Estonian Liberal Democratic Party , abbreviated to ELDP, was a social liberal political party in Estonia that existed between 1990 and 1994...
(Eesti Liberaal-Demokraatlik Erakond) - 1994: The party is the basis for the new Estonian Reform PartyEstonian Reform PartyThe Estonian Reform Party is a centre-right, free market liberal party in Estonia. It is led by Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, and has 33 members in the 101-member Riigikogu, making it the largest party in the legislature...
(Eesti Reformierakond)
Estonian Coalition Party
- 1991: Dissident members of Savisaar cabinet (Jaak Tamm), and centrists found the Estonian Coalition PartyEstonian Coalition PartyEstonian Coalition Party was an Estonian centrist/centre-right liberal political party. Founded in 1991 by Tiit Vähi, it disbanded in 2001. The party was an observing member of Liberal International from 1998 on. It had a contacts with parties like Latvian Way and participated in the ruling...
(Eesti Koonderakond), led by Tiit VähiTiit VähiTiit Vähi is an Estonian politician, Prime Minister of Estonia from 1995 to 1997, and acting Prime Minister for several months during 1992 under the transitional government.... - 2000s: The party was disbanded
Progressive Party
- 1996: A faction of the Estonian Centre PartyEstonian Centre PartyThe Estonian Centre Party is a centrist, social liberal party in Estonia. Keskerakond is a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. It has the largest membership of an Estonian party, with over 12 000 members....
formed the Progressive Party (Arengupartei) - 1999: The party disappeared
See also
- History of EstoniaHistory of EstoniaEstonia was settled near the end of the last glacial era, beginning from around 8500 BC. Before the German invasions in the 13th century proto-Estonians of the Ancient Estonia worshipped the spirits of nature...
- Politics of EstoniaPolitics of EstoniaPolitics in Estonia takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Estonia is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Legislative power is vested in the Estonian parliament. Executive power is exercised by the Government...
- List of political parties in Estonia