Andrus Ansip

Andrus Ansip (born 1 October 1956), is the current Prime Minister of Estonia, and chairman of the Estonian Reform Party (Estonian: Reformierakond).

Early life and career

Born in Tartu, Ansip graduated from the University of Tartu with a diploma in Chemistry in 1979. Before entering into politics, Ansip had been involved in several banking and investment ventures. He has served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the People’s Bank of Tartu (Estonian: Rahvapank), Chairman of the Board of Livonia Privatisation IF, and CEO of Investment Fund Broker Ltd (Estonian: Fondiinvesteeringu Maakler AS). He also has served as Chairman of the board for Radio Tartu.

Mayor of Tartu

In 1998, Ansip was elected as Mayor of Tartu as a candidate of the market radical 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 Riigikogu, the Estonian Parliament, but had always given up his seat in order to stay Mayor.

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 Kallas, had become EU Commissioner and Vice President and thus had to move to Brussels. It was obvious that Ansip would have to move to Tallinn, and a chance opened up when the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications in the coalition government of Juhan Parts, 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 President Arnold Rüütel 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", rural), which was approved by the Riigikogu on April 12 2005. Ansip thus became Prime Minister of Estonia (see Andrus Ansip's cabinet). 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.

The Cabinet

The new cabinet, approved by the Riigikogu on 12 April 2005, looks as follows:

Reformierakond

Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet (former Minister of Culture; journalist)
Minister of Defence Jaak Jõerüüt (has meanwhile resigned)
Minister of Justice Rein Lang
Minister for Population and Ethnic Affairs Paul-Eerik Rummo (formerly in this position; poet)

Keskerakond

Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Edgar Savisaar (former Prime Minister and Mayor of Tallinn; leader of the Keskerakond)
Minister of Culture Raivo Palmaru
Minister of Social Affairs Jaak Aab
Minister of Internal Affairs Kalle Laanet
Minister of Education and Research Mailis Reps

Rahvaliit

Minister of the Environment Villu Reiljan (held this position previously)
Minister of Agriculture Ester Tuiksoo
Minister of Finance Aivar Sõerd
Minister of Regional Affairs Jaan Õunapuu (held this position previously)

The general consensus in the Estonian media seems to be that the new cabinet, on the level of competence, is not necessarily an improvement over the old one, with the exception of the key positions of Minister of Justice and Minister of Finance. The new government was initially colloquially called the "garlic coalition", because the agreement between the party leaders was reached at a Tallinn restaurant which specialises in garlic dishes.

External links

1956 births | Estonian people | Living people | Prime Ministers of Estonia

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