Government & politics — Estonia

• 24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia)
• 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union)
• 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

• Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
• note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood
• 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union restoring its statehood

• History: several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992,
• entered into force 3 July 1992 Amendments: proposed by at least one-fifth of Parliament members or by the president of the republic; passage requires three readings of the proposed amendment and a simple majority vote in two successive memberships of Parliament; passage of amendments to the "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution" chapters requires at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament to conduct a referendum and majority vote in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2015

• chief of state: Pr
• Prime Minister Kristen MICHAL (since 23 July 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister,
• approved by Parliament election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral college consisting of Parliament members and local council members elects the president, choosing between the 2 candidates with the most votes; if a president is still not elected, the process begins again; prime minister nominated by the p
• resident and approved by Parliament most recent election date: 30-31
• August 2021 election results: 2021: Alar KARIS (independent) elected president; won s
• econd round of voting in parliament with 72 of 101 votes 2016: Kersti KALJULAID elected president; won sixth round of voting in parliament with 81 of 98 votes (17 ballots blank); KALJULAID sworn in on 10 October 2016 - first f
• emale head of state of Estonia expected date of next election: 2026

Description

Unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open- list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

Elections

• Last held on 5 March 2023
• next elections 7 March 2027

Election Results

• 2023: percent of vote by party - Reform 31.2%, EKRE 16.1%, Center 15.3%, E200 13.3%, SDE 9.3%, Pro Patria 8.2%, Left 2.4%, Right 2.3%, Greens 1.0%
• seats by party - Reform 37, EKRE 17, Center 16, E200 14, SDE 9, Pro Patria 8;

Composition

men 71, women 30, percent of women 29.7%

• Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 19 justices, including the chief justice, and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and const
• itutional review chambers) Judge selection and term of office: The chief justice is proposed by the president of the republic and appointed by the Riigikogu; other justices are proposed by the chief justice and appointed by the Riigikogu;
• justices appointed for life Subordinate courts: circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts

15 urban municipalities (linnad, singular - linn), 64 rural municipalities (vallad, singular vald) Urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru Rural municipalities: Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru

• Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) or K [Juri RATAS]
• Estonia 200 [Kristina KALLAS]
• Estonian Conservative People's Party (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE [Martin HELME]
• Estonian Greens (Greens/EFA) [Marko KAASIK & Johanna Maria TOUGU]
• Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE [Kaja KALLAS]
• Pro Patria (Isamaa) [Helir-Valdor SEEDER]
• Social Democratic Party or SDE [Lauri LAANEMETS]

• 18 years of age
• universal
• age 16 for local elections

• No Citizenship by descent only: At least one pa
• No Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Chief of Mission

Ambassador George P. KENT (since 21 February 2023) Embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn Mailing address: 4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC 20521-4530

Telephone

[372] 668-8100

FAX

[372] 668-8265

Email address and website

• acstallinn@state.gov
• https://ee.usembassy.gov/

Chief of Mission

Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021)

Chancery

2131 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC, 20008

Telephone

[1] (202) 588-0101

FAX

[1] (202) 588-0108

Email address and website

• Embassy.Washington@mfa.ee
• https://washington.mfa.ee/

Consulate(s) general

New York, San Francisco