Indrek Tarand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Indrek Tarand
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| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 1 July 2009 – 30 June 2019 |
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| Constituency | Estonia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 February 1964 Tallinn, Estonia |
| Political party |  EstonianIndependent  EUEuropean Green Party |
| Spouse | Kadi Tarand |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | |
Indrek Tarand, born on February 3, 1964, is an Estonian politician. He served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) representing Estonia. While he was an independent politician, he was also part of the European Green Party.
Before becoming an MEP, Mr. Tarand worked as an advisor to Estonia's Prime Minister. He also held the position of Secretary General for the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Indrek Tarand's Early Life and Education
Indrek Tarand grew up in a family deeply involved in public life. His father, Andres Tarand, was also a politician. His mother, Mari Tarand, was a well-known linguist and radio journalist. He has a younger brother, Kaarel Tarand, who is a journalist.
He studied history at the University of Tartu in Estonia. He also studied in Italy at the University of Bologna. During his studies, Estonia was under Soviet rule. He faced challenges for showing his Estonian patriotism. He completed his university studies in 1991.
Public Life and Activities
Indrek Tarand has been involved in various public roles. He is known for being a freelance journalist. He has hosted shows on both radio and television. One show he hosted was the Estonian version of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?.
He also served as the Director of the Estonian War Museum – General Laidoner Museum. However, he left this role when he became a Member of the European Parliament. Mr. Tarand is also a reserve officer in the military, holding the rank of second lieutenant.
Presidential Election Bid
In 2011, Indrek Tarand ran for president in Estonia's indirect election. This means members of the parliament, called the Riigikogu, voted for the president. He ran against Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who was the sitting president.
Mr. Tarand received support from the Estonian Centre Party. The other three main parties in parliament supported Mr. Ilves. In the end, Mr. Tarand received 25 votes, while Mr. Ilves received 73 votes and won the election.
Dancing and Public Attention
In 2006, Indrek Tarand took part in the first season of Tantsud tähtedega. This was the Estonian version of the popular TV show Dancing with the Stars. He was a celebrity contestant and danced with professional partner Kaisa Oja.
He also caused a lot of discussion at a soccer game in 2005. He wore a shirt that had names of former Communist Party members on it. This event led to the resignation of the defense minister at the time, Jaak Jõerüüt.
Serving in the European Parliament
Indrek Tarand became a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in June 2009. He ran as an independent candidate. He received a surprising number of votes, placing second in Estonia. He then joined the political group called the Greens/European Free Alliance.
First Term: 2009-2014
During his first term from 2009 to 2014, Mr. Tarand worked on several important topics. He was part of committees that dealt with constitutional affairs and foreign affairs. He also worked on security and defense issues.
He was involved in groups that focused on relations with other countries. These included Israel, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. In his speeches, he often talked about international relations, human rights, and climate change. He also discussed the EU budget and energy security.
He helped write reports and opinions on various subjects. For example, he worked on a report about how climate change affects security and defense. He also gave his opinion on international agreements related to climate change.
Second Term: 2014-2019
In May 2014, Indrek Tarand ran for reelection to the European Parliament. He was again an independent candidate. He received many votes and was reelected for a second term. He continued to be a member of the Greens/European Free Alliance group.
For his second term, he joined new committees. He worked on the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. He also continued his work on the Subcommittee on Security and Defence.
He was part of delegations that focused on relations with countries in the Andean Community and Latin America. In his speeches during this term, he often spoke about the EU budget and climate agreements. He also addressed anti-terrorism measures and the situation in Ukraine.
The Spinelli Group
In 2010, Indrek Tarand became a member of the Spinelli Group. This group includes politicians, academics, and citizens. Their goal is to encourage closer cooperation and unity within the European Union. They believe Europe should continue to move forward together.
