Prime Minister of Estonia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia |
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Government of Estonia | |
Style | Mister Prime Minister (informal) His Excellency (diplomatic) |
Member of | European Council |
Residence | Stenbock House |
Appointer | President |
Term length | No term limit |
Inaugural holder | Konstantin Päts |
Formation | 24 February 1918 |
Abolished | 1940–1991 |
Salary | €7303 monthly |
Website | https://valitsus.ee |
The prime minister of Estonia (Estonian: peaminister) is the main leader of the government in Estonia. They are like the chief executive officer of the country. The President chooses who they think should be prime minister. This choice happens after talking with different groups in the parliament (called the Riigikogu).
The parliament then needs to agree with the President's choice. If they don't agree, the parliament can pick their own person. Usually, the prime minister is the leader of the biggest party in the group of parties that form the government. This is because they need the parliament's support to stay in their job. The current prime minister is Kristen Michal from the Reform Party. He started his role on July 23, 2024. He took over after Kaja Kallas resigned.
The prime minister doesn't run a specific government department. Instead, their job is to look after all the government's work. The constitution says this. How much power the prime minister has often depends on their political party's strength. It also depends on how much influence they have within their own party. If the prime minister is very strong in their party, they can have a lot of authority. But for big national decisions, the parliament always has the final say.
In Estonia, the prime minister is truly the main leader of the government. This is different from some other countries. In many other countries, the president might be the official head. But they usually have to follow the advice of the government. In Estonia, the prime minister leads the government directly.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Prime Minister Role
After Estonia became independent in 1918, the country was first led by a Prime Minister. This was part of the Provisional Government. This system lasted until 1920.
In 1920, a new constitution changed things. It created a leader called the State Elder (riigivanem). There was no separate prime minister or president at that time. The parliament could easily remove the State Elder. The State Elder also couldn't lead the army or approve laws. The parliament could only be dissolved by a public vote.
In 1934, a new constitution brought back the Prime Minister role. This time, the head of state was also called the State Elder. This new State Elder had more power. They could choose and remove the prime minister and the government. They could also stop laws and dissolve the parliament.
Konstantin Päts was the Prime Minister at this time. He took on the duties of the State Elder. He then made some changes to stop a political movement. He paused the full use of the 1934 Constitution. He didn't hold elections for the new head of state and stopped the parliament. Päts remained in charge until 1937. From 1937 to 1938, he was called the President-regent.
The 1938 Constitution kept the Prime Minister role. The head of state was finally called the President. After Estonia became free from Soviet occupation in 1991, the 1992 Constitution brought back the Prime Minister and President roles. This system is similar to the one from 1938 to 1940.
Who Has Been Prime Minister?
1918–1920 Leaders
Picture | Name | Time in Office | Political Party | Government | Riigikogu (Election) |
Separate Head of State |
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Started | Ended | Days | |||||||
The Provisional Government created the role of Prime Minister. | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Konstantin Päts (1874–1956) Leader of the Provisional Government |
24 February 1918 | 12 November 1918 | 440 | Country People's Union (EMRL) |
Päts I Provisional EMRL–ETE–EDE–ESDTP |
Provisional Provincial Assembly (1917) |
None |
Prime Minister of the Provisional Government |
12 November 1918 | 27 November 1918 | Päts II Provisional EMRL–ETE–EDE EMRL–ETE–EDE–ESDTP |
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27 November 1918 | 9 May 1919 | Päts III Provisional EMRL–ETE–EDE–ESDTP EMRL–ETE–EDE–ESDTP–SEE EMRL–ETE–EDE–ESDTP–SEE–VKK EMRL–ETE–ERE–ESDTP–SEE–VKK |
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1 | ![]() |
Otto August Strandman (1875–1941) 1st Prime Minister |
9 May 1919 | 18 November 1919 | 194 | Labour Party (ETE) |
Strandman I ETE–ESDTP–ERE ETE–ESDTP |
Constituent Assembly (1919) |
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2 | ![]() |
Jaan Tõnisson (1868–1941?) 2nd Prime Minister |
18 November 1919 | 28 July 1920 | 254 | People's Party (ERE) |
Tõnisson I ERE–ETE–ESDTP ERE–ETE–(ESDTP) |
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3 | ![]() |
Ado Birk (1883–1942) 3rd Prime Minister |
28 July 1920 | 30 July 1920 | 3 | People's Party (ERE) |
Birk ERE–ETE–KRE |
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4 | ![]() |
Jaan Tõnisson (1868–1941?) 4th Prime Minister (2nd term) |
30 July 1920 | 26 October 1920 | 89 | People's Party (ERE) |
Tõnisson II ERE |
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5 | ![]() |
Ants Piip (1884–1942) 5th Prime Minister |
26 October 1920 | 20 December 1920 | 92 | Labour Party (ETE) |
Piip ETE |
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The 1920 Constitution changed the office to State Elder. |
1934–1937 Leaders
Picture | Name | Time in Office | Political Party | Government | Riigikogu (Election) |
Separate Head of State |
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Started | Ended | Days | |||||||
The 1934 Constitution created a new State Elder and a Prime Minister. | |||||||||
6 | ![]() |
Konstantin Päts (1874–1956) 6th Prime Minister |
24 January 1934 | 3 September 1937 | 1,319 | Farmers' Assemblies (PK) |
Päts V non-party coalition |
V (1932) |
Prime Minister acting as the State Elder Konstantin Päts |
None |
Parliament paused |
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The 1938 Constitution temporarily combined the State Elder and Prime Minister roles into President-Regent. |
1938–1944 Leaders
Picture | Name | Time in Office | Political Party | Government | Riigikogu (Election) |
Separate Head of State |
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Started | Ended | Days | |||||||
The 1938 Constitution separated the President-Regent role into a President and a Prime Minister. | |||||||||
7 | ![]() |
Kaarel Eenpalu (formerly Karl August Einbund) (1888–1942) Acting Prime Minister |
24 April 1938 | 9 May 1938 | 537 | None |
Päts V (continued) non-party coalition |
Parliament paused |
President Konstantin Päts (1938–1940) |
7th Prime Minister (2nd term) |
9 May 1938 | 12 October 1939 | Eenpalu II non-party coalition |
VI (1938) |
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8 | ![]() |
Jüri Uluots (1890–1945) 8th Prime Minister |
12 October 1939 | 21 June 1940 |
254 | None |
Uluots non-party coalition |
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First Soviet Occupation (1940–1941) | |||||||||
German Occupation (1941–1944) | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Otto Tief (1889–1976) Acting Prime Minister |
18 September 1944 |
25 September 1944 |
8 | None | Tief non-party coalition |
Parliament disbanded |
Prime Minister acting as the President Jüri Uluots |
Second Soviet Occupation (See Estonian Government in Exile § List of Acting Prime Ministers) |
1990–Present Leaders
Picture | Name | Time in Office | Political Party | Government | Riigikogu (Election) |
Separate Head of State |
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Started | Ended | Days | |||||||
Second Soviet Occupation (See Estonian Government in Exile) |
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— | ![]() |
Edgar Savisaar (1950–2022) 1st Prime Minister of the Interim Government |
3 April 1990 |
29 January 1992 | 668 | Popular Front of Estonia (RR) Estonian People's Centre Party (ERKE) |
Savisaar Interim various coalition partners |
Supreme Soviet (1990) |
Chairman of the Supreme Soviet |
Chairman of the Supreme Council Arnold Rüütel |
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— | ![]() |
Tiit Vähi (born 1947) 2nd Prime Minister of the Interim Government |
29 January 1992 | 21 October 1992 | 266 | None | Vähi Interim various coalition partners |
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President Lennart Georg Meri (1992–2001) |
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9 | ![]() |
Mart Laar (born 1960) 9th Prime Minister |
21 October 1992 | 8 November 1994 | 749 | Pro Patria (I) Pro Patria National Coalition Party (RKEI) |
Laar I
I–M–ERSP |
VII (1992) |
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10 | ![]() |
Andres Tarand (born 1940) 10th Prime Minister |
8 November 1994 | 17 April 1995 | 161 | Moderates (M) |
Tarand M–RKEI–ERSP–ELDP–VKRE |
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11 | ![]() |
Tiit Vähi (born 1947) 11th Prime Minister (2nd term) |
17 April 1995 | 6 November 1995 | 701 | Coalition Party and Country People's Alliance (KMÜ) |
Vähi I KMÜ–KE |
VIII (1995) |
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6 November 1995 | 17 March 1997 | Vähi II KMÜ–REF KMÜ KMÜ–AP |
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12 | Mart Siimann (born 1946) 12th Prime Minister |
17 March 1997 | 25 March 1999 | 739 | Coalition Party and Country People's Alliance (KMÜ) |
Siimann KMÜ–AP |
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13 | ![]() |
Mart Laar (born 1960) 13th Prime Minister (2nd term) |
25 March 1999 | 28 January 2002 | 1,041 | Pro Patria Union (IL) |
Laar II IL–M–REF |
IX (1999) |
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President Arnold Rüütel (2001–2006) |
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14 | Siim Kallas (born 1948) 14th Prime Minister |
28 January 2002 | 10 April 2003 | 438 | Reform Party (REF) |
S. Kallas REF–KE |
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15 | ![]() |
Juhan Parts (born 1966) 15th Prime Minister |
10 April 2003 | 12 April 2005 | 735 | Res Publica Party (RES) |
Parts RES–REF–RL |
X (2003) |
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16 | ![]() |
Andrus Ansip (born 1956) 16th Prime Minister |
12 April 2005 | 5 April 2007 | 3,271 | Reform Party (REF) |
Ansip I REF–KE–RL |
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President Toomas Hendrik Ilves (2006–2016) |
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5 April 2007 | 6 April 2011 | Ansip II REF–IRL–SDE REF–IRL |
XI (2007) |
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6 April 2011 | 26 March 2014 | Ansip III REF–IRL |
XII (2011) |
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17 | ![]() |
Taavi Rõivas (born 1979) 17th Prime Minister |
26 March 2014 | 9 April 2015 | 973 | Reform Party (REF) |
Rõivas I REF–SDE |
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9 April 2015 | 23 November 2016 | Rõivas II REF–SDE–IRL |
XIII (2015) |
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President Kersti Kaljulaid (2016–2021) |
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18 | ![]() |
Jüri Ratas (born 1978) 18th Prime Minister |
23 November 2016 | 29 April 2019 | 1525 | Centre Party (KE) |
Ratas I KE–SDE–IRL KE–SDE–I |
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29 April 2019 | 26 January 2021 | Ratas II KE–EKRE–I |
XIV (2019) |
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19 | ![]() |
Kaja Kallas (born 1977) 19th Prime Minister |
26 January 2021 | 14 July 2022 | 1619 | Reform Party (REF) |
K. Kallas I REF–KE REF |
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President Alar Karis (2021–) |
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18 July 2022 | 17 April 2023 | K. Kallas II REF–SDE–I |
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17 April 2023 | 23 July 2024 | K. Kallas III REF–E200–SDE |
XV (2023) |
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20 | ![]() |
Kristen Michal (born 1975) 20th Prime Minister |
23 July 2024 | Incumbent | 345 | Reform Party (REF) |
Michal REF–E200–SDE |
Timeline of Leaders
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See also
In Spanish: Primer ministro de Estonia para niños
- List of heads of government of Estonia
- List of heads of government-in-exile
- President of Estonia