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 (called peaminister in Estonian) is the main leader of the government in Estonia. Think of them as the chief executive who runs the country's daily business. The President chooses who they think should be Prime Minister after talking to different political groups in the parliament (called the Riigikogu). The parliament then has to agree with the President's choice. If they don't agree, the parliament can suggest their own candidate.
Usually, the Prime Minister is the leader of the biggest party in the group of parties that form the government. This is because the Prime Minister needs the support of the parliament to stay in their job. The current Prime Minister is Kristen Michal from the Reform Party. He started his job on July 23, 2024, after the previous Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, resigned.
The Prime Minister doesn't lead a specific government department like a minister of education or health. Instead, their job is to oversee all the work of the government. How much power the Prime Minister has often depends on how strong their political party is compared to other parties in the government. If their party is very strong, the Prime Minister can have a lot of influence. However, for all big decisions about the country, the final say always belongs to the parliament, which makes the laws.
Unlike in many other countries with similar systems, Estonia's Prime Minister is truly in charge of the government's daily operations. This is because Estonia's constitution clearly states that the government, led by the Prime Minister, holds the executive power. In some other countries, the president might be the official head, but they usually have to follow the advice of the government.
Contents
History of the Prime Minister's Role
After Estonia became independent from the Russian and German Empires in 1918, the first government was led by a Prime Minister. This lasted until 1920.
Changes in Leadership (1920-1938)
In 1920, Estonia adopted a new constitution. This constitution created a new leader called the State Elder (riigivanem). There was no separate president at that time. This system was very focused on the parliament, meaning the parliament could easily remove the State Elder. The State Elder also didn't command the army or approve laws. The parliament could only be dissolved by a public vote.
Later, in 1934, a new constitution brought back the position of Prime Minister as the head of the government. Under this constitution, the head of state was also called the State Elder, but this time it was a separate role, more like a president. This new head of state could choose and remove the Prime Minister and the government, reject laws, and even dissolve the parliament.
Konstantin Päts, who was the Prime Minister at the time, took on the duties of the State Elder. He took special actions to deal with a political movement and stopped the full use of the 1934 constitution. He remained in charge, first as Prime Minister acting as State Elder (1934–1937), and then as President-regent (1937–1938).
Prime Minister and President (1938-Present)
The 1938 constitution officially kept the Prime Minister's role, and the head of state was finally named the President. This system was more like a presidential system. After Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1991, the country regained its independence. The 1992 constitution brought back the roles of Prime Minister and President, similar to how they were from 1938 to 1940, but now under a parliamentary system.
List of Prime Ministers
1918–1920
Portrait | Name | Time in Office | Political Party | Government | Riigikogu (Election) |
Separate Head of State |
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Started | Ended | Days | |||||||
Before 1920, the leader was called the Chairman of the Council of Ministers or Prime Minister of the Provisional Government. | |||||||||
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Konstantin Päts (1874–1956) Chairman of the Council of Ministers 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
Portrait | 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 role called State Elder and brought back the 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 suspended |
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The 1938 Constitution temporarily combined the roles of State Elder and Prime Minister into President-Regent. |
1938–1944
Portrait | 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 roles of President-Regent 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 suspended |
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
Portrait | 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 | 1652 | 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 | 378 | Reform Party (REF) |
Michal REF–E200–SDE |
Timeline of Prime Ministers

See also
In Spanish: Primer ministro de Estonia para niños