Estonian Reform Party
Encyclopedia
The Estonian Reform Party is a centre-right
, free market
liberal party in Estonia
. It is led by Estonian Prime Minister
Andrus Ansip
, and has 33 members in the 101-member Riigikogu
, making it the largest party in the legislature. It has been in government for all but three years since its foundation in 1994.
The party was founded by then-President of the Bank of Estonia
Siim Kallas
as a split from Pro Patria
. At the 1995 election
, it won 19 seats in the Riigikogu, making it the second-largest party. The Reform Party replaced the Estonian Centre Party
in government in autumn 1995, and remained there until 1996. In 1999
, the party lost a seat, but returned to the cabinet in coalition with the Pro Patria Union
and the People's Party Moderates
. The party has remained in various coalitions since then, with Andrus Ansip
as Prime Minister since 1995. At the 2007 election
, the party won 31 seats, becoming the largest party for the first time, and increased its seat tally again in 2011
, with 33 seats.
As the Reform Party has participated in most of the government coalitions in Estonia since the mid-1990s, its influence has been great, especially regarding Estonia's free market
and low taxes policies. The party has been a full member of Liberal International
since 1996, having been an observer member between 1994–1996, and a full member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
. The founder and the first chairman of the Reform Party, Siim Kallas
, has been since 2004 a Commissioner of the European Commission
. He is also one of the five Vice-Presidents of the Barroso Commission
.
— and the Estonian Liberal Democratic Party
. The new party, which had 710 members at its foundation, was led by Siim Kallas
, who had been President of the Bank of Estonia
and uninvolved in politics. Kallas was untainted by association with Mart Laar
's government, but was widely seen as a proficient central bank governor, having overseen the successful introduction of the Estonian kroon
. The party formed ties with Germany's Free Democratic Party
, Sweden's Liberal People's Party
, Finland's Swedish People's Party, and Latvia's Latvian Way
.
In the party's first parliamentary election, in March 1995
, it won 19 seats: catapulting it into second place, behind the Coalition Party
. Tiit Vähi
tried to negotiate a coalition with the Reform Party, but the talks broke down over economic policy, with the Reform Party opposing agricultural subsidies
and supporting the maintenance of Estonia's flat tax
, While the Coalition Party formed a new government with the Centre Party
at first, a taping scandal involving Centre Party leader Edgar Savisaar
led to the Reform Party replacing the Centre Party in the coalition in November 1995. Kallas was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs, with five other Reform Party members serving in the cabinet. The Reform Party left the government in November 1996 after the Coalition Party signed a cooperation agreement with the Centre Party without consulting them.
At the 1999 election
, the Reform Party dropped one seat to 18, finishing third behind the Centre Party and the Pro Patria Union
. The ER formed a centre-right
coalition with the Pro Patria Union and the Moderates, with Mart Laar as Prime Minister and Siim Kallas as Minister of Finance, and with Toomas Savi
returned as Speaker. Although the coalition was focused on EU
and NATO accession, the Reform Party successfully delivered its manifesto pledge to abolish corporate tax
: one of its most notable achievements. After the October 1999 local elections, the three parties replicated their alliance in Tallinn
.
The party served in government again from March 1999 to December 2001 in a tripartite government with Pro Patria Union
and People's Party Moderates
, from January 2002 to March 2003 with the Estonian Centre Party
, from March 2003 to March 2005 with Res Publica and People's Union, from March 2005 to March 2007 with the Centre Party and People's Union, from March 2007 to May 2009 with Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
and the Social Democratic Party. Since May 2009 they are in a minority government with Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica.
Ansip has been prime minister of Estonia since April, 2005, and several other cabinet members, including Urmas Paet
, are members of the party.
After the 2007 parliamentary election
holds 31 out of 101 seats in the Riigikogu
, after receiving 153,040 votes (27.8% of the total), an increase of +10.1%, resulting in a net gain of 12 seats.
. The Reform Party is the most economically liberal in the political landscape of Estonia.
, which is overwhelmingly backed by ethnic Estonians, the Reform Party attracts votes from equally across populations. The Reform Party's vote base is heavily focused in the cities; although it receives only one-fifth of its support from Tallinn
, it receives three times as many votes from other cities, despite them being home to fewer than 40% more voters overall.
Its voter profile is significantly younger than average, while its voters are well-educated, with the fewest high school drop-outs
of any party. Its membership is the most male-dominated of all the parties, yet it receives the support of more female voters than average. Reform Party voters also tend to have higher incomes, with 43% of Reform Party voters coming from the top 30% of all voters by income.
(ELDR) since December 1998. In the European Parliament
, the party's one MEP — Kristiina Ojuland
— sits in the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
(ALDE), while its member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
— currently Margus Hanson
— sits in the ALDE group in the Assembly. The Reform Party has been a full member of the Liberal International
since 1996, having been an observer member from 1994 to 1996.
The party claims to have 10,000 members.
The party's youth wing
is the Estonian Reform Party Youth (Reformierakonna Noortekogu), which includes members aged 15 to 35. The organisation claims to have 5,000 members.
website
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
, free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
liberal party in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. It is led by Estonian Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Estonia
The Prime Minister of Estonia is the head of government of the Republic of Estonia. The prime minister is nominated by the President after appropriate consultations with the parliamentary factions and confirmed by the Parliament. In case of disagreement, the Parliament can reject the President's...
Andrus Ansip
Andrus Ansip
Andrus Ansip is the current Prime Minister of Estonia, and chairman of the market liberal Estonian Reform Party .-Early life and career:...
, and has 33 members in the 101-member Riigikogu
Riigikogu
The Riigikogu is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. All important state-related questions pass through the Riigikogu...
, making it the largest party in the legislature. It has been in government for all but three years since its foundation in 1994.
The party was founded by then-President of the Bank of Estonia
Bank of Estonia
The Bank of Estonia , is the central bank of Estonia, which is a member of the European Union organisation and the European System of Central Banks...
Siim Kallas
Siim Kallas
Siim Kallas is an Estonian politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Transport. He is also one of five vice-presidents of the 27-member Barroso Commission...
as a split from Pro Patria
National Coalition Party Pro Patria
National Coalition Party Pro Patria was an Estonian political party founded in 1992 and merged in 1995 into Pro Patria Union.The National Coalition Party 'Pro Patria' was founded in September, 1992, as four electoral cartel partners merged:...
. At the 1995 election
Estonian parliamentary election, 1995
Estonian parliamentary election of 1995 was held on 5 March 1995. Threshold was 5% of the national vote, seven lists passed threshold. In brackets are the names of the parties/cartels in Estonian....
, it won 19 seats in the Riigikogu, making it the second-largest party. The Reform Party replaced the Estonian Centre Party
Estonian Centre Party
The Estonian Centre Party is a centrist, social liberal party in Estonia. Keskerakond is a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. It has the largest membership of an Estonian party, with over 12 000 members....
in government in autumn 1995, and remained there until 1996. In 1999
Estonian parliamentary election, 1999
Estonian parliamentary election of 1999 was held on 7 March 1999. The threshold was 5% of the national vote, and seven lists passed the threshold...
, the party lost a seat, but returned to the cabinet in coalition with the Pro Patria Union
Pro Patria Union
The Pro Patria Union was a conservative political party in Estonia. The party was founded on 2 December 1995 by merging the Estonian National Independence Party and the National Coalition Party Pro Patria .On April 4, 2006, representatives of the Pro Patria Union and the representatives of Res...
and the People's Party Moderates
Social Democratic Party (Estonia)
The Social Democratic Party is a social-democratic party in Estonia, led by Sven Mikser. It has been a member of the Party of European Socialists since 16 May 2003 and a member of the Socialist International since November 1990....
. The party has remained in various coalitions since then, with Andrus Ansip
Andrus Ansip
Andrus Ansip is the current Prime Minister of Estonia, and chairman of the market liberal Estonian Reform Party .-Early life and career:...
as Prime Minister since 1995. At the 2007 election
Estonian parliamentary election, 2007
Parliamentary elections took place in Estonia on Sunday, March 4, 2007 to elect members of the Riigikogu. The electoral system was a two-tier semi-open list proportional representation system with a 5% election threshold...
, the party won 31 seats, becoming the largest party for the first time, and increased its seat tally again in 2011
Estonian parliamentary election, 2011
A parliamentary election was held in Estonia on 6 March 2011, with e-voting between 24 February and 2 March 2011.The 101 members of the Riigikogu were elected using a form of proportional representation for a four-year term. The seats were allocated using a modified D'Hondt method. The country is...
, with 33 seats.
As the Reform Party has participated in most of the government coalitions in Estonia since the mid-1990s, its influence has been great, especially regarding Estonia's free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
and low taxes policies. The party has been a full member of Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
since 1996, having been an observer member between 1994–1996, and a full member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party is a European political party mainly active in the European Union, composed of 56 national-level liberal and liberal-democratic parties from across Europe...
. The founder and the first chairman of the Reform Party, Siim Kallas
Siim Kallas
Siim Kallas is an Estonian politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Transport. He is also one of five vice-presidents of the 27-member Barroso Commission...
, has been since 2004 a Commissioner of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. He is also one of the five Vice-Presidents of the Barroso Commission
Barroso Commission
The Barroso Commission is the European Commission that has been in office since 22 November 2004 and is due to serve until 2014. Its president is José Manuel Barroso, who presides over 26 other commissioners...
.
History
The Estonian Reform Party was founded on 18 November 1994, joining together the Reform Party — a then-recent splinter from the National Coalition Party Pro PatriaNational Coalition Party Pro Patria
National Coalition Party Pro Patria was an Estonian political party founded in 1992 and merged in 1995 into Pro Patria Union.The National Coalition Party 'Pro Patria' was founded in September, 1992, as four electoral cartel partners merged:...
— and the Estonian Liberal Democratic Party
Estonian Liberal Democratic Party
The Estonian Liberal Democratic Party , abbreviated to ELDP, was a social liberal political party in Estonia that existed between 1990 and 1994...
. The new party, which had 710 members at its foundation, was led by Siim Kallas
Siim Kallas
Siim Kallas is an Estonian politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Transport. He is also one of five vice-presidents of the 27-member Barroso Commission...
, who had been President of the Bank of Estonia
Bank of Estonia
The Bank of Estonia , is the central bank of Estonia, which is a member of the European Union organisation and the European System of Central Banks...
and uninvolved in politics. Kallas was untainted by association with Mart Laar
Mart Laar
Mart Laar is an Estonian statesman, historian and a founding member of the Foundation for the Investigation of Communist Crimes. He was the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1992 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2002, and is the leader of the conservative party Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica...
's government, but was widely seen as a proficient central bank governor, having overseen the successful introduction of the Estonian kroon
Estonian kroon
In 1992, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 10, 20 & 50 senti, as well as 1 kroon. The 1 kroon was struck in cupronickel, the others in aluminum-bronze. However, in 1997, nickel-plated steel 20 senti were introduced, followed by aluminum-bronze 1 kroon in 1998. 5 senti coins were not...
. The party formed ties with Germany's Free Democratic Party
Free Democratic Party (Germany)
The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
, Sweden's Liberal People's Party
Liberal People's Party (Sweden)
The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
, Finland's Swedish People's Party, and Latvia's Latvian Way
Latvian Way
Latvian Way was a centre-right liberal party in Latvia. It merged with Latvia's First Party to form the Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way in 2007.It described itself as "a liberal party defending people's freedom to shape their own lives"...
.
In the party's first parliamentary election, in March 1995
Estonian parliamentary election, 1995
Estonian parliamentary election of 1995 was held on 5 March 1995. Threshold was 5% of the national vote, seven lists passed threshold. In brackets are the names of the parties/cartels in Estonian....
, it won 19 seats: catapulting it into second place, behind the Coalition Party
Estonian Coalition Party
Estonian Coalition Party was an Estonian centrist/centre-right liberal political party. Founded in 1991 by Tiit Vähi, it disbanded in 2001. The party was an observing member of Liberal International from 1998 on. It had a contacts with parties like Latvian Way and participated in the ruling...
. Tiit Vähi
Tiit Vähi
Tiit Vähi is an Estonian politician, Prime Minister of Estonia from 1995 to 1997, and acting Prime Minister for several months during 1992 under the transitional government....
tried to negotiate a coalition with the Reform Party, but the talks broke down over economic policy, with the Reform Party opposing agricultural subsidies
Agricultural subsidy
An agricultural subsidy is a governmental subsidy paid to farmers and agribusinesses to supplement their income, manage the supply of agricultural commodities, and influence the cost and supply of such commodities...
and supporting the maintenance of Estonia's flat tax
Flat tax
A flat tax is a tax system with a constant marginal tax rate. Typically the term flat tax is applied in the context of an individual or corporate income that will be taxed at one marginal rate...
, While the Coalition Party formed a new government with the Centre Party
Estonian Centre Party
The Estonian Centre Party is a centrist, social liberal party in Estonia. Keskerakond is a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. It has the largest membership of an Estonian party, with over 12 000 members....
at first, a taping scandal involving Centre Party leader Edgar Savisaar
Edgar Savisaar
Edgar Savisaar , is an Estonian politician, one of the founding members of Popular Front of Estonia and the leader of the Centre Party. He has served as the acting Prime Minister of Estonia, Minister of Internal affairs and Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications...
led to the Reform Party replacing the Centre Party in the coalition in November 1995. Kallas was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs, with five other Reform Party members serving in the cabinet. The Reform Party left the government in November 1996 after the Coalition Party signed a cooperation agreement with the Centre Party without consulting them.
At the 1999 election
Estonian parliamentary election, 1999
Estonian parliamentary election of 1999 was held on 7 March 1999. The threshold was 5% of the national vote, and seven lists passed the threshold...
, the Reform Party dropped one seat to 18, finishing third behind the Centre Party and the Pro Patria Union
Pro Patria Union
The Pro Patria Union was a conservative political party in Estonia. The party was founded on 2 December 1995 by merging the Estonian National Independence Party and the National Coalition Party Pro Patria .On April 4, 2006, representatives of the Pro Patria Union and the representatives of Res...
. The ER formed a centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
coalition with the Pro Patria Union and the Moderates, with Mart Laar as Prime Minister and Siim Kallas as Minister of Finance, and with Toomas Savi
Toomas Savi
Toomas Savi is an Estonian politician and in 2004-2009 was a Member of the European Parliament for the Estonian Reform Party, part of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party....
returned as Speaker. Although the coalition was focused on EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and NATO accession, the Reform Party successfully delivered its manifesto pledge to abolish corporate tax
Corporate tax
Many countries impose corporate tax or company tax on the income or capital of some types of legal entities. A similar tax may be imposed at state or lower levels. The taxes may also be referred to as income tax or capital tax. Entities treated as partnerships are generally not taxed at the...
: one of its most notable achievements. After the October 1999 local elections, the three parties replicated their alliance in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
.
The party served in government again from March 1999 to December 2001 in a tripartite government with Pro Patria Union
Pro Patria Union
The Pro Patria Union was a conservative political party in Estonia. The party was founded on 2 December 1995 by merging the Estonian National Independence Party and the National Coalition Party Pro Patria .On April 4, 2006, representatives of the Pro Patria Union and the representatives of Res...
and People's Party Moderates
Social Democratic Party (Estonia)
The Social Democratic Party is a social-democratic party in Estonia, led by Sven Mikser. It has been a member of the Party of European Socialists since 16 May 2003 and a member of the Socialist International since November 1990....
, from January 2002 to March 2003 with the Estonian Centre Party
Estonian Centre Party
The Estonian Centre Party is a centrist, social liberal party in Estonia. Keskerakond is a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. It has the largest membership of an Estonian party, with over 12 000 members....
, from March 2003 to March 2005 with Res Publica and People's Union, from March 2005 to March 2007 with the Centre Party and People's Union, from March 2007 to May 2009 with Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica is an Estonian Liberal Conservative political party. It was founded on 4 June 2006 when two conservative parties, Pro Patria Union and Res Publica merged. Up to the 2007 parliamentary elections, the party held 32 seats out of 101 in the Riigikogu and one of...
and the Social Democratic Party. Since May 2009 they are in a minority government with Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica.
Ansip has been prime minister of Estonia since April, 2005, and several other cabinet members, including Urmas Paet
Urmas Paet
Urmas Paet is an Estonian politician who has been Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia since 2005. He is a member of the Estonian Reform Party. As of September 2010, Paet has been the longest serving minister since the re-establishment of Estonian independence.-Biography:Paet was born in Tallinn...
, are members of the party.
After the 2007 parliamentary election
Estonian parliamentary election, 2007
Parliamentary elections took place in Estonia on Sunday, March 4, 2007 to elect members of the Riigikogu. The electoral system was a two-tier semi-open list proportional representation system with a 5% election threshold...
holds 31 out of 101 seats in the Riigikogu
Riigikogu
The Riigikogu is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. All important state-related questions pass through the Riigikogu...
, after receiving 153,040 votes (27.8% of the total), an increase of +10.1%, resulting in a net gain of 12 seats.
Ideology
Ideologically, the Reform Party has consistently advocated market liberalismMarket liberalism
The term market liberalism is used in two distinct meanings.Especially in the United States, the term is often used as a synonym to classical liberalism...
. The Reform Party is the most economically liberal in the political landscape of Estonia.
- The party supports Estonian 0% corporate taxCorporate taxMany countries impose corporate tax or company tax on the income or capital of some types of legal entities. A similar tax may be imposed at state or lower levels. The taxes may also be referred to as income tax or capital tax. Entities treated as partnerships are generally not taxed at the...
on re-invested income and wants to eliminate the dividend taxDividend taxA dividend tax is an income tax on dividend payments to the stockholders of a company.-Collection:In many jurisdictions, the government requires the company to withhold at least the standard tax, paying this to the national revenue authorities and paying out only the balance to the...
. - The party wanted to cut flat income taxFlat taxA flat tax is a tax system with a constant marginal tax rate. Typically the term flat tax is applied in the context of an individual or corporate income that will be taxed at one marginal rate...
rate from 22% (in 2007) to 18% by 2011. Due to economic crisis the campaign for cutting income tax rate was put on hold with the tax rate at 21% in 2008 and 2009. - The party used to oppose VATVatVat or VAT may refer to:* A type of container such as a barrel, storage tank, or tub, often constructed of welded sheet stainless steel, and used for holding, storing, and processing liquids such as milk, wine, and beer...
general rate increase until late spring 2009 when it changed its position in the light of dire economic crisis and the need to find more money for budget. VAT was increased from 18% to 20% on 1 July 2009. - The party wants eventually to end conscription and introduce a voluntary army. http://www.epl.ee/?artikkel=203694
Political support
The party is supported predominantly by young, well-educated, urban professionals. Unlike the Centre Party, which has disproportionate appeal amongst the Russian minority, and the Union of Pro Patria and Res PublicaUnion of Pro Patria and Res Publica
Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica is an Estonian Liberal Conservative political party. It was founded on 4 June 2006 when two conservative parties, Pro Patria Union and Res Publica merged. Up to the 2007 parliamentary elections, the party held 32 seats out of 101 in the Riigikogu and one of...
, which is overwhelmingly backed by ethnic Estonians, the Reform Party attracts votes from equally across populations. The Reform Party's vote base is heavily focused in the cities; although it receives only one-fifth of its support from Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, it receives three times as many votes from other cities, despite them being home to fewer than 40% more voters overall.
Its voter profile is significantly younger than average, while its voters are well-educated, with the fewest high school drop-outs
Dropping out
Dropping out means leaving a group for either practical reasons, necessities or disillusionment with the system from which the individual in question leaves....
of any party. Its membership is the most male-dominated of all the parties, yet it receives the support of more female voters than average. Reform Party voters also tend to have higher incomes, with 43% of Reform Party voters coming from the top 30% of all voters by income.
Organisation
The Reform Party has been a full member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform PartyEuropean Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party is a European political party mainly active in the European Union, composed of 56 national-level liberal and liberal-democratic parties from across Europe...
(ELDR) since December 1998. In the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, the party's one MEP — Kristiina Ojuland
Kristiina Ojuland
Kristiina Ojuland was the foreign minister of Estonia from 2002 through 2005. In June 2004 she ran for the post of secretary-general of the Council of Europe, but was defeated, receiving 51 of 299 votes...
— sits in the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
The Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is the current liberal/centrist political group of the European Parliament...
(ALDE), while its member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe , which held its first session in Strasbourg on 10 August 1949, can be considered the oldest international parliamentary assembly with a pluralistic composition of democratically elected members of parliament established on the basis of an...
— currently Margus Hanson
Margus Hanson
Margus Hanson is an Estonian politician.-Career:Between 1997 and 2003, Hanson was a Vice-Mayor of Tartu.He has been a member of Riigikogu since 2004 and was the defense minister of Estonia from 2003 until 2004....
— sits in the ALDE group in the Assembly. The Reform Party has been a full member of the Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
since 1996, having been an observer member from 1994 to 1996.
The party claims to have 10,000 members.
The party's youth wing
Youth wing
A youth wing is a subsidiary, autonomous or independently-allied front of a larger organization that is formed in order to rally support and allegiance for that organization's campaigns from members and potential members of a younger age...
is the Estonian Reform Party Youth (Reformierakonna Noortekogu), which includes members aged 15 to 35. The organisation claims to have 5,000 members.
Election results
| Election | Votes | Vote % | Seats | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 Estonian parliamentary election, 1995 Estonian parliamentary election of 1995 was held on 5 March 1995. Threshold was 5% of the national vote, seven lists passed threshold. In brackets are the names of the parties/cartels in Estonian.... |
87,531 | 16.2 | 19 | 2nd |
| 1999 Estonian parliamentary election, 1999 Estonian parliamentary election of 1999 was held on 7 March 1999. The threshold was 5% of the national vote, and seven lists passed the threshold... |
77,088 | 15.9 | 18 | 3rd |
| 2003 Estonian parliamentary election, 2003 The 2003 Estonian parliamentary election was held in Estonia on 2 March 2003 to elect the members of the Riigikogu . Two opposing parties won the most seats, with both the Centre Party and Res Publica Party winning 28 seats... |
87,551 | 17.7 | 19 | 3rd |
| 2007 Estonian parliamentary election, 2007 Parliamentary elections took place in Estonia on Sunday, March 4, 2007 to elect members of the Riigikogu. The electoral system was a two-tier semi-open list proportional representation system with a 5% election threshold... |
153,044 | 27.8 | 31 | 1st |
| 2011 Estonian parliamentary election, 2011 A parliamentary election was held in Estonia on 6 March 2011, with e-voting between 24 February and 2 March 2011.The 101 members of the Riigikogu were elected using a form of proportional representation for a four-year term. The seats were allocated using a modified D'Hondt method. The country is... |
165,255 | 28.6 | 33 | 1st |
External links
Reform Party official site Estonian Reform Party faction description of the party on the RiigikoguRiigikogu
The Riigikogu is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. All important state-related questions pass through the Riigikogu...
website