Indrek Tarand
Encyclopedia
Indrek Tarand MEP
(born February 3, 1964, Tallinn
) is an Estonia
n politician, reserve officer, civil servant, journalist and historian.
Tarand has served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of Estonia and as the Secretary General of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
. His mother Mari Tarand is a well-known linguist and the elder sister of Juhan Viiding
.
He has learned history in the University of Tartu
. As a student during the Soviet occupation, he was thrown out in his first year for lighting candles with his fellow Estonian nationalists on the grave of Julius Kuperjanov
, an Estonian military commander. Tarand was forced to the Soviet military service and after that he finished the university in 1991.
In 2005, Tarand caused a scandal at a soccer game by wearing a shirt that bore the names of some former Communist Party
members, including Estonian president Arnold Rüütel
and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
with the words Kommarid ahju! ("Commies to the oven!") This was one of the reasons that caused defense minister Jaak Jõerüüt
to resign.
He is also a freelance journalist hosting programmes in radio and television, including the Estonian version of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
.
He was elected to the European Parliament
in June 2009
. He ran as an independent
candidate and secured a seat for himself with 25.8% of the total votes, narrowly trailing the Estonian Centre Party
. Tarand is member of The Greens–European Free Alliance parliamentary group.
He also held the post of the Director of the Estonian War Museum – General Laidoner Museum. However, shorty after taking the MEP
seat, Tarand relinquished his directorship. As a reserve officer, Tarand holds the rank of second lieutenant
(nooremleitnant).
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
(born February 3, 1964, 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...
) is an 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...
n politician, reserve officer, civil servant, journalist and historian.
Tarand has served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of Estonia and as the Secretary General of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Biography
Tarand is the eldest son of Andres TarandAndres Tarand
Andres Tarand , is an Estonian politician and former Member of the European Parliament for the Social Democratic Party, part of the Party of European Socialists between 2004 and 2009. Tarand also served as the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1994 to 1995.Born in Tallinn, Tarand graduated from the...
. His mother Mari Tarand is a well-known linguist and the elder sister of Juhan Viiding
Juhan Viiding
Juhan Viiding , also known under the pseudonym of Jüri Üdi was an Estonian poet and actor.-Childhood, education, and family:Juhan Viiding was born June 1, 1948 in Tallinn to Linda and Paul Viiding...
.
He has learned history in the University of Tartu
University of Tartu
The University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia. University of Tartu is the national university of Estonia; it is the biggest and highest-ranked university in Estonia...
. As a student during the Soviet occupation, he was thrown out in his first year for lighting candles with his fellow Estonian nationalists on the grave of Julius Kuperjanov
Julius Kuperjanov
Julius Kuperjanov VR II/2 and II/3 was an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence and commanding officer of the Kuperjanov Partisan Battalion.-Life:Kuperjanov was a schoolteacher in the village of Kambja...
, an Estonian military commander. Tarand was forced to the Soviet military service and after that he finished the university in 1991.
In 2005, Tarand caused a scandal at a soccer game by wearing a shirt that bore the names of some former Communist Party
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
members, including Estonian president Arnold Rüütel
Arnold Rüütel
Arnold Rüütel OIH was the third President of the Republic of Estonia from October 8, 2001 to October 9, 2006. He was the second President since Estonia regained its independence in 1991....
and Prime Minister 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:...
with the words Kommarid ahju! ("Commies to the oven!") This was one of the reasons that caused defense minister Jaak Jõerüüt
Jaak Jõerüüt
Jaak Jõerüüt is an Estonian writer and politician. He was the defense minister of Estonia from November 2004 to 10 October 2005....
to resign.
He is also a freelance journalist hosting programmes in radio and television, including the Estonian version of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? is a television game show format based on asking grade-school level questions to adults, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy...
.
He was elected to 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...
in June 2009
European Parliament election, 2009 (Estonia)
The European Parliament election of 2009 in Estonia was the election of the delegation from Estonia to the European Parliament in 2009.The election day was 7 June 2009. Turnout was 43.9% – about 17.1% higher than during the previous election five years before...
. He ran as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate and secured a seat for himself with 25.8% of the total votes, narrowly trailing 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....
. Tarand is member of The Greens–European Free Alliance parliamentary group.
He also held the post of the Director of the Estonian War Museum – General Laidoner Museum. However, shorty after taking the MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
seat, Tarand relinquished his directorship. As a reserve officer, Tarand holds the rank of second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
(nooremleitnant).