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{{Short description|Estonian politician (born 1956)}}
'''Andrus Ansip''' (born [[1 October]] [[1956]]), is the current [[Prime Minister of Estonia|Prime Minister]] of [[Estonia]], and leader of the [[Estonian Reform Party]] (''[[Estonian language|Estonian]]: [[Reformierakond]]'').
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Andrus Ansip
| image = Portrait Andrus Ansip.jpg
| caption = Ansip in 2012
| honorific-suffix = {{Post-nominals|size=100%|MEP}}
| constituency_MP = [[Estonia (European Parliament constituency)|Estonia]]
| parliament = European
| term_start = 2 July 2019
| term_end =
| office2 = [[European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society|European Commissioner for Digital Single Market]]
| president2 = [[Jean-Claude Juncker]]
| term_start2 = 1 November 2014
| term_end2 = 1 July 2019
| predecessor2 = [[Neelie Kroes]] {{small|(Digital Agenda)}}
| successor2 = [[Maroš Šefčovič]] {{small|(Acting)}}
| office3 = [[European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society]]<br />{{small|Acting}}
| president3 = [[Jean-Claude Juncker]]
| term_start3 = 1 January 2017
| term_end3 = 7 July 2017
| predecessor3 = [[Günther Oettinger]]
| successor3 = [[Mariya Gabriel]]
| office4 = 16th [[Prime Minister of Estonia]]
| president4 = [[Arnold Rüütel]]<br>[[Toomas Hendrik Ilves]]
| term_start4 = 12 April 2005
| term_end4 = 26 March 2014
| predecessor4 = [[Juhan Parts]]
| successor4 = [[Taavi Rõivas]]
| office5 = Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications
| primeminister5 = [[Juhan Parts]]
| term_start5 = 23 September 2004
| term_end5 = 12 April 2005
| predecessor5 = [[Meelis Atonen]]
| successor5 = [[Edgar Savisaar]]
| office6 = [[List of mayors of Tartu|Mayor of Tartu]]
| term_start6 = 10 September 1998
| term_end6 = 23 September 2004
| predecessor6 = Roman Mugur
| successor6 = [[Laine Randjärv]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|10|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Tartu]], Estonia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Estonian Reform Party|Reform Party]]
| spouse = Anu Ansip
| children = 3
| alma_mater = [[University of Tartu]]<br>[[Estonian University of Life Sciences]]
| signature = Accession Treaty 2011 Andrus Ansip signature.svg
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Andrus Ansip voice.ogg|title=Andrus Ansip's voice|type=speech|description=Ansip speaking at a press conference with [[José Manuel Barroso]]<br/>Recorded 6 December 2005}}
}}
'''Andrus Ansip''' ({{IPA|et|ˈɑnːtrus ˈɑnʲːsʲipː}}; born 1 October 1956) is an [[Estonia]]n politician, a member of the European Parliament, the former [[European Commissioner for Digital Agenda|European Commissioner for Digital Single Market]] and [[Vice-President of the European Commission|Vice President]] of the European Commission, in office from 2014 until 2019. Previously, he was [[Prime Minister of Estonia]] from 2005 to 2014 and chairman of the [[liberalism|liberal]] [[Estonian Reform Party]] ({{langx|et|Reformierakond}}) from 2004 to 2014.


Before his entry into politics Ansip trained as a chemist, before working in banking and business. He entered Parliament in 2004, quickly becoming Minister of Economic Affairs, and subsequently prime minister in April 2005. On 1 November 2014, he was appointed to the [[European Commission]].
==Early Life and Career==
Born in [[Tartu]], Ansip graduated from the [[University of Tartu]] with a diploma in [[Chemistry]] in [[1979]]. Before entering into politics, Ansip was involved in [[banking]] and [[investment]]. He has served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the People’s Bank of Tartu ([[Estonian language|Estonian]]: ''Rahvapank''), Chairman of the Board of Livonia Privatization IF, and [[CEO]] of Investment Fund Broker Ltd ([[Estonian language|Estonian]]: ''Fondiinvesteeringu Maakler AS''). He also has served as [[Chairman of the board]] for Radio Tartu.


==Early life and business career==
==Lord Mayor of Tartu==
Born in [[Tartu]], Ansip graduated from the [[University of Tartu]] with a degree in [[chemistry]] in 1979. He worked as an engineer at the university from 1979 to 1983 (with a two-year break for mandatory military service). He was an instructor in the Industry Department and Head of the Organisational Department of the Tartu District Committee of the [[Soviet Union Communist Party]] Estonian branch [[Estonian Communist Party]] from 1986 to 1988.<ref name="officialCV">The Government of the Republic of Estonia: [http://www.valitsus.ee/en/government/prime-minister-and-ministers/andrus-ansip Andrus Ansip - Estonian Government] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813122749/http://www.valitsus.ee/en/government/prime-minister-and-ministers/andrus-ansip |date=13 August 2011 }}</ref> Ansip has been involved in several banking and investment ventures. He has served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the People's Bank of Tartu ({{langx|et|Rahvapank}}), Chairman of the Board of Livonia Privatisation IF, and CEO of Investment Fund Broker Ltd ({{langx|et|Fondiinvesteeringu Maakler AS}}). He also has served as [[Chairman of the board]] for [[Radio Tartu]].
In [[1998]], Ansip was elected as [[Lord Mayor]] of [[Tartu]] as a candidate of the market radical ''Reformierakond'' (Reform Party), a position in which he held until [[2004]], to great popular acclaim and very high ratings in the opinion polls. He had run in previous elections for the ''[[Riigikogu]]'', the Estonian [[Parliament]], but had always given up his seat in order to stay Mayor.


From 1989 to 1993 Andrus Ansip also managed a Tartu branch of AS Estkompexim.
==Chairman of ''Reformierakond'' and Minister of Economics==
However, in 2004, Ansip became Chairman of ''Reformierakond'' because the party's founder and most important figure, former Prime Minister [[Siim Kallas]], had become EU Commissioner and Vice President and thus had to move to [[Brussels]]. Since then, it was obvious that Ansip would have to move to [[Tallinn]], and a chance opened up when the Minister of Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications in the coalition government of [[Juhan Parts]] (which included the ''Reformierakond'') had to resign. Ansip became his successor. His track record as Minister is more difficult to evaluate because of the short duration of his service.


==Political career==
==Prime Minister designate==
On [[4 April]] [[2005]], Ansip was charged by [[President of Estonia|President]] [[Arnold Rüütel]] to form a government, following the [[24 March]] [[2005]] resignation by Prime Minister Juhan Parts. Ansip thus became Prime Minister of Estonia. Negotiations on ''Toompea'' ("Cathedral Hill", the historic uptown of Tallinn that is both the seat of the government and parliament) go into the direction of a coalition with the ''[[Keskerakond]]'' ("Center Party", populist) and ''[[Rahvaliit]]'' ("Peoples' Party", rural).


==The Cabinet designate==
===Mayor of Tartu===
In 1998, Ansip was elected as Mayor of [[Tartu]] as a candidate of the centrist-right ''Reformierakond'' (Reform Party), a position which he held until 2004, to great popular acclaim and very high ratings in the opinion polls. He had run in previous elections for the ''[[Riigikogu]]'', the Estonian Parliament, but had always given up his seat in order to remain Mayor. He was succeeded by fellow Reform Party member [[Laine Jänes]].
On [[11 April]] [[2005]], Ansip introduced the designated cabinet, approval by ''Riigikogu'' came on [[12 April]] [[2005]], looking as follows:


===Chairman of Reform Party and Minister of Economics===
====Reformierakond====
On 21 November 2004, Ansip became Chairman of [[Estonian Reform Party]] because the party's founder and hitherto chairman, former prime minister [[Siim Kallas]], had become EU Commissioner and vice president and thus had to move to [[Brussels]]. It was obvious that Ansip would have to move to [[Tallinn]], and a chance opened up when the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications in the coalition government of [[Juhan Parts]], [[Meelis Atonen]], a party colleague, had to resign. Ansip became his successor on 13 September. His track record as Minister is more difficult to evaluate because of the short duration of his service.
*Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
*Secretary of State Urmas Paet (former Minister of Culture; journalist)
*Secretary of Defense Jaak Jõerüüt
*Attorney General Rein Lang
*Secretary of National Affairs Paul-Eerik Rummo (formerly in this position; poet)


====Keskerakond====
===Prime minister===
{{See also|Andrus Ansip's second cabinet|Andrus Ansip's third cabinet}}
*Secretary of Economics and Communications [[Edgar Savisaar]] (former Prime Minister and Lord Mayor of Tallinn; leader of the ''Keskerakond'')
On 31 March 2005, Ansip was charged by [[President of Estonia|President]] [[Arnold Rüütel]] to form a government, following 24 March 2005 resignation by Prime Minister Juhan Parts. Ansip was able to form a coalition with the [[Estonian Centre Party|Centre Party]] and the [[People's Union of Estonia]], which was approved by the Riigikogu on 12 April 2005. Ansip thus became Prime Minister of Estonia. He was backed by 53 out of 101 members of the Riigikogu, 40 deputies voting against. He and the ministers were inaugurated in office the next day, on 13 April.
*Secretary of Culture Raivo Palmaru
[[File:Andrus Ansip and Angela Merkel.jpg|thumb|Ansip with German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]], March 2007]]
*Secretary of Social Affairs Jaak Aab
On 4 March 2007, Ansip's Reform Party won 27 percent of the vote in the Estonian parliamentary elections, raising its mandate in the Riigikogu to 31 seats from 19. Ansip personally received over 22,500 votes. He was charged by [[President of Estonia|President]] [[Toomas Hendrik Ilves]] to form a government. This time the Reform Party formed a coalition with the [[Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica]] (IRL) and the [[Social Democratic Party (Estonia)|Social Democratic Party]]. His second term as prime minister began on 5 April 2007. In May 2009, the Social Democrats left the government, and as coalition talks with the [[People's Union of Estonia]]{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} failed, it was decided to continue with a [[minority government]] of the Reform Party and IRL.
*Interior Secretary Kalle Laanet
*Minister of Education and Science Mailis Reps (held this position previously)


[[File:Prime Minister of Estonia Andrus Ansip (5373101682).jpg|thumb|Ansip at the [[UK Nordic Baltic Summit]] in London, 20 January 2011]]
====Rahvaliit====
In March 2011, the Reform Party won 33 seats in the Riigikogu, remaining the largest party even after the country's economic output had fallen by 14 percent in 2009 due to the global financial crisis and the collapse of a real estate price bubble fueled by cheap and easy credit from Nordic banks.<ref name="auto">David Mardiste (4 March 2014), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-estonia-pm-idUSBREA230J620140304 Estonian PM submits resignation: president's spokesman] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref> Ansip was once again charged by [[President of Estonia|President]] [[Toomas Hendrik Ilves]] to form a government. The Reform Party continued in a coalition with the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica. Ansip's third term as prime minister began on 6 April 2011, when ''[[Riigikogu]]'' approved his third cabinet.
*Secretary of the Environment Villu Reiljan (held this position previously)
*Secretary of Agriculture Ester Tuiksoo
*Finance Secretary Aivar Sõerd
*Secretary of Regional Affairs Jaan Õunapuu (held this position previously)


But Ansip's center-right coalition soon struggled in polls amid signs of voter fatigue at years of a government focused on fiscal austerity as well as several high-profile party funding scandals. The center-left opposition also gained popularity.<ref name="auto" />
The general consensus in the Estonian media seems to be that the new cabinet, on the level of competence, is not necessarily an improvement over the old one, with the exception of the key positions Attorney General and Secretary of Finance.

On 4 March 2014, Ansip announced his resignation to enable a successor to lead his party into [[2015 Estonian parliamentary election|2015 elections]]. From 4 December 2013 to 26 March 2014 he was the longest-serving [[prime minister]] in the [[European Union]].<ref name="longest-serving">{{Cite news |date=4 March 2014 |title=Estonia PM Ansip resigns - Europe's longest-serving PM |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26430899}}</ref>

===Vice President of the European Commission===
In the [[2014 European Parliament election in Estonia|2014 European elections]], Ansip was elected as an MEP received the largest number of preferential votes in Estonia. Shortly after, Prime Minister [[Taavi Rõivas]] nominated him as the country's next European Commissioner.<ref>Dave Keating (30 March 2014), [http://www.politico.eu/article/ansip-nominated-as-estonias-european-commissioner/ Ansip nominated as Estonia’s commissioner] ''[[European Voice]]''.</ref>

On 10 September 2014 President-Elect [[Jean-Claude Juncker|Juncker]] of the [[European Commission]] announced that he proposed Andrus Ansip as [[Vice-President of the European Commission]] and the [[European Commissioner]] for the [[Digital Single Market]]. He was formally appointed by the [[European Council]] as vice president with the consent of the [[European Parliament]].

===Member of the European Parliament, 2019-2024===
Ansip was re-elected in [[2019 European Parliament election in Estonia|2019]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eestist valitud Euroopa Parlamendi liikmed on teada |url=https://parnu.postimees.ee/6692274/eestist-valitud-euroopa-parlamendi-liikmed-on-teada |date=27 May 2019 |website=Pärnu Postimees}}</ref> Shortly after, he handed in his resignation from the European Commission to take up the European Parliament seat he won.<ref>Laura Kayali (17 June 2019), [https://www.politico.eu/article/andrus-ansip-resigns-from-european-commission/ Andrus Ansip resigns from European Commission] ''[[Politico Europe]]''.</ref> In Parliament, he has since been serving on the [[European Parliament Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection|Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection]]. In 2020, he also joined the [[Committee on Petitions]] and the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age.<ref>[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/doc/news/flash/24221/Full%20Members%20new%20committees_09-07-2020_en.pdf Members of the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age] [[European Parliament]], press release of July 9, 2020.</ref>

In addition to his committee assignments, Ansip is part of the Parliament's delegation for relations with the [[Pan-African Parliament]].<ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/124696/ANDRUS_ANSIP/home Andrus Ansip] [[European Parliament]].</ref> He is also a member of the European Internet Forum,<ref>[https://www.internetforum.eu/members.html Members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107073031/https://www.internetforum.eu/members.html |date=7 November 2019 }} European Internet Forum.</ref> the European Parliament Intergroup on Artificial Intelligence and Digital<ref>[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/about-parliament/files/organisation-and-rules/organisation/intergroups/list-of-members-artificial-intelligence-and-digital.pdf Intergroup on Artificial Intelligence and Digital] [[European Parliament]].</ref> and the European Parliament Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas.<ref>[http://www.searica.eu/intergroup/members-2019-2024 Members 2019-2024] European Parliament Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas.</ref>

In March 2024, Ansip announced that he would not stand in the [[2024 European Parliament election]].<ref>[https://news.err.ee/1609292040/andrus-ansip-drops-european-parliament-elections-bid-in-surprise-move Andrus Ansip drops European Parliament elections bid in surprise move] ''[[Eesti Rahvusringhääling]]'', 24 March 2024.</ref>

==Relocation of the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn==
{{Main|Bronze Night}}
One of the most controversial actions of Ansip's government was relocation of the ''[[Bronze Soldier of Tallinn]]'' from a prominent location in the center of Tallinn to the [[Defence Forces Cemetery of Tallinn]] adjacent to the city center. The removal of the monument, as well as war graves, from its location on 27 April 2007 led to mass protests and two nights of the worst rioting Estonia has seen since regaining independence.<ref name="BBC28">{{Cite news |title=BBC NEWS - Europe - Tallinn tense after deadly riots |date=28 April 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6602171.stm |access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Eesti Päevaleht Online">{{Cite web |title=Olukord tänavatel on rahulik |url=http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/383785 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429025340/http://epl.ee/artikkel/383785 |archive-date=29 April 2007}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Andrus Ansip is married to [[gynecologist]] Anu Ansip (b. 1956)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tartu Rotary klubi |url=http://rotary.tartu.ee/liikmed/Ansip_Andrus.htm |access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref> and they have three daughters Reet (b. 1977), who is a [[stomatology|stomatologist]]; Tiina (b. 1981) who is a [[journalism|journalist]] and Liisa (b. 1997).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.miksike.ee/docs/referaadid2006/ansip_ehanaesalu.htm |title=Referaat |access-date=8 November 2008 |archive-date=2 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202165754/https://www.miksike.ee/docs/referaadid2006/ansip_ehanaesalu.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Andrus Ansip is a member of the Estonian voluntary home guard organisation [[Kaitseliit]] (Defence League) since 10 November 2009.<ref>[http://www.neljas.ee/est/tallinn/?news=994059 Andrus Ansip sai kätte Kaitseliidu liikmepileti] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720130408/http://www.neljas.ee/est/tallinn/?news=994059 |date=20 July 2011 }}. Neljas.ee, 29 March 2010.</ref>

==Awards==
* On 31 July 2007 Ansip was recognized for "his service in fight for Estonian freedom and Estonian national idea" by [https://web.archive.org/web/20180308044710/http://ekn.ca/ Estonian Central Council in Canada].<ref>{{Cite web |title=EV peaminister Toronto Eesti Majas. Video. - Estonian World Review |url=http://www.eesti.ca/main.php?op=article&articleid=17063 |website=Estonian World Review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928015322/http://www.eesti.ca/main.php?op=article&articleid=17063 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref>
* [[Estonian Newspaper Association]] named Ansip Press Enemy of 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eesti Ajalehtede Liit |url=http://www.eall.ee/uudised/2007/05_12_07.html |access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Albania}}: On 5 April 2010 Received a copy of the key of the city of [[Tirana]] on the occasion of his state visit to Albania.<ref>[http://www.tirana.gov.al/Celesi_qytetit/A%20(2)-2.jpg Received a copy of the key of the city of Tirana] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005042006/http://www.tirana.gov.al/Celesi_qytetit/A%20%282%29-2.jpg |date=5 October 2011 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://www.peaminister.ee/?lang=en Prime Minister of Estonia]
{{Portal|European Union}}
* [http://www.reform.ee Estonian Reform Party]
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927025745/http://www.valitsus.ee/?id=6540&tpl=1007 Official biography for Andrus Ansip]
*[http://www.reform.ee Estonian Reform Party]

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{{s-aft|after=[[Laine Randjärv]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications|years=2004–2005}}
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{{succession box | before=[[Juhan Parts]] | title=[[Prime Minister of Estonia]] | years=2005 - | after=current incumbent}}
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[[Category:1956 births|Ansip, Andrus]]
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[[fr:Andrus Ansip]]
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Estonian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Estonian European commissioners]]
[[Category:Estonian Reform Party MEPs]]
[[Category:Estonian Reform Party politicians]]
[[Category:Estonian University of Life Sciences alumni]]
[[Category:European commissioners (2014–2019)]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:Leaders of political parties in Estonia]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mayors of Tartu]]
[[Category:Members of the Riigikogu, 1999–2003]]
[[Category:Members of the Riigikogu, 2003–2007]]
[[Category:Members of the Riigikogu, 2007–2011]]
[[Category:Members of the Riigikogu, 2011–2015]]
[[Category:MEPs for Estonia 2014–2019]]
[[Category:MEPs for Estonia 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Politicians from Tartu]]
[[Category:Prime ministers of Estonia]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the National Coat of Arms, 2nd Class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the White Star, 3rd Class]]
[[Category:Soviet politicians]]
[[Category:University of Tartu alumni]]

Latest revision as of 01:03, 23 November 2024

Andrus Ansip
MEP
Ansip in 2012
Member of the European Parliament
for Estonia
Incumbent
Assumed office
2 July 2019
European Commissioner for Digital Single Market
In office
1 November 2014 – 1 July 2019
PresidentJean-Claude Juncker
Preceded byNeelie Kroes (Digital Agenda)
Succeeded byMaroš Šefčovič (Acting)
European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society
Acting
In office
1 January 2017 – 7 July 2017
PresidentJean-Claude Juncker
Preceded byGünther Oettinger
Succeeded byMariya Gabriel
16th Prime Minister of Estonia
In office
12 April 2005 – 26 March 2014
PresidentArnold Rüütel
Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Preceded byJuhan Parts
Succeeded byTaavi Rõivas
Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications
In office
23 September 2004 – 12 April 2005
Prime MinisterJuhan Parts
Preceded byMeelis Atonen
Succeeded byEdgar Savisaar
Mayor of Tartu
In office
10 September 1998 – 23 September 2004
Preceded byRoman Mugur
Succeeded byLaine Randjärv
Personal details
Born (1956-10-01) 1 October 1956 (age 68)
Tartu, Estonia
Political partyReform Party
SpouseAnu Ansip
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Tartu
Estonian University of Life Sciences
Signature
Andrus Ansip's voice
Ansip speaking at a press conference with José Manuel Barroso
Recorded 6 December 2005

Andrus Ansip (Estonian pronunciation: [ˈɑnːtrus ˈɑnʲːsʲipː]; born 1 October 1956) is an Estonian politician, a member of the European Parliament, the former European Commissioner for Digital Single Market and Vice President of the European Commission, in office from 2014 until 2019. Previously, he was Prime Minister of Estonia from 2005 to 2014 and chairman of the liberal Estonian Reform Party (Estonian: Reformierakond) from 2004 to 2014.

Before his entry into politics Ansip trained as a chemist, before working in banking and business. He entered Parliament in 2004, quickly becoming Minister of Economic Affairs, and subsequently prime minister in April 2005. On 1 November 2014, he was appointed to the European Commission.

Early life and business career

[edit]

Born in Tartu, Ansip graduated from the University of Tartu with a degree in chemistry in 1979. He worked as an engineer at the university from 1979 to 1983 (with a two-year break for mandatory military service). He was an instructor in the Industry Department and Head of the Organisational Department of the Tartu District Committee of the Soviet Union Communist Party Estonian branch Estonian Communist Party from 1986 to 1988.[1] Ansip has been involved in several banking and investment ventures. He has served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the People's Bank of Tartu (Estonian: Rahvapank), Chairman of the Board of Livonia Privatisation IF, and CEO of Investment Fund Broker Ltd (Estonian: Fondiinvesteeringu Maakler AS). He also has served as Chairman of the board for Radio Tartu.

From 1989 to 1993 Andrus Ansip also managed a Tartu branch of AS Estkompexim.

Political career

[edit]

Mayor of Tartu

[edit]

In 1998, Ansip was elected as Mayor of Tartu as a candidate of the centrist-right Reformierakond (Reform Party), a position which he held until 2004, to great popular acclaim and very high ratings in the opinion polls. He had run in previous elections for the Riigikogu, the Estonian Parliament, but had always given up his seat in order to remain Mayor. He was succeeded by fellow Reform Party member Laine Jänes.

Chairman of Reform Party and Minister of Economics

[edit]

On 21 November 2004, Ansip became Chairman of Estonian Reform Party because the party's founder and hitherto chairman, former prime minister Siim Kallas, had become EU Commissioner and vice president and thus had to move to Brussels. It was obvious that Ansip would have to move to Tallinn, and a chance opened up when the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications in the coalition government of Juhan Parts, Meelis Atonen, a party colleague, had to resign. Ansip became his successor on 13 September. His track record as Minister is more difficult to evaluate because of the short duration of his service.

Prime minister

[edit]
See also: Andrus Ansip's second cabinet and Andrus Ansip's third cabinet

On 31 March 2005, Ansip was charged by President Arnold Rüütel to form a government, following 24 March 2005 resignation by Prime Minister Juhan Parts. Ansip was able to form a coalition with the Centre Party and the People's Union of Estonia, which was approved by the Riigikogu on 12 April 2005. Ansip thus became Prime Minister of Estonia. He was backed by 53 out of 101 members of the Riigikogu, 40 deputies voting against. He and the ministers were inaugurated in office the next day, on 13 April.

Ansip with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, March 2007

On 4 March 2007, Ansip's Reform Party won 27 percent of the vote in the Estonian parliamentary elections, raising its mandate in the Riigikogu to 31 seats from 19. Ansip personally received over 22,500 votes. He was charged by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to form a government. This time the Reform Party formed a coalition with the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (IRL) and the Social Democratic Party. His second term as prime minister began on 5 April 2007. In May 2009, the Social Democrats left the government, and as coalition talks with the People's Union of Estonia[citation needed] failed, it was decided to continue with a minority government of the Reform Party and IRL.

Ansip at the UK Nordic Baltic Summit in London, 20 January 2011

In March 2011, the Reform Party won 33 seats in the Riigikogu, remaining the largest party even after the country's economic output had fallen by 14 percent in 2009 due to the global financial crisis and the collapse of a real estate price bubble fueled by cheap and easy credit from Nordic banks.[2] Ansip was once again charged by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to form a government. The Reform Party continued in a coalition with the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica. Ansip's third term as prime minister began on 6 April 2011, when Riigikogu approved his third cabinet.

But Ansip's center-right coalition soon struggled in polls amid signs of voter fatigue at years of a government focused on fiscal austerity as well as several high-profile party funding scandals. The center-left opposition also gained popularity.[2]

On 4 March 2014, Ansip announced his resignation to enable a successor to lead his party into 2015 elections. From 4 December 2013 to 26 March 2014 he was the longest-serving prime minister in the European Union.[3]

Vice President of the European Commission

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In the 2014 European elections, Ansip was elected as an MEP received the largest number of preferential votes in Estonia. Shortly after, Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas nominated him as the country's next European Commissioner.[4]

On 10 September 2014 President-Elect Juncker of the European Commission announced that he proposed Andrus Ansip as Vice-President of the European Commission and the European Commissioner for the Digital Single Market. He was formally appointed by the European Council as vice president with the consent of the European Parliament.

Member of the European Parliament, 2019-2024

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Ansip was re-elected in 2019.[5] Shortly after, he handed in his resignation from the European Commission to take up the European Parliament seat he won.[6] In Parliament, he has since been serving on the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. In 2020, he also joined the Committee on Petitions and the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age.[7]

In addition to his committee assignments, Ansip is part of the Parliament's delegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament.[8] He is also a member of the European Internet Forum,[9] the European Parliament Intergroup on Artificial Intelligence and Digital[10] and the European Parliament Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas.[11]

In March 2024, Ansip announced that he would not stand in the 2024 European Parliament election.[12]

Relocation of the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn

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Main article: Bronze Night

One of the most controversial actions of Ansip's government was relocation of the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn from a prominent location in the center of Tallinn to the Defence Forces Cemetery of Tallinn adjacent to the city center. The removal of the monument, as well as war graves, from its location on 27 April 2007 led to mass protests and two nights of the worst rioting Estonia has seen since regaining independence.[13][14]

Personal life

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Andrus Ansip is married to gynecologist Anu Ansip (b. 1956)[15] and they have three daughters Reet (b. 1977), who is a stomatologist; Tiina (b. 1981) who is a journalist and Liisa (b. 1997).[16]

Andrus Ansip is a member of the Estonian voluntary home guard organisation Kaitseliit (Defence League) since 10 November 2009.[17]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ The Government of the Republic of Estonia: Andrus Ansip - Estonian Government Archived 13 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b David Mardiste (4 March 2014), Estonian PM submits resignation: president's spokesman Reuters.
  3. ^ "Estonia PM Ansip resigns - Europe's longest-serving PM". BBC News. 4 March 2014.
  4. ^ Dave Keating (30 March 2014), Ansip nominated as Estonia’s commissioner European Voice.
  5. ^ "Eestist valitud Euroopa Parlamendi liikmed on teada". Pärnu Postimees. 27 May 2019.
  6. ^ Laura Kayali (17 June 2019), Andrus Ansip resigns from European Commission Politico Europe.
  7. ^ Members of the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age European Parliament, press release of July 9, 2020.
  8. ^ Andrus Ansip European Parliament.
  9. ^ Members Archived 7 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine European Internet Forum.
  10. ^ Intergroup on Artificial Intelligence and Digital European Parliament.
  11. ^ Members 2019-2024 European Parliament Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas.
  12. ^ Andrus Ansip drops European Parliament elections bid in surprise move Eesti Rahvusringhääling, 24 March 2024.
  13. ^ "BBC NEWS - Europe - Tallinn tense after deadly riots". 28 April 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  14. ^ "Olukord tänavatel on rahulik". Archived from the original on 29 April 2007.
  15. ^ "Tartu Rotary klubi". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  16. ^ "Referaat". Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
  17. ^ Andrus Ansip sai kätte Kaitseliidu liikmepileti Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Neljas.ee, 29 March 2010.
  18. ^ "EV peaminister Toronto Eesti Majas. Video. - Estonian World Review". Estonian World Review. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  19. ^ "Eesti Ajalehtede Liit". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  20. ^ Received a copy of the key of the city of Tirana Archived 5 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to Andrus Ansip.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Tartu
1998–2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications
2004–2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Estonia
2005–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Estonian European Commissioner
2014–2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded byas European Commissioner for Digital Agenda European Commissioner for Digital Single Market
2014–2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society
Acting
2017 		Succeeded by
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