Andrus Ansip
Andrus Ansip (born 1 October 1956), is the current Prime Minister of Estonia, and leader of the Estonian Reform Party (Estonian: Reformierakond).
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: Rahvapank), Chairman of the Board of Livonia Privatization IF, and CEO of Investment Fund Broker Ltd (Estonian: Fondiinvesteeringu Maakler AS). He also has served as Chairman of the board for Radio Tartu.
Lord Mayor of Tartu
In 1998, Ansip was elected as Lord Mayor of Tartu as a candidate of the market radical 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 stay Mayor.
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 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.
Prime Minister
On 4 April 2005, Ansip was charged by President Arnold Rüütel to form a government, following the 24 March 2005 resignation by Prime Minister Juhan Parts. Ansip was able to form a coalition with Keskerakond ("Center Party", populist) and Rahvaliit ("Peoples' Party", rural), 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 Estonian parliament; forty deputies voting against.
The Cabinet
The new cabinet, approved by the Riigikogu on 12 April 2005, looks as follows:
Reformierakond
- 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
- Secretary of Economics and Communications Edgar Savisaar (former Prime Minister and Lord Mayor of Tallinn; leader of the Keskerakond)
- Secretary of Culture Raivo Palmaru
- Secretary of Social Affairs Jaak Aab
- Interior Secretary Kalle Laanet
- Minister of Education and Science Mailis Reps
Rahvaliit
- 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)
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. The new government is colloquially called the "Garlic Coalition", because the agreement between the party leaders was reached at the Tallinn restaurant "Balthasar", which specializes in garlic dishes.