Estonian Liberal Democratic Party
Encyclopedia
The Estonian Liberal Democratic Party , abbreviated to ELDP, was a social liberal
political party
in Estonia
that existed between 1990 and 1994. The ELDP was founded on 9 March 1990, during the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
, by the merger of the Liberal People's Party and the Free Democratic Party.
The ELDP was granted observer membership of the Liberal International
in 4 October 1990: the first eastern Europe
an party to be admitted to the LI. Led by Paul-Eerik Rummo
, the party ran as part of the 'Fatherland' electoral alliance
in the 1992 election
, and won six of the bloc's 29 seats in the 101-seat Riigikogu
. The party served, as with all of the Fatherland bloc, in the government of Mart Laar
, with Rummo as Minister of Culture and Education and Heiki Kranich as Minister of Finance. Rummo and Kranich resigned from the government and the ELDP withdrew from the Fatherland group in parliament on 14 June 1993, when the party's proposal for a secret vote of no confidence in Laar was defeated.
The Liberal Democratic Party joined Siim Kallas
' (then president of the Bank of Estonia) initiative group which gathered liberals hitherto uninvolved in politics, to form on 13 November 1994 the Estonian Reform Party
.
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
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...
that existed between 1990 and 1994. The ELDP was founded on 9 March 1990, during the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic , often abbreviated as Estonian SSR or ESSR, was a republic of the Soviet Union, administered by and subordinated to the Government of the Soviet Union...
, by the merger of the Liberal People's Party and the Free Democratic Party.
The ELDP was granted observer membership 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...
in 4 October 1990: the first eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
an party to be admitted to the LI. Led by Paul-Eerik Rummo
Paul-Eerik Rummo
Paul-Eerik Rummo is an Estonian poet and politician and a former Estonian Minister of Culture and Education, a former Estonian Minister of Population Affairs....
, the party ran as part of the 'Fatherland' electoral alliance
Electoral alliance
An electoral alliance may take the form of a bipartisan electoral agreement, electoral agreement, electoral coalition or electoral bloc. It is an association of political parties or individuals which exists solely to stand in elections...
in the 1992 election
Estonian parliamentary election, 1992
Estonian parliamentary election of 1992 was held on 20th September, 1992. This term of parliament was elected according constitution application law for 3 years. The threshold was 5% of the national vote or 3 personal mandates. To get a personal mandate candidate must collect at least a quota votes...
, and won six of the bloc's 29 seats in the 101-seat Riigikogu
Riigikogu
The Riigikogu is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. All important state-related questions pass through the Riigikogu...
. The party served, as with all of the Fatherland bloc, in the government of 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...
, with Rummo as Minister of Culture and Education and Heiki Kranich as Minister of Finance. Rummo and Kranich resigned from the government and the ELDP withdrew from the Fatherland group in parliament on 14 June 1993, when the party's proposal for a secret vote of no confidence in Laar was defeated.
The Liberal Democratic Party joined 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...
' (then president of the Bank of Estonia) initiative group which gathered liberals hitherto uninvolved in politics, to form on 13 November 1994 the Estonian Reform Party
Estonian Reform Party
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...
.