Estonian Minister of Defence
Encyclopedia
The Minister of Defence (Estonian
: Kaitseminister) is the senior minister at the Ministry of Defence (Eesti Vabariigi Kaitseministeerium) in the Estonian Government. The Minister is one of the most important members of the Estonian government, with responsibility for coordinating the governments policies on national defence and the military forces
.
The Defence Minister
is chosen by the Prime Minister
as a part of the government. The current Defence Minister is Mart Laar
, who took the position in 6 April 2011.
When the position was originally established in 1918, it was called the Minister of War (Sõjaminister). The post was renamed Minister of Defence on April 1, 1929, but would change back to Minister of War in 1937. Though the name of the position, and subsequently the ministry, was changed the main responsibilities of the position remained virtually unchanged.
Since Estonia regained its independence in 1991 the post has been known as the Minister of Defence.
Estonian language
Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
: Kaitseminister) is the senior minister at the Ministry of Defence (Eesti Vabariigi Kaitseministeerium) in the Estonian Government. The Minister is one of the most important members of the Estonian government, with responsibility for coordinating the governments policies on national defence and the military forces
Military of Estonia
The Estonian Defence Forces is the name of the unified armed forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Estonian military is a defence force consisting of Maavägi , Merevägi , Õhuvägi and a paramilitary organization Kaitseliit...
.
The Defence Minister
Defence minister
A defence minister is a person in a cabinet position in charge of a Ministry of Defence, which regulates the armed forces in some sovereign nations...
is chosen by the 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...
as a part of the government. The current Defence Minister is 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...
, who took the position in 6 April 2011.
When the position was originally established in 1918, it was called the Minister of War (Sõjaminister). The post was renamed Minister of Defence on April 1, 1929, but would change back to Minister of War in 1937. Though the name of the position, and subsequently the ministry, was changed the main responsibilities of the position remained virtually unchanged.
Since Estonia regained its independence in 1991 the post has been known as the Minister of Defence.
1918 to 1929 (Minister of War)
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party | |
| 1 | Andres Larka Andres Larka Andres Larka VR I/1 was an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence and a politician.... |
February 24, 1918 | November 27, 1918 | |
| 2 | Konstantin Päts Konstantin Päts Konstantin Päts VR I/1 and III/1 was the most influential politician of interwar Estonia. He was one of the first Estonians to become active in politics and started an almost 40-year political rivalry with Jaan Tõnisson, first through journalism with his newspaper Teataja, later through politics... |
November 27, 1918 | May 8, 1919 | |
| 3 | Otto Strandman Otto Strandman Otto August Strandman VR III/1 was an Estonian politician, who served as Prime Minister and State Elder of Estonia . He was one of the leaders of the centre-left Estonian Labour Party, that saw its biggest support after the 1919 and 1920 elections... |
May 8, 1919 | November 18, 1919 | |
| 4 | August Hanko August Hanko Leutnant August Hanko was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.-References:... |
November 18, 1919 | July 28, 1920 | |
| 5 | Aleksander Tõnisson Aleksander Tõnisson Aleksander Tõnisson VR I/1 was an Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence.... |
July 28, 1920 | October 26, 1920 | |
| 6 | Ants Piip Ants Piip Ants Piip VR III/1 was an Estonian lawyer, diplomat and politician.-Education:Piip studied at the Teachers' Seminar in Kuldīga , now in Latvia... |
October 26, 1920 | January 25, 1921 | |
| 7 | Jaan Soots Jaan Soots Jaan Soots VR I/1 was a famous Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence.... |
January 25, 1921 | August 2, 1923 | |
| 8 | Ado Anderkopp | August 2, 1923 | February 19, 1924 | |
| 9 | Oskar Amberg | March 26, 1924 | October 18, 1924 | |
| 10 | Hans Kurvits | November 11, 1924 | November 26, 1924 | |
| Jaan Soots (2nd time) | December 16, 1924 | March 4, 1927 | ||
| 11 | Nikolai Reek Nikolai Reek Nikolai Reek VR I/2, VR II/2, VR II/3 was Estonian military commander during the Estonian War of Independence.... |
March 4, 1927 | December 4, 1928 | |
| 12 | Mihkel Juhkam | December 4, 1928 | March 31, 1929 |
1929 to 1937 (Minister of Defence)
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party | |
| Mihkel Juhkam | April 1, 1929 | July 9, 1929 | ||
| 13 | Oskar Köster | July 9, 1929 | February 12, 1931 | |
| 14 | August Kerem | February 12, 1931 | November 19, 1932 | |
| Aleksander Tõnisson (2nd time) | November 1, 1932 | May 18, 1933 | ||
| August Kerem (2nd time) | May 18, 1933 | October 21, 1933 | ||
| 15 | Paul Lill | October 21, 1933 | February 28, 1937 |
1937 to 1940 (Minister of War)
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party | |
| Paul Lill | March 1, 1937 | October 12, 1939 | ||
| Nikolai Reek (2nd time) | October 12, 1939 | 1940 |
1992 to Present (Minister of Defence)
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party | |
| Uno Veering (acting) | 1992 | 1992 | ||
| 16 | Ülo Uluots | 1992 | 1992 | Popular Front of Estonia |
| 17 | Hain Rebas | 1992 | 1993 | Estonian National Independence Party |
| 18 | Jüri Luik Jüri Luik Jüri Luik is an Estonian diplomat and former politician. Jüri Luik has held the positions of Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Estonian Minister of Defense. Mr. Luik is currently the permament representative for Estonia in NATO.Prior to his current position, Mr... |
1993 | 1994 | Pro Patria Union |
| 19 | Indrek Kannik | 1994 | 1994 | Pro Patria Union |
| 20 | Enn Tupp | 1994 | 1995 | Pro Patria Union |
| 21 | Andrus Öövel | 1995 | 1999 | Estonian 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... |
| Jüri Luik {2nd time) | 1999 | 2002 | Pro Patria Union | |
| 22 | Sven Mikser | 2002 | 2003 | 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.... |
| 23 | 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.... |
2003 | 2004 | 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... |
| 24 | 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.... |
2004 | 2005 | 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... |
| 25 | Jürgen Ligi Jürgen Ligi Jürgen Ligi is an Estonian politician, a member of the liberal Reform Party.He is a long-time member of the Estonian parliament Riigikogu . For the last two years in the Riigikogu he served as the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Budget Control.From 2005 to 2007 Jürgen Ligi was Minister... |
2005 | 2007 | 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... |
| 26 | Jaak Aaviksoo Jaak Aaviksoo Jaak Aaviksoo, born 11 January 1954 in Tartu, Estonia is an Estonian politician and current Estonian Minister of Education and Research. He is a member of liberal conservative Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica.- Education and career in science :... |
2007 | 2011 | 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... |
| 27 | 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... |
2011 | 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... |