Independent Royalist Party of Estonia
Encyclopedia
The Independent Royalist Party of Estonia was a frivolous political party (now defunct) in early post-Soviet Estonia
.
The party, widely considered a humorous expression of protest, was surprisingly successful in the first post-Soviet elections of Riigikogu
, gaining 8 seats (with 32638 votes) after spending a grand total of 1 kroon
. Its most prominent members were known humorists Priit Aimla
, Kirill Teiter and Ralf Parve, and the party was led by Kalle Kulbok
. Later, Vilja Laanaru (married, Vilja Savisaar
) and Aadu Must joined Keskerakond, Priit Aimla
Reformierakond, and several others withdrew from regular party politics.
The party's official programme called for establishing Estonia as a monarchy
, as modeled by Sweden
and Norway
.
In practice, the party's main achievement was consistent ridicule of ridiculous laws, most notably getting rid of the proposed mandatory hour of prayer
by using it to perform a Neopagan rite, complete with tambourine. The party is also remembered for their eating strike, as opposed to the hunger strike
of Lebedev and Petinov, and the order to hold a parade
in Tallinn
in celebration of the Gustav Adolf Day—which instantly ended any lingering plans of holding a parade
in celebration of the October Revolution
in Tallinn
.
The party was also instrumental in plotting the exact route of Baltic Way
and in making the determination to barricade
the Riigikogu
building on Toompea
during the August coup.
The members of the party wrote to British Royal family member, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
, declaring that, if elected, they would ask him to become King of Estonia. It is believed the Prince did not reply.
List of members who served in Riigikogu
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...
.
The party, widely considered a humorous expression of protest, was surprisingly successful in the first post-Soviet elections of Riigikogu
Riigikogu
The Riigikogu is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. All important state-related questions pass through the Riigikogu...
, gaining 8 seats (with 32638 votes) after spending a grand total of 1 kroon
Estonian kroon
In 1992, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 10, 20 & 50 senti, as well as 1 kroon. The 1 kroon was struck in cupronickel, the others in aluminum-bronze. However, in 1997, nickel-plated steel 20 senti were introduced, followed by aluminum-bronze 1 kroon in 1998. 5 senti coins were not...
. Its most prominent members were known humorists Priit Aimla
Priit Aimla
Priit Aimla is an Estonian writer, poet, humorist and politician known for several stage plays and books. During 1992 to 1995, he belonged to Riigikogu, having been elected as a member of the Independent Royalist Party of Estonia; later, he switched to Reformierakond.- References :...
, Kirill Teiter and Ralf Parve, and the party was led by Kalle Kulbok
Kalle Kulbok
- Education :Kulbok attended the Nõo high school and achieved good results on national olympiads of mathematics. By his skills, he could have qualified for the all-Union olympiad of mathematics; however, due to his displayed lack of respect for Soviet politics, he was never selected for that...
. Later, Vilja Laanaru (married, Vilja Savisaar
Vilja Savisaar
Vilja Savisaar-Toomast is an Estonian politician belonging to the Estonian Centre Party, currently a Member of the European Parliament....
) and Aadu Must joined Keskerakond, Priit Aimla
Priit Aimla
Priit Aimla is an Estonian writer, poet, humorist and politician known for several stage plays and books. During 1992 to 1995, he belonged to Riigikogu, having been elected as a member of the Independent Royalist Party of Estonia; later, he switched to Reformierakond.- References :...
Reformierakond, and several others withdrew from regular party politics.
The party's official programme called for establishing Estonia as a monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
, as modeled by Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
In practice, the party's main achievement was consistent ridicule of ridiculous laws, most notably getting rid of the proposed mandatory hour of prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
by using it to perform a Neopagan rite, complete with tambourine. The party is also remembered for their eating strike, as opposed to the hunger strike
Hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
of Lebedev and Petinov, and the order to hold a parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
in 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...
in celebration of the Gustav Adolf Day—which instantly ended any lingering plans of holding a parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
in celebration of the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
in 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...
.
The party was also instrumental in plotting the exact route of Baltic Way
Baltic Way
The Baltic Way or Baltic Chain was a peaceful political demonstration that occurred on August 23, 1989. Approximately two million people joined their hands to form a human chain spanning over across the three Baltic states – Estonian SSR, Latvian SSR, and Lithuanian SSR, republics of the Soviet...
and in making the determination to barricade
Barricade
Barricade, from the French barrique , is any object or structure that creates a barrier or obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction...
the Riigikogu
Riigikogu
The Riigikogu is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. All important state-related questions pass through the Riigikogu...
building on Toompea
Toompea
Toompea is a limestone hill in the central part of the city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The hill is an oblong tableland, which measures about 400 by 250 metres, has an area of and is about 20–30 metres higher than the surrounding areas...
during the August coup.
The members of the party wrote to British Royal family member, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
, declaring that, if elected, they would ask him to become King of Estonia. It is believed the Prince did not reply.
List of members who served in RiigikoguRiigikoguThe Riigikogu is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. All important state-related questions pass through the Riigikogu...
- Priit AimlaPriit AimlaPriit Aimla is an Estonian writer, poet, humorist and politician known for several stage plays and books. During 1992 to 1995, he belonged to Riigikogu, having been elected as a member of the Independent Royalist Party of Estonia; later, he switched to Reformierakond.- References :...
- Tõnu Kõrda
- Lembit Küüts
- Vambola Põder
- Rein Kikerpill
- Kalle KulbokKalle Kulbok- Education :Kulbok attended the Nõo high school and achieved good results on national olympiads of mathematics. By his skills, he could have qualified for the all-Union olympiad of mathematics; however, due to his displayed lack of respect for Soviet politics, he was never selected for that...
- Ralf Parve
- Vilja SavisaarVilja SavisaarVilja Savisaar-Toomast is an Estonian politician belonging to the Estonian Centre Party, currently a Member of the European Parliament....
- Kirill Teiter
External links
- SL ÕhtulehtSL ÕhtulehtÕhtuleht is the second largest daily newspaper in Estonia, with approximately 242,000 readers. Õhtuleht is a tabloid newspaper. The newspaper is published in the Estonian language...
3 March 2007: Tänases poliitikas on aateid veelgi vähem. Käib tühjade loosungitega varjatud ost-müük by Urmo Soonvald - ETVEesti TelevisioonEesti Televisioon is the national public television station of Estonia. It made its first broadcast on 19 July 1955.The bulk of ETV's funding comes from government grant-in-aid, around 15% of which is in turn funded by the fees paid by Estonian commercial broadcasters in return for their...
2007: Projekt EI: Kuningriiklased by Mati Talvik - Estonian Royalist Party entry at Eesti Erakondade Ajalugu
- Results of Riigikogu elections of 1992 at Eesti Erakondade Ajalugu
- ÄripäevÄripäevÄripäev is an Estonian financial newspaper in tabloid format. It was founded in 1989 by Dagens Industri, leading Swedish financial newspaper. First issue of Äripäev was published on 9th of October 1989. Until May 1992 Äripäev was published once a week, until February 1996 three times a week...
2 March 2007: 15 aastat Riigikogu — seadused ja skandaalid by Peeter Raidla - PostimeesPostimeesPostimees is an Estonian daily newspaper. It was established in 1 January 1857 by Johann Voldemar Jannsen and became Estonia's first daily newspaper in 1891....
25 August 2005: Kuningatiitliga Kirill Teiter end naljameheks ei pea by Piret Reiljan