Pro Patria Union
Encyclopedia
The Pro Patria Union was a conservative political party in Estonia
. The party was founded on 2 December 1995 by merging the Estonian National Independence Party (ERSP, Eesti Rahvusliku Sõltumatuse Partei) and the National Coalition Party Pro Patria
(Rahvuslik Koonderakond "Isamaa").
On April 4, 2006, representatives of the Pro Patria Union and the representatives of Res Publica decided to merge the two parties. The merger was approved by the general assemblies of both parties in Pärnu
on 4 June 2006. Although originally the name For Estonia (Eesti Eest) was considered for the united party, it was rejected. New party was officially registered on 15 October 2006 under the name Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
(Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit).
According to party statements, the programme was based on Christian Democracy
and Nationalism
. Together with its predecessors the Pro Patria Union was the main force behind the economic and legal reforms in the Republic of Estonia at the beginning of 1990s.
, a historian, former Chairman of the National Alliance "Pro Patria" and Prime Minister of Estonia
from 1992 to 1994 was elected the new Chairman of the party on 24 October 1998.
The party was successful on the parliamentary elections of 1999, receiving 18 seats. Its leader Mart Laar
became Prime Minister again. His coalition government was in office till 28 January 2002.
The Pro Patria Union was a member of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats, known also by the abbreviation EPP-ED. The party has one seat in the European Parliament
, held by Tunne Kelam
, the Chairman of the Pro Patria Union from 7 December 2002 to 16 April 2005.
In parliamentary elections in 2003 they won 7 seats in Riigikogu and joined the opposition. Tõnis Lukas
was elected chairman of the party on 16 April 2005. Historian and archivist Aimar Altosaar was re-elected Secretary General in 2005, having served in the same position from 1996 to 1999.
The party had an official newspaper called "Tribüün" (The Tribune). It was established in 2001.
For the local elections in autumn 2005 the Pro Patria Union signed a cooperation agreement with two minor parties: Union of Farmers (Põllumeeste Kogu) on 6 July 2005 and with Estonian Democratic Party (Eesti Demokraatlik Partei) on 12 July 2005. The local elections on 16 October 2005 showed a growing support for the party. The presence of the Pro Patria Union grew from 0 to 7 seats in Tallinn
City Council and remained the same (9 seats) in Tartu
City Council.
In April, 2006, former party leader and twice PM Mart Laar
was awarded the Friedman
Prize for Liberty.
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 was founded on 2 December 1995 by merging the Estonian National Independence Party (ERSP, Eesti Rahvusliku Sõltumatuse Partei) and the National Coalition Party Pro Patria
National Coalition Party Pro Patria
National Coalition Party Pro Patria was an Estonian political party founded in 1992 and merged in 1995 into Pro Patria Union.The National Coalition Party 'Pro Patria' was founded in September, 1992, as four electoral cartel partners merged:...
(Rahvuslik Koonderakond "Isamaa").
On April 4, 2006, representatives of the Pro Patria Union and the representatives of Res Publica decided to merge the two parties. The merger was approved by the general assemblies of both parties in Pärnu
Pärnu
Pärnu is a city in southwestern Estonia on the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular summer vacation resort with many hotels, restaurants, and large beaches. The Pärnu River flows through the city and drains into the Gulf of Riga...
on 4 June 2006. Although originally the name For Estonia (Eesti Eest) was considered for the united party, it was rejected. New party was officially registered on 15 October 2006 under the name 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...
(Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit).
According to party statements, the programme was based on Christian Democracy
Christian Democracy
Christian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe under the influence of conservatism and Catholic social teaching...
and Nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
. Together with its predecessors the Pro Patria Union was the main force behind the economic and legal reforms in the Republic of Estonia at the beginning of 1990s.
In government and opposition
Mart LaarMart 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...
, a historian, former Chairman of the National Alliance "Pro Patria" and Prime Minister of Estonia
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...
from 1992 to 1994 was elected the new Chairman of the party on 24 October 1998.
The party was successful on the parliamentary elections of 1999, receiving 18 seats. Its leader 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...
became Prime Minister again. His coalition government was in office till 28 January 2002.
The Pro Patria Union was a member of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats, known also by the abbreviation EPP-ED. The party has one seat in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, held by Tunne Kelam
Tunne Kelam
Tunne-Väldo Kelam MEP is an Estonian politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Pro Patria Union , part of the European People's Party....
, the Chairman of the Pro Patria Union from 7 December 2002 to 16 April 2005.
In parliamentary elections in 2003 they won 7 seats in Riigikogu and joined the opposition. Tõnis Lukas
Tõnis Lukas
Tõnis Lukas is an Estonian politician. He is a Vice-Chairman of the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica.-Early career:Lukas was born in Tallinn, Estonia. After graduating from secondary school and spending another year in technical school in Tallinn, he went on to study history in University of...
was elected chairman of the party on 16 April 2005. Historian and archivist Aimar Altosaar was re-elected Secretary General in 2005, having served in the same position from 1996 to 1999.
The party had an official newspaper called "Tribüün" (The Tribune). It was established in 2001.
For the local elections in autumn 2005 the Pro Patria Union signed a cooperation agreement with two minor parties: Union of Farmers (Põllumeeste Kogu) on 6 July 2005 and with Estonian Democratic Party (Eesti Demokraatlik Partei) on 12 July 2005. The local elections on 16 October 2005 showed a growing support for the party. The presence of the Pro Patria Union grew from 0 to 7 seats 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...
City Council and remained the same (9 seats) in Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
City Council.
In April, 2006, former party leader and twice PM 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...
was awarded the Friedman
Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman was an American economist, statistician, academic, and author who taught at the University of Chicago for more than three decades...
Prize for Liberty.
External links
- The Pro Patria Union (official site)(this site is not working any more)
- The Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (official site)