State Elder of Estonia
Encyclopedia
The Head of State of Estonia (a literal translation: Elder of State) was the official title of the Estonian
head of state
and head of government
from 1920 to 1937. He was the equivalent of a president
and prime minister
.
According to the 1920 Estonian Constitution, which was enforced by the “Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, the Referendum Act and the Citizens’s Initiative Act Implementation Act“ on July 2, 1920, after being approved by the Constituent Assembly on June 16, 1920 (Riigi Teataja August 9, 1920 No. 113/114), the Government of the Republic consisted of the Riigivanem (Head of State) and Ministers (Section 58).
The responsibilities of the Head of State were representing the Republic of Estonia, administration and co-ordination of the activities of the Government of the Republic, chairing the Government meetings; the Head of State had the right to make inquiries about the activities of the Ministers (Section 62). The Government of the Republic appointed one of its members the Deputy of the Elder of State.
Estonian
Estonian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to Estonia, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe* Estonians – people from Estonia, or of Estonian descent...
head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
and head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
from 1920 to 1937. He was the equivalent of a president
President of Estonia
The President of the Republic is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia.Estonia is a parliamentary republic, therefore President is mainly a symbolic figure and holds no executive power. The President has to suspend his membership in any political party for his term in office...
and 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...
.
According to the 1920 Estonian Constitution, which was enforced by the “Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, the Referendum Act and the Citizens’s Initiative Act Implementation Act“ on July 2, 1920, after being approved by the Constituent Assembly on June 16, 1920 (Riigi Teataja August 9, 1920 No. 113/114), the Government of the Republic consisted of the Riigivanem (Head of State) and Ministers (Section 58).
The responsibilities of the Head of State were representing the Republic of Estonia, administration and co-ordination of the activities of the Government of the Republic, chairing the Government meetings; the Head of State had the right to make inquiries about the activities of the Ministers (Section 62). The Government of the Republic appointed one of its members the Deputy of the Elder of State.
Heads of State of the Republic of Estonia, 1920–1937
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party |
| 1 | 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... |
21 December 1920 | 25 January 1921 | Estonian Labour Party Estonian Labour Party The Estonian Labour Party was a centre-left political party in Estonia. It emerged in 1917 with the merger of the Estonian Radical Socialist Party and Estonian radicals from Petrograd and remained an important coalition party until 1932, when it merged with other centrist parties to form the... |
| 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... |
25 January 1921 | 21 November 1922 | Unions of Farmers |
| 3 | Juhan Kukk Juhan Kukk Juhan ' Kukk VR III/1 was an Estonian politician.... |
21 November 1922 | 2 August 1923 | Estonian Labour Party Estonian Labour Party The Estonian Labour Party was a centre-left political party in Estonia. It emerged in 1917 with the merger of the Estonian Radical Socialist Party and Estonian radicals from Petrograd and remained an important coalition party until 1932, when it merged with other centrist parties to form the... |
| 4 | Konstantin Päts (2nd time) | 2 August 1923 | 26 March 1924 | Unions of Farmers |
| 5 | Friedrich Akel Friedrich Akel Friedrich Karl Akel was an Estonian diplomat and politician, a member of the International Olympic Committee., and Head of State of Estonia in 1924.... |
26 March 1924 | 16 December 1924 | Estonia People's Party |
| 6 | Jüri Jaakson Jüri Jaakson Jüri Jaakson VR III/1 was an Estonian businessman and politician.... |
16 December 1924 | 15 December 1925 | Estonia People's Party |
| 7 | Jaan Teemant Jaan Teemant Jaan Teemant was an Estonian lawyer and politician.Teemant studied in H. Treffner's Private High School. In 1901 he graduated from the Department of Law the St. Petersburg University. He was a solicitor in Tallinn. In 1904–1905 was a member of the Tallinn Municipal Council... |
15 December 1925 | 9 December 1927 | Unions of Farmers |
| 8 | Jaan Tõnisson Jaan Tõnisson Jaan Tõnisson VR I/3, II/3 and III/1 was an Estonian statesman, serving as the Prime Minister of Estonia twice during 1919 to 1920 and as the Foreign Minister of Estonia from 1931 to 1932.-Early life:... |
9 December 1927 | 4 December 1928 | Estonia People's Party |
| 9 | August Rei August Rei August Rei VR III/1 was an Estonian Social Democratic politician. He was born in Pilistvere, Kõo Parish, Viljandi County.- Education :... |
4 December 1928 | 9 July 1929 | Estonian Socialist Party of Workers |
| 10 | 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... |
9 July 1929 | 12 February 1931 | Estonian Labour Party Estonian Labour Party The Estonian Labour Party was a centre-left political party in Estonia. It emerged in 1917 with the merger of the Estonian Radical Socialist Party and Estonian radicals from Petrograd and remained an important coalition party until 1932, when it merged with other centrist parties to form the... |
| 11 | Konstantin Päts (3rd time) | 12 February 1931 | 19 February 1932 | Non-party |
| 12 | Jaan Teemant (2nd time) | 19 February 1932 | 19 July 1932 | Unions of Farmers |
| 13 | Kaarel Eenpalu Kaarel Eenpalu Kaarel Eenpalu was an Estonian journalist, politician and head of state.- Education :... |
19 July 1932 | 1 November 1932 | Unions of Farmers |
| 14 | Konstantin Päts (4th time) | 1 November 1932 | 18 May 1933 | Non-party |
| 15 | Jaan Tõnisson (2nd time) | 18 May 1933 | 21 October 1933 | National Centre Party |
| 16 | Konstantin Päts (5th time, acting from 24 January 1934) | 21 October 1933 | 3 September 1937 | Non-party |
See also
- President of EstoniaPresident of EstoniaThe President of the Republic is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia.Estonia is a parliamentary republic, therefore President is mainly a symbolic figure and holds no executive power. The President has to suspend his membership in any political party for his term in office...
- Prime Minister of EstoniaPrime Minister of EstoniaThe 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...
- RiigihoidjaRiigihoidjaRiigihoidja was the name of the office of the head of state and head of government of Estonia from 3 September 1937 to 24 April 1938. The only person to hold this position was Konstantin Päts, five time former State Elder...