Riigikogu

The Riigikogu is the Estonian name Parlement monocaméral of the Estonia. It includes/understands 101 Député S, elected every four years.

Riigi- comes from German Reich (State) and - kogu comes from assembly in Estonian.

The first elections took place in 1920. Until 1938, 5 other elections proceeded on the basis of three various constitution. Since 1922, the sessions of Riigikogu take place in the castle of Toompea where a wing was rebuilt to become the building of the Parliament. In 1992, after 50 years of Soviet occupation , of new elections took place according to the new constitution adopted during the summer 1992.

Its current president is Ene Ergma of the Union Pro Patria and Res Publica (which replaces Toomas Varek Parti the center in April 2007).

History

on November 28th, 1917, the provisional Parliament of Estonia ( Maapäev ) proclaims " to be able suprême" in Estonia.
the February 24th 1918, the committee of old of Maapäev declares the independence of Estonia, nomination of the first provisional government.
March-November 1918, German occupation
November 28th, 1918, beginning of the war of Estonian independence.
5 April 7th, 1919, the Estonian constituent Assembly is elected, by giving a formal base to Estonian independence.
April 23rd, 1919, first session of the Parliament, birth date of the Estonian Parliament.
February 2nd, 1920, peace treaty of Tartu, between the the USSR and Estonia, recognition of Estonia.
June 15th, 1920, the constituent Assembly adopts the first Constitution, establishing a democratic parliamentary republic.
September 22nd, 1921, Estonia becomes member of the Société of the Nations.
14 October 16th, 1933, a constitution project is approved by referendum.
March 12th, 1934, coming into effect of an authoritarian regime (moderate). The president Konstantin Päts concentrates little by little the capacities.
July 28th, 1934, the constituent Assembly adopts the 3rd constitution of the Republic of Estonia. Riigikogu with two rooms and a presidential capacity extremely characterize this mode.
April 24th, 1938, K. Päts is elected at the new station of President of the Republic.
August 1938, the pact germano-Soviet of non-aggression (and his protocols secret) " donne" Estonia in the USSR.

1991 with today

Xe Législature (this number takes account of the elections of before the Soviet occupation) of Riigikogu was elected the March 2nd 2003. XIe was to it the March 4th 2007.

Operation

The Estonians elect 101 members of their Parliament (Riigikogu) every 4 years, with the system of the representation proportional. Only the Estonian citizens of more than 18 years can take part in the legislative elections. A political party must obtain 5% of the voices to be represented at the Parliament. The President asks the party which obtained the most votes to form the new government.

Elections

Elections of March 2nd, 2003

500.686 voters out of 859.714 registered voters (that is to say 58,24%) voted for 963 candidates (16 individual candidates and 952 candidates who presented themselves with 11 indicated parties). The participation was a little higher than in 1999 when this rate had been of 57,4%.

According to the results, the distribution of the seats was carried out as follows:

Left the Center 25,4% of the voices 28 seats
Left Res Publica 24,6% the voices 28 seats
Left the Reform 17,7% the voices 19 seats
Union the People 13% the voices 13 seats
Left Pro Patria 7,3% the voices 7 Moderate seats
7% the voices 6 seats (become since Social democrats)

The other political parties did not reach the threshold of the 5% of the voices necessary to sit at the Parliament.

Elections of March 4th, 2007

Parliamentary groups

group of the Left the center - 29 members
group of the Green Estonians - 6 members
group of the Union of the people - 6 members
group of the Left the reform - 31 members
group of the social democrat Party - 10 members
group of the Union Pro Patria and Res Publica - 19 members

Detailed results

principal article: Estonian legislative elections of 2007

Left the reform (right liberal): 152.400 votes, 27,8%,31 appointed (+12) (in 2003,17,7% of the voices and 19 seats);
Left the Center (center-left): 142.944 votes, 26,1%,29 appointed (+1) (in 2003,25,4% of the voices, 28 seats (8 dissidents in April 2004): group parliamentary tiny room to 20);
the Union Pro Patria and Res Publica (IRL): 97.764 votes, 17,9%,19 appointed (- 16) (in 2003, Left Res Publica (center-droite): 24,6% of the voices, 28 seats (which amalgamated in 2006 with the Union Pro Patria to form the Union Pro Patria and Res Publica);
the old Moderate ones (become the social democrat Left): 57.740 votes, 10,5%,10 appointed (+4) (2003, 7% of the voices, 6 seats);
the Greens (Rohelised), 39.175 votes, 7,2%,6 appointed (+6);
Union of the People (preserving): 39.073 votes, 7,1%,6 appointed (- 7) (13% of the voices 13 seats);
KristDem (Christian Democrats), 9.393 votes, 1,7%, no deputy;

in 2003: Union Pro Patria (preserving): 7,3% of the voices 7 seats.

In 2005, nine deputies were not any more members of a parliamentary group - eights came from the Party of the Center which they had left officially the September 13rd 2004, in opposition to the unfavourable position with the European Union that the aforementioned party at the time of the referendum of accession of Estonia defended:

Toomas Alatalu
Peeter Kreitzberg
Olev Laanjärv
Robert Lepikson
Jaanus Marrandi
Sven Mikser
Mark Soosaar
Liina Tõnisson
Harri Õunapuu

Table of the legislatures ( to be adapted of the Estonian )

Assemblies elected in independent Estonia

Assembled period of occupation

Vajab täiendamist

See too

Official site of Riigikogu
the result of the elections in Riigikogu since 1992

Random links: