Short facts about the government of Estonia

Country name:

conventional long form:  Republic of Estonia conventional short form:  Estonia local long form:  Eesti Vabariik local short form:  Eesti former:  Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Tallinn

Administrative divisions:

15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuessaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru) note:  counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses

Independence:

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 6 September 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:

adopted 28 June 1992

Legal system:

based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Executive branch:

chief of state:  President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992) head of government:  Prime Minister Mart LAAR (since 29 March 1999) cabinet:  Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament elections:  president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held August-September 1996 (next to be held in the fall of 2001); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament election results:  Lennart MERI reelected president by an electoral assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote - Lennart MERI 61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections:  last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results:  percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Center Party 28, Union of Pro Patria (Fatherland League) 18, Reform Party 18, Moderates 17, Country People's Party (Agrarians) 7, Coalition Party 7, UPPE 6

Judicial branch:

National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)

Political parties and leaders:

Center Party or K [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Christian People's Party [Aldo VINKEL]; Coalition Party and Rural Union or KMU [Andrus OOBEL, chairman]; Estonian Democratic Party (formerly Estonian Blue Party) [Jaan LAAS]; Estonian Independence Party [leader NA]; Estonian National Democratic Party or ENDP [leader NA]; Estonian Pensioners and Families Party [Mai TREIAL]; Estonian Progressive Party [Andra VEIDEMANN]; Estonian Republican Party [leader NA]; Estonian Social-Democratic Labor Party [Tiit TOOMSALU]; Estonian Rural People's Union (1999 merger of Estonian Country People's Party and the Estonian Rural Union) [Arvo SIRENDI]; Party of Consolidation Today [leader NA]; People's Party Moderates (1999 merger of People's Party and Moderates) [Andres TARAND]; Reform Party or RE [Siim KALLAS, chairman]; Russian Party in Estonia [Nikolai MASPANOV]; Russian Unity Party [Igor SEDASHEV]; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League (Isamaaliit) [Mart LAAR, chairman]; United People's Party or UPPE [Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador Sven JURGENSON chancery:  2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:  [1] (202) 588-0101 FAX:  [1] (202) 588-0108 consulate(s) general:  New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador Melissa WELLS embassy:  Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn mailing address:  use embassy street address telephone:  [372] 668-8100 FAX:  [372] 668-8134

Flag description:

pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

Source: World Factbook