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Andrus Ansip (born 1 October 1956) is the current Prime Minister of Estonia, and chairman of the Estonian Reform Party (Estonian: Reformierakond).
[edit] Early life and careerBorn in Tartu, Ansip graduated from the University of Tartu with a degree in Chemistry in 1979. He worked as engineer in Tartu State University in 1979-1983 (with 2-year break for mandatory military service). He was Instructor of Industry Department and Head of Organisational Department of Tartu District Committee of Estonian Communist Party in 1986-1988[1]. Ansip has been involved in several banking and investment ventures. He has served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the People’s Bank of Tartu (Estonian: Rahvapank), Chairman of the Board of Livonia Privatisation IF, and CEO of Investment Fund Broker Ltd (Estonian: Fondiinvesteeringu Maakler AS). He also has served as Chairman of the board for Radio Tartu. [edit] Mayor of TartuIn 1998, Ansip was elected as Mayor of Tartu as a candidate of the centrist-right Reformierakond (Reform Party), a position which he held until 2004, to great popular acclaim and very high ratings in the opinion polls. He had run in previous elections for the Riigikogu, the Estonian Parliament, but had always given up his seat in order to stay Mayor. He was succeeded by fellow Reform Party member Laine Jänes. [edit] Chairman of Reformierakond and Minister of EconomicsHowever, on November 21, 2004, Ansip became Chairman of Reformierakond because the party's founder and hitherto chairman, former Prime Minister Siim Kallas, had become EU Commissioner and Vice President and thus had to move to Brussels. It was obvious that Ansip would have to move to Tallinn, and a chance opened up when the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications in the coalition government of Juhan Parts, Meelis Atonen, a party colleague, had to resign. Ansip became his successor on September 13. His track record as Minister is more difficult to evaluate because of the short duration of his service. [edit] Prime MinisterOn March 31, 2005, Ansip was charged by President Arnold Rüütel to form a government, following the 24 March 2005 resignation by Prime Minister Juhan Parts. Ansip was able to form a coalition with Keskerakond ("Center Party", populist) and Rahvaliit ("Peoples' Party", agrarian), which was approved by the Riigikogu on April 12, 2005. Ansip thus became Prime Minister of Estonia (see Andrus Ansip's cabinet). He was backed by 53 out of 101 members of the Estonian parliament; forty deputies voting against. He and the ministers were inaugurated in office the next day, on April 13. On March 4, 2007, Ansip's Reform Party won 27 percent of the vote in the Estonian parliamentary elections, raising its mandate in the Riigikogu to 31 seats from 19. Ansip personally received over 22,500 votes, the highest ever by any parliamentary candidate in the history of independent Estonia. He was again charged by President, this time Toomas Hendrik Ilves, to form a government. This time he formed a coalition with Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit ("Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica", liberal conservative) and Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond (Social Democratic Party). His second term as Prime Minister began on April 5, 2007. In May 2009, Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond left the government, and as coalition talks with Eestimaa Rahvaliit failed, it was decided to continue with minority government. [edit] The CabinetThe cabinet after removal of ministers from the Social Democratic Party and decision to continue with minority government in June 2009, was as follows: [edit] Estonian Reform Party
[edit] Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
[edit] Relocation of the Bronze Soldier of TallinnMain article: Bronze Night One of the most controversial actions of Ansip's government was relocation of the main Tallinn World War II memorial known as the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn from a prominent location in the center of Tallinn to the Defence Forces Cemetery of Tallinn adjacent to the city center. The removal of the monument, as well as war graves, from its current location on April 27, 2007 led to mass protests and two nights of the worst rioting Estonia has seen since gaining independence.[2][3] [edit] Personal lifeAndrus Ansip is married to gynecologist Anu Ansip (b. 1956)[4] and they have three daughters Reet (b. 1977), who is a stomatologist; Tiina (b. 1981) who is a journalist and Liisa (b. 1997).[5] [edit] Awards
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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