The Social Democratic Party is a centre-left political party in Estonia. It is currently led by Lauri Läänemets. The party was formerly known as the Moderate People's Party. The SDE has been a member of the Party of European Socialists since 16 May 2003 and was a member of the Socialist International from November 1990 to 2017. It is orientated towards the principles of social-democracy,and it supports Estonia's membership in the European Union. From April 2023,the party has been a junior coalition partner in the third Kallas government.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Estonia since 1 January 2024. The government elected in the March 2023 election,led by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and consisting of the Reform Party,the Social Democrats and Estonia 200,vowed to legalize same-sex marriage. Legislation to open marriage to same-sex couples was introduced to the Riigikogu in May 2023,and was approved in a final reading by 55 votes to 34 on 20 June. It was signed into law by President Alar Karis on 27 June,and took effect on 1 January 2024. Estonia was the first Baltic state,the twentieth country in Europe,and the 35th in the world to legalise same-sex marriage.
Madis Kallas is an Estonian decathlete and politician,Minister of the Environment of Estonia. From 2017 to 2020 and again from 2021 to 2022 he was the mayor of Saaremaa Municipality.
Kristen Michal is an Estonian politician. A member of the Estonian Reform Party,he was the minister of economic affairs and infrastructure in Taavi Rõivas' cabinet between 9 April 2015 and 22 November 2016. Previously,Michal served as the minister of justice from 2011 to 2012.
Margus Tsahkna is an Estonian politician,leader of new liberal Estonia 200 party since 19 November 2023,former leader of the conservative Isamaa party,former Minister of Defence in Jüri Ratas' cabinet and Minister of Social Protection in Taavi Rõivas' second cabinet. He was sworn in as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the third cabinet of Kaja Kallas on 17 April 2023.
Kaja Kallas is an Estonian politician and the current prime minister of Estonia since 2021,the first woman to serve in the role. The leader of the Reform Party since 2018,she was a member of parliament (Riigikogu) in 2011–2014,and 2019–2021. Kallas was a member of the European Parliament in 2014–2018,representing the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. Before her election to Riigikogu,she was a lawyer specialising in European competition law.
Riina Sikkut is an Estonian politician. She serves as Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. She also served as Minister of Health and Labour in Jüri Ratas' first cabinet. She was sworn in on 2 May 2018,after the former minister Jevgeni Ossinovski had vacated the seat,and left the office on 29 April 2019.
Estonia 200 is a liberal political party in Estonia. Since April 2023,the party has been a junior partner in the third Kallas government. In the European Parliament,the party is a member of the Renew Europe group.
Parliamentary elections were held in Estonia on 5 March 2023 to elect all 101 members of the Riigikogu. The officially published election data indicate the victory of the Reform Party,which won 37 seats in total,while the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) placed second with 17 seats. The Centre Party won 16 seats,a loss of 10,while Estonia 200 won 14 seats,gaining representation in the Riigikogu.
An election for the Members of the European Parliament from Estonia as part of the 2024 European Parliament election will take place on June 9.
Mihhail Kõlvart is an Estonian politician currently serving as the leader of the Centre Party since 2023. He served as the mayor of Tallinn,Estonia,a position he has held since April 2019,after the resignation of Taavi Aas,until the vote of no confidence in him held on 26 March 2024.
Kristina Kallas is an Estonian politician who was the leader of the Eesti 200 party. She is not related to Kaja Kallas,the current Prime Minister of Estonia.
An indirect election took place in Estonia on 30 and 31 August 2021 to elect the president of Estonia,who is the country's head of state. The Riigikogu —the Parliament of Estonia —elected Alar Karis to serve in the office and he was sworn in as the 6th president on 11 October 2021. The incumbent,Kersti Kaljulaid,was eligible to seek reelection to a second,and final,term but failed to gain the endorsement of at least 21 MPs,which is required in order for a candidate to register,as she was outspoken against some of the policies of the government,who thus denied her support.
Tanel Kiik is an Estonian politician and former cabinet minister.
Heidy Purga is an Estonian radio and television presenter,television director,journalist and politician. She has been a member of the XIII Riigikogu and XIV Riigikogu.
Mart Võrklaev is an Estonian politician currently serving as Minister of Finance since 2023 and as a member of XIV Riigikogu.
Events in the year 2023 in Estonia.
Parliamentary elections will be held in Estonia by 7 March 2027 to elect all 101 members of the Riigikogu. Electoral district reform has been discussed for the next election.
The third cabinet of Kaja Kallas is the current cabinet of Estonia. The cabinet was sworn into office on 17 April 2023 following the 2023 parliamentary election.
Triple Alliance is a commonly used political term in Estonia to refer to the various coalition governments between the centre-left Social Democratic Party,centre-right Reform Party and conservative Isamaa or their predecessors. This coalition has formed four times in history - from 1999 to 2002,from 2007 to 2009,from 2015 to 2016 and from 2022 to 2023. None of the coalitions governments have lasted a full parliamentary term. All of the Triple Alliance cabinets have been the second ones of the respective Prime Minister.
