Lauri Hussar | |
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![]() Hussar in 2023 | |
President of the Riigikogu | |
Assumed office 10 April 2023 | |
Preceded by | Jüri Ratas |
Member of the Riigikogu | |
Assumed office 10 April 2023 | |
Leader of the Eesti 200 | |
In office 15 October 2022 –19 November 2023 | |
Preceded by | Kristina Kallas |
Succeeded by | Margus Tsahkna |
Personal details | |
Born | Võru,Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic,Soviet Union | 4 September 1973
Political party | Estonia 200 |
Education | University of Tartu |
Lauri Hussar (born 4 September 1973) is an Estonian journalist and politician who has served as President of the Riigikogu since 2023,as a member of Estonia 200. Prior to his career in politics he was a journalist and television host,including being the editor-in-chief of Postimees .
Lauri Hussar was born in Võru,Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic,on 4 September 1973. He graduated from the Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald Võru Secondary School No. 1 in 1991,and graduated with a master's degree in theology from the University of Tartu in 1997. The Student Corporation Arminia Doapatensis was refounded by Hussar in 1994. [1]
At TV3 he was a reporter,editor,and news programme host from 1998 to 2006,and head of news from 2004 to 2006. He was a host at Eesti Rahvusringhääling,Vikerraadio,and Eesti Televisioon from 2006 to 2016. [1] Postimees hired him as deputy editor-in-chief on 14 March 2016, [2] and then promoted him to editor-in-chief,which he held from 2016 to 2019. [1] [3]
Hussar joined Estonia 200 in 2019. [1] In the 2022 Estonia 200 leadership election Hussar defeated Kristina Kallas,the incumbent leader and co-founder,by a vote of 101 to 94. [4] He was a member of the Viimsi Rural Municipality Council and served as its chair from 2021 to 2023. [1]
Marek Reinaas nominated Hussar for speaker and he defeated Martin Helme,leader of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia,to become speaker by a vote of 59 to 20 on 10 April 2023. [5] He was reelected as president in 2025,with 51 votes against Helir-Valdor Seeder's 42. [6]
Hussar married Triin Aasa,with whom he had three children,on 31 July 2008. [1] [7]
The Order of the Polar Star,Order of the White Rose of Finland,and Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise have been awarded to Hussar. [1]
In 2025,Hussar stated that the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a "loud wake-up call for Europe" and that Europe should increase its defence spending. He has been critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin and stated that he cannot be trusted. [8]