Estonian parliamentary election, 1932

The Estonian Parliament 1932 election was held on 21 to 23 May. It was the election of the fifth term of the Estonian Parliament ( Riigikogu ) after the adoption of the Estonian Constitution of 1920.

• 7.1 Cabinet Einbund and first constitutional referendum
• 7.2 Cabinet Pats
• 7.3 Cabinet Tõnisson and second constitutional referendum
• 7.4 Third constitutional referendum and end of government Tõnisson
• 7.5 Cabinet Pats

Election date

The disputes in the election campaign were dominated by the Great Depression, since the early 1930s had begun in November 1929 and severe impact on Estonia. Falling export prices for Estonian agricultural and industrial products, high unemployment, monetary turmoil of the Estonian kroon and social distribution struggles were the result.

Consolidation of the political landscape

Before the general election of May 1932 at the end of the fourth term of Parliament, there was a consolidation of the Estonian party system and pooling of party forces due to the economic crisis:

• On October 29, 1931, the Estonian People's Party ( Eesti Rahvaerakond ) and the Christian People's Party merged ( Kristlik Rahvaerakond ).

• On January 29, 1932, the party merged with the Estonian Labour Party ( Eesti Tööerakond ) the National Centre Party ( Rahvuslik Keskerakond ). You joined on February 5, the fraction of " homeowners, merchants, industrialists and other supporters of private property " ( Majaomanikud, kaupmehed, töösturid yes teised eraomandust pooldajad ) to.

• On January 26, 1932, came to the union of the two factions of the " Federation of Farmers " ( Põllumeeste Kogud ) and the Association of " settlers, farmers and government tenants " ( Asunikkude, Väikepõllupidajate yes Riigirentnikkude Koondus - AVRK ). Both parties represented the agrarian -oriented political spectrum. The official party merger was decided on a Unification Congress on 29 February 1932. It was, however, a union project of the party leaders. The merger collapsed a year after the election, on 18 May 1933 apart again. The base of the AVRK consisted mainly of small-scale farmers in the country who were most affected by the economic crisis. The dispute over the right policy in the crisis fueled the tensions with the urban or large rural supporters of " the Federation of Farmers " at.

Election procedures and course

The 100 deputies were elected according to the principle of proportional representation for a term of three years. Provided by the parties on the electoral lists for the ten constituencies. The same candidates could run in several constituencies. The seat is allocated by D' Hondt method.

In the parliamentary elections in 1932, nine political parties and groups stood for election. Six managed to jump over the two- percent threshold

Election result

Big election winner was the merger of the two conservative- oriented agarische parties. However, the common fraction dropped out a year after the election of irreconcilable disputes of the different wings apart.

By far the National Centre Party ( Rahvuslik Keskerakond ) and the Social Democratic Estonian Socialist Workers' Party followed ( Eesti Sotsialistlik Tööliste party).

In addition, were represented in Parliament as a Communist front organization of small parties and the national minorities of the German Baltic, Estonian Swedes and Russians.

Official final result

• Number of voters: 737 930 (excluding military personnel )
• Number of voters: 747 528 ( with military personnel)
• Turnout: 495 313 ​​( 67.1 %) and 8,587 army personnel
• Turnout with members of the army: 67.4 %
• Invalid votes (including military personnel ): 3,388 (0.7%)
• Valid Votes (including military personnel ): 500 512 ( 99.3%)

In Parliament, Parties represented

From 1932 onwards, not parties represented in parliament

The three other parties and groups received no electoral mandate:

• Rahvuslik Töökoondus ( " National Industrial Association"): 1.9%
• Vein sotsialistlike tööliste yes talupoegade parteid ("Russian party of workers and peasants " ): 1.0 %
• Põllumeeste Ühing ( " Confederation of Farmers " ): 0.9%

Convening of the Parliament

On 20 June 1932, the newly elected Riigikogu held its inaugural session. After the parliamentary practice appointed only in February 1932 former government handed under the State elders Jaan Teemant their resignations.

From 20 June to 19 July 1932 Karl Einbund exercised the office of President of Parliament. On July 19, 1932, the Parliament elected the leader of the two largest political group, Jaan Tõnisson by the National Centre Party, President of the Parliament.

The two parliamentary parties elected to the Russian-speaking minority ( vein Rahvusliku Liit Eestis and vein Pahempoolsete Sotsialistide yes Talupidajate Koondus ) joined under the name of vein vähemusrahvuse Riigikogu Rühm ( "parliamentary group of the Russian minority " ) to a group together.

Government education and crisis years of the Republic

The election results opened an in principle favorable to the Republic of Estonia political constellation with three major parties, all of which were capable coalition together. After the fragmented parliaments of the 1920s, the new Riigikogu offered the opportunity for a stable government job. It was not used by the Estonian politicians.

In forming the government quickly became apparent that there was a lack of Estonia in a functioning political culture of compromise. In the severe economic crisis, the political and social conflicts intensified further. The balancing office of President saw the Estonian Constitution not before. Therefore, the demands for a revision of the Estonian Constitution were getting stronger.

Cabinet Einbund and first constitutional referendum

In July 1932 Karl Einbund formed from an agricultural -based election winner a coalition government with the National Centre Party ( Rahvuslik Keskerakond ). The government had a majority of 65 votes in the Riigikogu.

Prior to the election of the Riigikogu on the proposal of the " Federation of Farmers ' and the Estonian People's Party 23-24. March 1932 a draft constitutional amendment adopted, which should stabilize the fallen into the crisis Estonian political system. He foresaw a reduction of Parliament from 100 to 80 deputies. The legislature should continue to be four instead of three years. The draft also proposed the creation of the office of president. He should have the right to veto laws of the Riigikogu, may adopt emergency regulations and have the power to premature dissolution of Parliament.

The constitutional amendment was the subject of a referendum, which took place from 13 to 15 August 1932. She narrowly failed. Only 49.2% of voters voted for the constitutional amendment.

Cabinet Pats

In October 1932, the government Einbund broke apart. Background were clashes between the party of the united farmers and the National Centre Party on economic issues. Above all, the coalition partners argued about the devaluation of the Estonian kroon to let Estonian products internationally again be competitive.

Konstantin Pats was formed on November 1, 1932, a coalition of his party with the National Centre Party ( Rahvuslik Keskerakond ) and two Ministers of the Estonian Socialist Workers' Party ( Eesti Sotsialistlik Tööliste party).

The government lasted only until May 1933. Due to differences in economic policy attracted the National Centre Party of its ministers from the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, the Republic came under increasing pressure from the right-wing extra-parliamentary opposition. The rechtsexetreme " Central Federation of Estonian freedom fighters" ( Eesti Vabadussõjalaste Keskliit - EVKL, popularly known Vapsid ) won by the world economic crisis and the population's dissatisfaction with the party strife add more and more followers. The federal government and its leader Andres Larka and Artur Sirk made ​​from her contempt for pluralism, democracy and the rule of law no secret.

The " Central Federation of Estonian freedom fighters" demanded on 10 November 1932 new authoritarian constitution for the country. The demands of the Confederation provided for a reduction of the Parliament from 100 to 50 deputies. The previous system of proportional representation should be replaced by a majority vote. Especially the Vapsid called for a strong president with extensive powers.

On November 22, 1932, the Riigikogu formed a new committee for constitutional revision. A day later, the National Centre Party issued its new draft law for a new constitution. The draft was adopted by Parliament on 14 February 1933. At the same time rejected the Riigikogu from the draft constitution of the Vapsid.

On April 26, 1933, the Pats government broke apart. The Minister of National Centre Party had left the cabinet because of disagreements in economic policy. At the same time also broke the merger between Pats ' Federation of farmers and kleinagrarischen Association of " settlers, farmers and government tenants " apart. On May 18, 1933 left sixteen members of the Federation of Farmers common fraction and presented their former party recovers.

Cabinet Tõnisson and second constitutional referendum

On May 18, 1933, succeeded to the leader of the National Centre Party and Speaker of Parliament, Jaan Tõnisson to bring a new government under his aegis about. The two-party coalition consisted of the National Centre Party and the Party of " settlers, government tenants and small farmers " ( Asunikud, riigirentnikud yes väikepõllupidajad ).

On the same day Charles Einbund was elected as the new parliamentary speaker.

At the same time reinforced the extreme right-wing " Central Federation of Estonian freedom fighter," his agitation against the Estonian democracy. Following protests by the collar on 1 June 1933, the Estonian Prime Minister issued a five-month state of defense for the city and county of Tartu. A day later, the Estonian Minister of the Interior banned the organizations of the Central League in Tartu county.

In addition, the government sought a revision of the Constitution, which should bring more stability to the political system. The draft constitution adopted by Parliament on 14 February 1933, submitted by June 10 to 12 to the people for decision. It provided for the extension of the term of three to four years and a stronger people choice. Estonia should receive an elected president for five years with limited emergency powers. The second referendum on constitutional reform failed. 67.3 % voted against.

With increasing agitation of the " Central Federation of Estonian freedom fighters" after the referendum, the government was increasingly ago against the far-right extra-parliamentary opposition. On August 11, 1933 all organizations of the collar were banned. On the same day, the Government adopted the national defense state and led a pre-censorship. This led to strong protests from the entire Estonian press. On August 19, 1933, the Estonian newspapers decided to boycott the government.

Third constitutional referendum and end of government Tõnisson

In this politically charged atmosphere of the " Central Federation of Estonian freedom fighters" achieved that a third referendum should be held on a new constitution. This time, the draft Constitution of the collar should be put to the vote.

The initiative was successful. In a referendum, which took place from 14 to 16 October 1933 the Estonian people adopted the new Estonian Constitution, which was largely based on the designs of Vapsid. The agreement was 72.7 %.

The new constitution provided for the introduction of a presidential system with strong powers of a state elders directly elected by the people ( Riigivanem ). He should be a prime minister as head of government are placed to the side. The unicameral parliament should be reduced from 100 to 50 deputies who should receive significantly less authority than before.

The government had decided Tõnisson voted against the draft constitution of the Vapsid, she refused to be largely undemocratic. She handed because of their defeat on 17 October 1933, the resignation.

Cabinet Pats

On October 21, 1933 Konstantin Pats made ​​with parliamentary backing a transitional government that would remain in office until the conditions provided for by the new constitution elections of state and Elder of Parliament. They consisted mostly of Pats related experts.

( Eesti Vabadussõjalaste Liit - EVL ) Meanwhile, the " Central Federation of Estonian freedom fighters " in " Federation of Estonian freedom fighters" had been renamed. On October 28, 1933, he was registered as a political party. At his party's congress, the federal government could celebrate on December 17. In the local elections in January 1934, he was able to record landslide successes. In the Estonian capital Tallinn, he received almost half of the votes.

On January 24, 1934, the new constitution came into force. In the upcoming for Angang 1934 national elections, the Confederation of his success was certain.

The end of democracy

On March 12 1934 crack heads of state and head of government Pats with the help of Johan Laidoner and the Estonian military in a bloodless coup the power. Pats and Laidoner wanted to forestall so one seemed to be sure election victory of the " Confederation of Estonian freedom fighters" in the upcoming parliamentary and state Oldest elections. He used it superficially the extensive powers that was available to him under the new presidential constitution to give the coup a legal paint.

The government imposed a state of emergency across the country ( " state of defense " ) for six months. On March 16, 1934, the Parliament approved the state of emergency. The government had about four hundred political opponents arrested, for the most part members of the " Confederation of Estonian freedom fighters." Political meetings and demonstrations were banned. The mandates of the "League of Estonian freedom fighters", the end of 1933 had recorded great success in the municipal elections were canceled. On March 22, 1934, the federal government has been prohibited by the Interior Minister. The planned elections were postponed by a decree of Prime Minister Pats from March 19, 1934 "to the end of exception".

Heads of state and head of government Pats sat with his coup d'état the valid constitution de facto suspended. He set up in the following months, a police state that relied primarily on the army, police and domestic intelligence. On 7 September 1934, the state of emergency was extended for another year ( then in each of the months of September 1935, 1936 and 1937 for a further twelve months).

On September 28, 1934, the Parliament came together again. It chose Rudolf Penno the new parliamentary speaker. At the same time Parliament criticized at its meeting of October 2, 1934 loudly the political activity prohibition, the Minister of the Interior had issued Einbund. Under pressure from the government after Parliament was therefore no longer convened on October 2. It was practically dissolved. Estonia remained de facto without legislature. Head of government Pats ruled with decrees had the force of law.

Constitution of 1938

1935/36, the Pats planned transition from dictatorship in orderly constitutional conditions. A study initiated by him referendum on the convening of a National Constituent Assembly ( Rahvuskogu ) was held to 25 February 1936 by 23. A free political debate, however, was not possible under the prevailing conditions. The result corresponded to the will of the government. 474 218 voted for the convening of the Rahvuskogu ( 62.4 %), 148 824 against. 6175 votes were invalid.

The bicameral Rahvuskogu met from February to August 1937., After six months of work laid the Rahvuskogu in July 1937 a new Constitution. She looked as head of state before a president who had extensive powers. He appoints a government under the leadership of the Prime Minister, which remained dependent on his confidence. Estonia received a bikamerales Parliament, but the tion states only minor rights.

The new constitution was tailored to Konstantin Pats and consolidate his rule. A return to democracy and the rule of law did not take place. The new constitution was signed by Pats on August 17, 1937. The Constitution came into force on 1 January 1938.

On December 31, 1937 at midnight de jure ended by Decree No 290 of Konstantin Pats, the fifth term of the Riigikogu and the term of office of the elected members in 1932.

On 24 and February 25, 1938 took place the election of the Chamber of Deputies ( Riigivolikogu ) under the new constitution. A short time later, the members of the second chamber of parliament, the State Council ( Riiginõukogu ) have been appointed.