Estonian Reform Party
The Estonian Reform Party (Estonian Eesti Reformierakond, RE) is a classically liberal party. Its chairman is Andrus Ansip, the Estonian prime minister is since 2005.
Positions and profile
The Reform Party is a classically liberal party, that is, it advocates for the greatest possible degree of individual freedom in all areas of life. So they not only demanded a reduction in the flat tax to 18% by 2011, or an abolition of the corporate income tax on reinvested income, but also takes a stand against the military and in favor of the legalization of drugs.
The Reform Party is a member of Liberal International and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. Their colors are blue and yellow.
History and Development
On 13 November 1994, the RE was founded by the former Central Bank President and "Father of the Estonian kroon ," said Siim Kallas. In the parliamentary elections the following year the newly founded party with 16.2% and 19 of 101 seats immediately became the second strongest force behind the social-liberal Estonian Coalition Party. Following a cabinet reshuffle in November 1995, she went with this one a coalition government led by Tiit Vähi, Kallas was foreign minister. A year later broke the coalition, the RE went into opposition. In 1999, she made after confirmation in the elections (15.9%, 18 seats) again form a coalition with the Homeland Union and the People's Party - The Moderates (now Estonian Social Democratic Party ) under Mart Laar. After their breakup Kallas himself was elected prime minister, his government was a member of the Estonian Centre Party. His pro-European policy led to a slight gain in the parliamentary elections of 2003. 17.7 % chose the party so that they could send 19 deputies to the Riigikogu again. The Reform Party was still part of the government, but the governance now took Juhan Parts of the Res Publica, also involved in the government was the People's Union, a left conservative Agrarian Party. 2004 Siim Kallas went as European Commissioner in Brussels. His successor as party chairman, took over Andrus Ansip, the popular mayor of Tartu. After Parts ' resignation, the Res Publica left the government. New Prime Minister Ansip was, who received the Centre Party back into government.
In the parliamentary elections in March 2007, the RE achieved strong. Now came to 27.8 % of the vote and 31 seats. After the election, the Reform Party now Liit Res Publica (IRL ) and the Social Democrats formed with the conservative Isamaa yes a coalition government of the Social Democrats, however, excreting in May 2009. In the election on March 6, 2011, the Reform Party was able to increase its profit again and achieve its best ever election result with 28.6 % of the vote and 33 seats in the Riigikogu. Andrus Ansip put the coalition of the Reform Party continues with the IRL.