Jaan Tõnisson

Jaan Tõnisson (born 10 Dezemberjul / December 22 1868greg in the village Tänassilma, today rural community Viiratsi / Viljandi County, .. † after 1940) was an Estonian publisher, politician, Prime Minister and Head of State of the Republic of Estonia.

Tsarist

Tõnisson was born the son of a farmer. After finishing high school in Tallinn 1889-1892 he studied law at the University of Tartu. Already as a student he was in the influential " Estonian student club " (Estonian: Eesti Üliõpilaste Selts ) is active, whose chairman he was 1891/92. 1893 Tõnisson was editor of the newspaper Postimees. He fell on through articles, were in favor of a strengthening of the Estonian national consciousness and against the tsarist Russifizierungstendenzen in Estonia. 1896 bought Tõnisson together with friends Postimees and expanded its position as one of the leading journalists of the country.

As with the revolution of 1905 had you other rights of the Tsar, Tõnisson founded the first Estonian Party of National Progress Party ( Eesti Rahvameelne Eduerakond ). 1905-1907 he was elected as the first well-known Estonian deputy in the Russian State Duma. He argued forcefully for a further liberalization and against terror Tsarist Strafbattaillone. This led to his arrest in 1908 and a few months in prison.

Republic of Estonia

In the elections to the Constituent Assembly in the spring of 1919 Tõnissons party only came in third place. In November 1919 Tõnisson but was appointed as Prime Minister and had hold office until July 1920. After the Peace Treaty of Tartu with Soviet Russia on February 2, 1920, which ended the Revolutionary War and led to the final recognition of the Republic of Estonia, Tõnissons party lost popularity. But Tõnisson was still a member of the Parliament ( Riigikogu ) and served from July to October 1920 again as Prime Minister.

Tõnisson remained one of the most talented Estonian politicians of the interwar period. From 1896-1930 he was the owner of the largest daily Postimees 1896-1935 and its editor. He owned also has a large print and a bookshop in Tartu, in addition, he worked as a lawyer. From 1919 to 1932 he was chairman of the Estonian People's Party ( Eesti Rahvaerakond ). 1923-1925 was Tõnisson Parliament President, 1931/32 Estonian foreign minister. December 9, 1927 to December 4, 1928 and on May 18, 1933 to October 21, 1933 he held the office of the Estonian Head of State ( Riigivanem ).

The Constitution, adopted by referendum in 1933 and the beginning of the authoritarian regime under Konstantin Pats, the parties one year later were banned and restricted civil liberties. The government expropriated Postimees. Tõnisson was soon re- elected opponent Pats ' and 1938 into Parliament, where he unsuccessfully campaigned for the restoration of democracy.

Soviet Occupation

Even during the Soviet occupation of Estonia in the summer of 1940 Tõnisson tried to establish democratic opposition candidate in the Communist sham elections. In December 1940 he was arrested by the NKVD. His fate is unknown. After suspicions he was shot by the NKVD in July 1941.

Appreciation

Jaan Tõnisson was one of the most active and intrepid political figures in Estonia during the interwar period. He has helped shape the Estonian political system significantly. His first nationalistic views he married during his life more and more with social, but above all with liberal ideas. He had his influence more as a politician than as a writer and thinker. Tõnissons monument is facing the editors of Postimees in Tartu.