Social Democratic Party (Estonia)

The Social Democratic Party (Estonian: Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond ), SDE, is a social democratic party in Estonia. Chaired by Sven Mikser. The party is a member of SPE and observer member of the Socialist International. Compared to other European social democratic parties, the SDE stood for a more conservative policy, which was reflected in the cooperation with right-wing parties. The party (or its predecessor) was three times involved in the Estonian Government (see Estonia coalitions since 1992) and, with Toomas Hendrik Ilves since 2006 the Estonian President.

The party was formed in 1990 at the general election in 1992 the Social Democrats Estonian country - center party participated in an election alliance with the (agro centrist ). ; the alliance won 9.73% of the vote and 12 seats in the Riigikogu and participated in the government of Mart Laar 1992 to September 1994 and at the cabinet Tarand ( Tarand itself belonged to the party of Moderates ), which until November 1994 March 1995 was. In the parliamentary elections of 1995, the moderates were only 5.99% of the vote ( 6 seats ) and remained in opposition.

In 1996 came the merger of the Social Democratic Party and the Estonian country - center party to Mõõdukad ( Moderates ). In 1999, allied the party " Moderates " even with the conservative People's Party ( which consisted of factions of the Homeland Union ). Together, the two parties also participated in the parliamentary elections of 1999, part ( 15.21 % of the vote and 17 seats ); the parties formally merged in the fall of 1999 ( " People's Party - The moderates" ). The party took from March 1999 to January 2001 in the government part (see Cabinet Laar II).

Under the name People's Party - The Moderates she joined also the parliamentary elections in 2003, when she won 7.04 percent of the vote and six seats in the Riigikogu (Parliament). In 2004 it was renamed the party in Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond.

In the Estonian parliamentary elections in 2007, the Social Democrats increased their share of the vote to 10.61 percent, and again move with 10 seats in the Riigikogu. She was represented by May 2009 with three ministers in the Cabinet Ansip. Then there was a dispute on measures to combat the economic crisis. The Social Democratic ministers were dismissed, the SDE went into opposition.

Party chairman

• Marju Lauristin (1990-1995)
• Eiki Nestor (1995-1996)
• Andres Tarand (1996-2001)
• Toomas Hendrik Ilves (2001-2002)
• Ivari Padar (2002-2009)
• Jüri Pihl ​​(2009-2010)
• Sven Mikser (since 2010)