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Government
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Parliament Composition (2003 elections)
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Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit |
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Political System
Republic. Present Constitution adopted on 28 June 1992 by referendum.
Head of State
President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (elected on 23 September 2006).
The President is elected for a 5-year term by the Parliament or an electoral body and may only serve in office for 2 consecutive terms. The President has mainly representative functions, although he still retains a number of executive powers. The President may veto a parliamentary bill and have it sent back for revision, and his signature is required when appointing Government Ministers. The President is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
Prime Minister
Andrus ANSIP (since 13 April 2005, re-confirmed on 5 April 2007). The Prime Minister candidate is designated by the President of the Republic. The Prime Minister, under the authorisation of the Parliament, nominates the Ministers who are formally appointed by the President. Government Members do not need to be Members of the Riigikogu or have any political party affiliation. The executive power of the state - the Government - is responsible to the Parliament.
Legislature
The uni-cameral parliament (Riigikogu) of 101 Members is elected for a 4-year term. Members of the Riigikogu are elected by secret ballot on the basis of a general, uniform and direct right to vote. The general elections are based on the system of proportional representation.
Government Elections
The last parliamentary elections were held on 4 March 2007. The Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union) won 19 seats. The government coalition was formed between three political parties – Estonian Reform Party (6 ministers including the Prime Minister), Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (5 ministers and the President of the Parliament), and Estonian Social Democratic Party (3 ministers) and sworn in on 5 April 2007. The next elections are in March 2011.
The Estonian Parliament
Government
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Political System
