Minister of Defence (Estonia)

The Minister of Defence (Estonian: Kaitseminister) is the senior minister at the Ministry of Defence (Kaitseministeerium) in the Estonian Government. The Minister is one of the most important members of the Estonian government, with responsibility for coordinating the governments policies on national defence and the military forces.

Minister of Defence
Incumbent
Kalle Laanet

since 26 January 2021
Ministry of Defence
AppointerKaja Kallas

The Defence Minister is chosen by the Prime Minister as a part of the government. The current Defence Minister is Jüri Luik.

When the position was originally established in 1918, it was called the Minister of War (Sõjaminister). The post was renamed Minister of Defence on April 1, 1929, but would change back to Minister of War in 1937. Though the name of the position, and subsequently the ministry, was changed the main responsibilities of the position remained virtually unchanged.

Since Estonia regained its independence in 1991 the post has been known as the Minister of Defence.

List of Ministers

1918 to 1929 (Minister of War)

Name Took Office Left Office Party
Andres Larka February 24, 1918 November 27, 1918 non-party
Konstantin Päts November 27, 1918 May 8, 1919 non-party
Otto Strandman May 8, 1919 November 18, 1919 Estonian Labour Party
August Johannes Hanko November 18, 1919 July 28, 1920 non-party
Aleksander Tõnisson July 28, 1920 October 26, 1920 non-party
Ants Piip October 26, 1920 January 25, 1921 Estonian Labour Party
Jaan Soots January 25, 1921 August 2, 1923 Farmers' Assemblies
Ado Anderkopp August 2, 1923 February 19, 1924 Estonian Labour Party
Oskar Amberg March 26, 1924 October 18, 1924 Christian People's Party
Hans Kurvits November 11, 1924 November 26, 1924
Jaan Soots (2nd time) December 16, 1924 March 4, 1927 Farmers' Assemblies
Nikolai Reek March 4, 1927 December 4, 1928
Mihkel Juhkam December 4, 1928 March 31, 1929 Estonian Labour Party

1929 to 1937 (Minister of Defence)

Name Took Office Left Office Party
Mihkel Juhkam April 1, 1929 July 9, 1929 Estonian Labour Party
Oskar Köster July 9, 1929 February 12, 1931 Settlers' Party
August Kerem February 12, 1931 November 19, 1932 Estonian People's Party
Aleksander Tõnisson (2nd time) November 1, 1932 May 18, 1933 non-party
August Kerem (2nd time) May 18, 1933 October 21, 1933 Estonian People's Party
Paul Lill October 21, 1933 February 28, 1937

1937 to 1940 (Minister of War)

Name Took Office Left Office
Paul Lill March 1, 1937 October 12, 1939
Nikolai Reek (2nd time) October 12, 1939 June 21, 1940

1992 to Present (Minister of Defence)

Name Took Office Left Office Party
Ülo Uluots June 18, 1992 October 21, 1992 Popular Front of Estonia
Hain Rebas October 21, 1992 August 5, 1993 Estonian National Independence Party
Jüri Luik August 23, 1993 November 8, 1994 Pro Patria Union
Indrek Kannik January 7, 1994 May 23, 1994 Pro Patria Union
Enn Tupp June 28, 1994 April 17, 1995 Pro Patria Union
Andrus Öövel April 17, 1995 March 25, 1999 Estonian Coalition Party
Jüri Luik (2nd time) March 25, 1999 January 28, 2002 Pro Patria Union
Sven Mikser January 28, 2002 April 10, 2003 Estonian Centre Party
Margus Hanson April 10, 2003 November 22, 2004 Estonian Reform Party
Jaak Jõerüüt November 22, 2004 October 8, 2005 Estonian Reform Party
Jürgen Ligi October 10, 2005 April 5, 2007 Estonian Reform Party
Jaak Aaviksoo April 5, 2007 April 6, 2011 Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
Mart Laar April 6, 2011 May 11, 2012 Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
Urmas Reinsalu May 14, 2012 March 26, 2014 Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
Sven Mikser (2nd time) March 26, 2014 September 14, 2015 Social Democratic Party
Hannes Hanso September 14, 2015 November 23, 2016 Social Democratic Party
Margus Tsahkna November 23, 2016 June 12, 2017 Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
Jüri Luik (3rd time) June 12, 2017 January 26, 2021 Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
Kalle Laanet January 26, 2021 Estonian Reform Party
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.