ESTONIA: Almost extinguished, successfully reborn
The following text is the shortest possible review to help inform friends and guests from abroad about Estonia’s experience with foreign occupation and totalitarianism as well as its road to peacefully re-establishing national inde-pendence on the basis of democracy. Tunne Kelam Member of the European Parlament
The following text is the shortest possible review to help inform
friends and guests from abroad about Estonia’s experience with
foreign occupation and totalitarianism as well as its road to
peacefully re-establishing national inde-pendence on the basis
of democracy.
Tunne Kelam
Member of the European Parlament
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A Brief Political Chronology<br />
<strong>ESTONIA</strong>:<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
OF <strong>ESTONIA</strong><br />
100<br />
• 20 August 1991 – Taking advantage of coup in<br />
Moscow, independence of Republic of Estonia<br />
re-established, based on legal continuity.<br />
National understanding between Supreme Council<br />
and Congress of Estonia provides for creation of<br />
Constituent Assembly.<br />
• 20 June 1992 – Estonia’s own currency (kroon)<br />
replaces Soviet rouble; kroon is pegged to German<br />
mark.<br />
• 28 June 1992 – In national referendum, 91%<br />
of participants approve new constitution which<br />
mandates parliamentary republic with President<br />
exercising representative functions.<br />
• 20 September 1992 – First free parliamentary<br />
elections after World War II.<br />
• Lennart Meri elected constitutional President.<br />
October 8, 32-year old Mart Laar, leader of<br />
center-right Pro Patria (Fatherland) Party, forms<br />
coalition government. Radical political and economic<br />
reforms launched.<br />
79
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