| Republic of Estonia Eesti Vabariik Timeline: Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum
OTL equivalent: Estonia | ||||||
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| Anthem: Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm |
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 Location of Estonia
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| Capital | Tallinn | |||||
| Official languages | Estonian | |||||
| Ethnic groups | Estonians; Finns; Swedes | |||||
| Religion | Christianity; Irreligion | |||||
| Demonym | Estonian | |||||
| Government | Unitary state; Constitutional parliamentary republic | |||||
| - | State Elder | Kaja Kallas | ||||
| - | Deputy State Elder | Urmas Reinsalu | ||||
| Legislature | Riigikogu of Estonia | |||||
| Establishment | ||||||
| - | Independence from the Russian Empire | February 24, 1918 | ||||
| Currency | Estonian kroon (EEK) |
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| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | |||||
| Internet TLD | .ee | |||||
| Calling code | +372 | |||||
| Membership international or regional organizations | United Nations | |||||
Estonia (Estonian: Eesti), officially the Republic of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti Vabariik), is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south and east by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Across the Baltic Sea lies Scandinavia in the west and Finland in the north.
Estonia is a developed country with a high-income advanced economy and a high Human Development Index score. However, there are vast disparities in GDP between different areas of Estonia; over half of the country's GDP is centered in Tallinn. Although Estonia is not a member of the European Community, the European Economic Area, or the Eurozone, it is a participant to bilateral agreements that allow it to participate in the European single market and the Schengen Area. Estonia has frequently rated well in global rankings for quality of life, education, journalistic freedom, digitalization of government services, and the prevalence of technology firms.
Politics and government[]
The seat of the Parliament of Estonia in Toompea Castle.
Estonia is a unitary parliamentary republic. The unicameral parliament Riigikogu (lit. "State Assembly") serves as the legislative and the government as the executive. Riigikogu is elected by citizens over 18 years of age for a four-year term by proportional representation, and has 101 members. Riigikogu's responsibilities include approval and preservation of the national government, passing legal acts, passing the state budget, and conducting parliamentary supervision. On the recommendations of State Elder, Riigikogu appoints the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the chairman of the board of the Bank of Estonia, the Auditor General, the Legal Chancellor, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces.
Kadriorg Administrative Building, the workplace of the State Elder of Estonia.
The head of state and government of Estonia is the State Elder (Riigivanem) is elected by the Riigikogu by an absolute majority in accordance with the four-year parliamentary term and can be re-elected without a term limit. As the head of state, the State Elder represents Estonia on the international community. They can be voted out of office by the Riigikogu before the end of term, but only if the members of parliament have agreed on a successor (constructive vote of no confidence). The office combines some of the functions held by a president and prime minister in most other democracies.
The government of Estonia, headed by the State Elder and approved by the Riigikogu, represent the political leadership of the country and carry out domestic and foreign policy. Ministers head ministries and represent its interests in the government. Sometimes ministers with no associated ministry are appointed, known as ministers without portfolio. The Government appoints one of its members as the Deputy State Elder, usually from the foreign or finance portfolios. Estonia has been ruled by coalition governments because no party has been able to obtain an absolute majority in the parliament.
Building of the Supreme Court of Estonia in Tartu.
Estonia has a civil law legal system based on the Germanic legal model. The court system has a three-level structure. The first instance are county courts which handle all criminal and civil cases, and administrative courts which hear complaints about government and local officials, and other public disputes. The second instance are district courts which handle appeals about the first instance decisions. The Supreme Court (Riigikohus) is the court of cassation, and also conducts constitutional review, it has 19 members. The judiciary is independent, judges are appointed for life, and can be removed from office only when convicted by court for a criminal deed.
History[]
Flag of Estonia (1918–1946).
As a result of the abolition of serfdom and the availability of education to the native Estonian-speaking population, an active Estonian nationalist movement developed in the 19th century. In response to a period of Russification initiated by the Russian Empire in the 1890s, Estonian nationalism took on more political tones, with intellectuals first calling for greater autonomy, and later, complete independence from the Russian Empire.
When World War I ended, the February Revolution of 1917 occurred in Russia. The Provisional Government of Russia amalgamated the Governorate of Estonia and the Governorate of Livonia as the Autonomous Governorate of Estonia on April 12, 1917.
Estonian Declaration of Independence in Pärnu on February 23, 1918
Following the Bolshevik takeover of power in Russia after the October Revolution of 1917 and an attempt by the Estonian Bolsheviks to take over the political power in Tallinn on November 9, 1917, Maapäev, the provisional parliament of Estonia, forced to operate underground. In February, after the collapse of the peace talks between Soviet Russia and the German Empire, mainland Estonia was occupied by the Germans. Between the Bolshevik retreat and the arrival of advancing German troops, the Salvation Committee of the Maapäev proclaiming an independent, sovereign Estonian state in Pärnu on February 23 and in Tallinn on February 24, 1918.
After the collapse of the short-lived puppet government of the United Baltic Duchy and the withdrawal of German troops in November 1918, an Estonian Provisional Government retook office. A military invasion by the Red Army followed a few days later, however, marking the beginning of the Estonian War of Independence (1918–1920). Joint Scandinavian–Estonian forces successfully drove the Red Army back to Soviet Russia by February 1919.
Konstantin Päts (1874–1956)
Independent Estonia then underwent a number of economic, social, and political reforms necessary to come to terms with its new status as a sovereign state. Economically and socially, land reform in 1919 was the most important step. Large estate holdings belonging to the Baltic nobility were redistributed among the peasants and especially among volunteers in the war of independence. Estonia's principal markets became Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and western Europe, with some exports to the United States and to the Soviet Union.
A mass anticommunist and anti-parliamentary Vaps Movement emerged in the 1930s. State Elder Konstantin Päts then carried out a pre-emptive self-coup on March 12, 1934. State of emergency was declared and the Vaps Movement was disbanded, starting the "Era of Silence". During the Era of Silence, political parties were banned and the parliament was not in session between 1934 and 1938 as the country was ruled by decree from Päts. It was also easier for the government to pass reforms, since there was no longer an organized opposition. The economy grew and the infrastructure, industry and education were developed by Päts's regime.
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