Eesti Rahvaerakond
The Estonian People's Party ( Estonian Estonian People's Party - ER) was a conservative - National Liberal Party in Estonia the interwar period .
History and program
The Estonian People's Party claimed to be the oldest political party. She saw herself as the successor to the Estonian Nationally Minded Progress Party ( Eesti Rahvameelne Eduerakond ) founded in 1905 .
The Estonian People's Party emerged as a merger of the Estonian Democratic Party ( Eesti Demokraatlik Erakond ) and the Estonian Radical Democratic Party ( Eesti Radikaaldemokraatlik Erakond ). After the state sovereignty of the Republic of Estonia was proclaimed in 1918, it adopted its new name shortly before the elections to the Constituent Assembly ( Asutav Kogu ).
At the founding congress in March 1919, the clerical part of the party split off. Supporters of a stronger position of the Evangelical Lutheran Church founded their own denominational party under the name of Christian People's Party ( Kristlik Rahvaerakond ) .
Programmatically, the Estonian People's Party emphasized the national interests of the Estonian people. It was close to value conservative national ideas. A popular Estonian patriotism should overcome the separation of society into social classes. The nation should create a unifying bond for the entire people in the young Estonian state. The party stood for the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law on the western model. Despite a conservative attitude, she advocated a social market economy under liberal auspices.
Their following consisted largely of intellectuals, the educated urban bourgeoisie, but also some of the farmers. The party was particularly strong in southern Estonia, particularly in the university town of Tartu and the district surrounding the city.
The multiple head of government Jaan Tõnisson was charismatic for the party . From 1919 to 1932 the publisher of the Postimees newspaper was its undisputed chairman. Other leading ER politicians were Jüri Jaakson (head of government 1924/25), the multiple minister August Kerem , Peter Põld from the University of Tartu , the Tallinn mayor Jaan Poska and the educator Jakob Vestholm .
In the wake of the global economic crisis , there were several mergers in the Estonian party system in the early 1930s. In October 1931, the Estonian People's Party and the Christian People's Party , which had separated in 1919, merged again. In January 1932 the National Center Party ( Rahvuslik Keskerakond ) emerged from a union with the conservative Estonian Labor Party ( Eesti Tööerakond ).
Election results
| choice | Legislative period | be right | MPs (Asutav Kogu = 120 seats) (Riigikogu = 100 seats) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | Asutav Kogu | 4.4% | 5 |
| 1920 | 1. Riigikogu | 10.4% | 10 |
| 1923 | 2. Riigikogu | 7.5% | 8th |
| 1926 | 3. Riigikogu | 7.4% | 8th |
| 1929 | 4. Riigikogu | 8.9% | 9 |
literature
- Sulev Vahtre (Ed.): Eesti Ajalugu. Volume 6: Vabadussõjast Taasiseseisvumiseni. Ilmamaa, Tartu 2005, ISBN 9985-77-142-7 , p. 66.
Individual evidence
- ^ Mati Laur et al .: History of Estonia. 2nd edition. Avita, Tallinn 2002, ISBN 9985-2-0606-1 , p. 228 f.