Cabinet Tõnisson IV

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Jaan Tõnisson, here in a recording from 1928

Government of the Republic of Estonia under State Elder Jaan Tõnisson (Tõnisson IV cabinet). Term of office: May 18, 1933 to October 21, 1933.

government

Officially, the Tõnisson government was the 24th government of the Republic of Estonia since independence was declared in 1918. It remained in office for 157 days.

The two-party coalition consisted of

Government and state crisis

Proposals for solutions to the national crisis

In 1933, Estonia found itself in a deep political crisis. On April 26, 1933, Pat's short-lived government had to resign. Because of disagreements over economic policy, the National Center Party withdrew its ministers from the cabinet. On May 18, the leader of the National Center Party, Jaan Tõnisson, managed to bring about a new government.

Like numerous other democratic politicians, Tõnisson advocated restructuring the political system from a parliamentary to a semi-presidential form of government .

The constitution of 1920 , which made the government dependent on the permanent trust of parliament ( riigikogu ), was one of the main reasons for political instability and frequent changes of the mostly short-lived cabinets. Tõnisson spoke out on June 1, 1933 resolutely for a constitutional amendment. It was to be decided by the people in a referendum that took place from June 10 to 12, 1933.

The constitutional proposal provided for the creation of the office of a state president. He should have the right to veto laws. Its powers also included the dissolution of parliament and a limited right to issue ordinances. His term of office should be five years.

However, the referendum failed because of resistance, especially from right-wing forces: 67.3 percent of Estonians voted against it. The participation was 66.4 percent. Before that, compulsory voting had been abolished.

Estonia is drifting to the right

The result of the referendum was due, among other things, to the agitation of the right-wing national movement of the Union of Freedom Fighters ( Eesti Vabadussõjalaste Liit ) under Artur Sirk . He advocated an authoritarian leader state . The popularly so-called Vapsid therefore strictly rejected a constitutional compromise with Tõnisson.

The government tried to use authoritarian means to counter the threat posed by the extreme right. On June 3, the government in Tartu and the surrounding area had declared a five-month state of emergency and banned the Vapsid organizations there . On July 1, the state of emergency was extended to the land and sea borders. On August 11th, the government declared a state of emergency for the entire country. A pre-censorship of press organs was introduced, which met with bitter resistance of the Estonian newspapers.

New referendum

On October 4th, the Estonian Parliament ( Riigikogu ) amended the laws on elections and referendums. Only a majority of more than 50 percent of the votes cast was required to amend the constitution.

From October 14 to 16, 1933, another referendum took place on a new constitutional proposal, which should further strengthen the executive branch. The vote was initiated by the Association of Freedom Fighters. 72.7 percent of those who cast their vote voted in favor of the proposal. The Vapsid's proposal envisaged the introduction of a presidential system with strong powers for the elected state elder ( riigivanem ). A prime minister should be placed alongside him as head of government. The Riigikogu should be reduced from 100 to 50 MPs, who should receive considerably fewer powers than before.

Failure of government

On October 17, Tõnisson submitted his resignation due to the defeat in the referendum. At the same time, the government gave in to pressure from Vapsid : on October 19, it lifted the state of emergency (with the exception of the city of Tallinn , some border areas and along the railway lines). The previous censorship was abolished and the organizations of the Union of Freedom Fighters were re-approved.

Transition to dictatorship

On October 21, 1933 Konstantin Päts formed a transitional government . The new constitution came into force on January 24, 1934. A hundred days after it came into force, that is, in April 1934, the elections for the state elector and parliament were to take place. Before that, however, on March 12, 1934, Head of State and Government Päts seized power through a bloodless coup and established a semi-authoritarian dictatorship. He wanted to prevent the believed victory of the quasi-fascist Vapsid in the upcoming elections.

cabinet

Department Surname Term of office Political party
State Elder Jaan Tõnisson May 18, 1933 - October 21, 1933    RKE
Foreign minister Ants Piip May 18, 1933 - October 21, 1933 RKE
Minister of the Interior and Justice Vladimir Rooberg May 18, 1933 - October 3, 1933 ARV
Minister of the Interior and Justice    Ernst Heinrich Hein 04.10.1933 - 21.10.1933 independent   
Minister of Agriculture Johannes-Friedrich Zimmermann    May 18, 1933 - October 21, 1933 ARV
Minister of Education Konstantin Konik May 18, 1933 - October 21, 1933 RKE
Minister of Social Affairs Konstantin Konik May 18, 1933 - October 21, 1933 RKE
Economics Minister Peeter Kurvits May 18, 1933 - October 21, 1933 independent
Defense Minister August Kerem May 18, 1933 - October 21, 1933 RKE
Minister of transport Oskar Koester May 18, 1933 - October 21, 1933 ARV

See also

Web links