Estonia and Estonian News

Country Profile
Estonia officially the Republic of Estonia, is a Country in the Baltic Region( countries that have shorelines along the Baltic Sea) of Northern Europe.
Estonia is one of the least-populous members of the EU,Eurozone and NATO
Estonia has the highest GDP of $ 19375 per person among former Soviet Republics

Capital                    Tallinn
Currency                 Euro
Population               1.5 Million ( 2010 Estimate )
Official Language     Estonian
Ethnic Groups         69% Estonians,25% Russians and 6% Others


History
Estonian Declaration of Independence from Soviet Russia on Feb 24,1918
The Republic of Estonia was recognised (de jure) by Finland on 7 July 1920, Poland on 31 December 1920, Argentina on 12 January 1921 and by the Western Allies on 26 January 1921
Estonia maintained its independence for twenty-two years.
On 16 June 1940, the Soviet Union invaded Estonia and the military occupation of Estonia was complete by the June 21, 1940
Germany invaded  the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941 and the German Army crossed the Estonian southern border on July 7,1941.At the end of July the Germans resumed their advance in Estonia working in tandem with the Estonian Forest Brothers( Estonian,Latvian and Lithuanian Partisans  who waged a Guerrilla War against Soviet Union  rule during the Soviet invasion and occupation of the 3 Balti States during and after World War II).Although initially the Germans were perceived by most Estonians as liberators from the USSR and its repressions, and hopes were raised for the restoration of the country's independence, it was soon realised that they were but another occupying power.
The Soviet forces reconquered Estonia in the autumn of 1944 after fierce battles in the northeast of the country.The occupation of Estonia by Soviet Union continued till the Estonian Sovereignty Declaration  was issued on Nov 16, 1988 and formal independence declared on Aug 20, 1991.

Government
Estonia is a Parliamentary Representative Democratic Republic.The Estonian political system operates under a framework laid out in the 1992 Constitution.

Estonian Parliament,Riigikogu has 101 members elected by people for a four year term by Proportional Representation.
The Riigikogu elects and appoints several high officials of the state, including the President of the Republic.President is the Head of State

The Govt. of Estonia or the Executive Branch  is formed by the PM of Estonia  nominated by the president and approved by the Parliament,Riigikogu.The government exercises executive power pursuant to the Estonian Constitution  and the laws of the Republic of Estonia and consists of 12 ministers, including the PM.The prime minister has the right to appoint a maximum of 3 such ministers, as the limit of ministers in one government is 15.


President of Estonia

The current President of Estonia is Toomas Hendrik Ilves elected by an electoral body on 23 Sep 23, 2006 and re-elected on Aug 29, 2011.

Prime Minister of Estonia

Andrus Ansip is the current PM of Estonia and chairman of the Market Liberal Estonian Reform Party
He assumed the office of PM  on April 12,2005 following the  resignation by Prime Minister Juhan Parts on March 24,2005. Andrus Ansip  was able to form a coalition with the Centre Party and the People's Union of Estonia which was approved by the Riigikogu backed by 53 out of 101 members.

On March 4, 2007,  Andrus Ansip 's Reform Party won 27 percent of the vote in the Estonian parliamentary elections, raising its mandate in the Riigikogu to 31 seats from 19  votes.
He was charged by President Tooma Hendrik Ilves to form a government.
Reform Party formed a coalition with the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica(IRL) and the Social Democratic Party

In March 2011, the Reform Party won 33 seats in the Riigikogu, remaining the largest party. He was once again charged by  to President Tooma Hendrik Ilves form a government. The Reform Party continued the coalition with the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica.
Andrus Ansip 's 3rd term as Prime Minister began on April 6,2011

Estonia Took to the Internet Much Faster and become an Internet Titan

For other countries, the internet is just another service, like tap water, or clean streets.But for young Estonians, the internet is a manifestation of something more than a service – it's a symbol of democracy and freedom.
Free Wi-Fi is everywhere, and has been for a decade.
97% Of Estonian Schools  had Internet
42 Estonian services are now managed mainly through the internet.
94% of tax returns were made online, usually within five minutes
Doctors only issue prescriptions electronically
One  can Vote using the Laptop  (at the last election, Ilves did it from Macedonia) and sign legal documents on a smartphone.
 ID card, introduced in 2002. Nine in 10 Estonians have one, and – by slotting it into their computer – citizens can use their card to vote online, transfer money and access all the information the state has on them.
Cabinet meetings have been paperless since 2000