The prime minister of Estonia () is the head of government of the Republic of Estonia. The prime minister is nominated by the president after appropriate consultations with the parliamentary factions and confirmed by the parliament (Riigikogu). In case of disagreement, the parliament can reject the president's nomination and choose their own candidate. In practice, since the prime minister must maintain the confidence of parliament in order to remain in office, they are usually the leader of the senior partner in the governing coalition. The current prime minister is Kristen Michal of the Reform Party. He took the office on 23 July 2024 following the resignation of Kaja Kallas.
The prime minister does not head any specific ministry. Rather, in accordance with the constitution, the prime minister supervises the work of the government. The prime minister's significance and role in the government, and their relations with other ministries, often depend on the position of the party led by the prime minister relative to its coalition partners, and on how much influence the prime minister possesses within one's own party. If the prime minister has a strong position within one's party, and the government is made up solely of representatives of that party, the prime minister can enjoy considerable authority. In all crucial national questions, at least formally, the final word rests with the parliament as the legislative power.
Unlike counterparts in other parliamentary republics, the prime minister of Estonia is both de jure and de facto chief executive. This is because the constitution explicitly vests executive power in the government, of which the prime minister is the leader. In most other parliamentary republics, the president is at least nominal chief executive, while bound by convention to act on the cabinet's advice.
History After Estonia declared independence from the then warring Russian and German Empires in 1918, the Provisional Government of Estonia was led by a Prime Minister until 1920. The 1920 Constitution set up a head of government whose position called the State Elder (riigivanem) and there was no separate head of state. This system was a radically parliamentary system because the State Elder could be dismissed by the Riigikogu with a simple majority. Moreover, the State Elder was not the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, nor could they ratify laws or dissolve the Riigikogu. The dissolution of Parliament was only possible through a referendum.(Seppo Zetterberg, "A History of Estonia" / Viron historia. 3rd edition. Helsinki: The Finnish Literary Society / Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, 2007, pages 524–525) Under the 1934 Constitution passed by plebiscite, the position of Prime Minister was recreated as head of government in a more presidential system. Under this constitution, the head of state took the name State Elder (riigivanem) identical to the name for the 1920–1934 head of government. The newly established head of state could appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister and Cabinet, veto laws, give decrees (statutes) and dissolve the Riigikogu.(Zetterberg 2007, pages 558–559) The incumbent Prime Minister in duties of the State Elder of Estonia Konstantin Päts, staged a self-coup to counter the threat of the Vaps Movement and suspended the full implementation of the 1934 Constitution, not going ahead with elections for the new head of state and suspending the parliament. Päts remained the Prime Minister in duties of the State Elder 1934–1937, and as President-regent (riigihoidja) for 1937–1938. According to the 1938 Constitution, the position of the Prime Minister was retained, while the head of state was finally renamed the President under a presidential system. The 1992 Constitution after the Soviet occupation reinstated the 1938–1940 positions of Prime Minister and President under a parliamentary system.
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1918–1920 PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyCabinetRiigikogu(Election)SeparateHead of StateTook officeLeft officeDaysThe executive order of the Provisional Government and the Council of Elders of the Provincial Assembly replaced the office of Chairman of the Council of Ministers.—Konstantin Päts(1874–1956)Chairman of the Council of Ministersof the Provisional Government24 February 191812 November 1918440Country People's Union(EMRL)Päts I ProvisionalEMRL–ETE–EDE–ESDTPProvisionalProvincialAssembly(1917)NonePrime Ministerof the Provisional Government12 November 191827 November 1918Päts II ProvisionalEMRL–ETE–EDEEMRL–ETE–EDE–ESDTPThe Estonian Social Democratic Workers' Party (ESDTP) joined the coalition on 16 November 1918.27 November 19189 May 1919Päts III ProvisionalEMRL–ETE–EDE–ESDTPEMRL–ETE–EDE–ESDTP–SEEEMRL–ETE–EDE–ESDTP–SEE–VKKEMRL–ETE–ERE–ESDTP–SEE–VKKThe German Party in Estonia (SEE) joined the coalition on 28 November 1918. The Russian Citizens' Assembly (VKK) joined the coalition on 28 February 1919. The Estonian Democratic Party (EDE) merged with the Estonian Radical Democratic Party (ERDE) to form the Estonian People's Party (ERE) on 1 March 1919 and the new party remained in the government.1Otto August Strandman(1875–1941)1st Prime Minister9 May 191918 November 1919194Labour Party(ETE)Strandman IETE–ESDTP–EREETE–ESDTPThe Estonian People's Party (ERE) left the coalition on 20 September 1919.ConstituentAssembly(1919)2Jaan Tõnisson(1868–1941?)2nd Prime Minister18 November 191928 July 1920254People's Party(ERE)Tõnisson IERE–ETE–ESDTPERE–ETE–(ESDTP)The Estonian Social Democratic Workers' Party (ESDTP) left the coalition on 1 July 1920, but its ministers remained in office.3Ado Birk(1883–1942)3rd Prime Minister28 July 192030 July 19203People's Party(ERE)BirkERE–ETE–KRE4Jaan Tõnisson(1868–1941?)4th Prime Minister(2nd term)30 July 192026 October 192089People's Party(ERE)Tõnisson IIERE5Ants Piip(1884–1942)5th Prime Minister26 October 192020 December 192092Labour Party(ETE)PiipETEThe 1920 Constitution replaced the office with State Elder.
1934–1937 PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyCabinetRiigikogu(Election)SeparateHead of StateTook officeLeft officeDaysThe 1934 Constitution divided the office of State Elder between a new office called State Elder and a Prime Minister.6Konstantin Päts(1874–1956) 6th Prime Minister(in duties of the State Elder)24 January 19343 September 19371,319Farmers' Assemblies(PK)All political parties were banned on 20 March 1935.Päts Vnon-party coalitionAlthough Konstantin Päts resigned as President-Regent on 24 April 1938 to become the President on the same day, his cabinet remained temporarily in office until 9 May 1938, headed by acting Prime Minister Kaarel Eenpalu.V(1932)Prime Ministerin duties ofthe State ElderKonstantinPätsNoneWas member of the Patriotic League which was the only sanctioned political organization, but which cannot be considered a political party per se.ParliamentsuspendedThe "Era of Silence" began with Konstantin Päts' self-coup on 12 March 1934. The Riigikogu approved of the coup retroactively on 15 March 1934. The Riigikogu was thereafter not convened after 2 October 1934. It was officially disbanded on 1 January 1938.The Amendment Act of the 1938 Constitution temporarily merged the offices of State Elder and Prime Minister into President-Regent.
1938–1944 PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyCabinetRiigikogu(Election)SeparateHead of StateTook officeLeft officeDaysThe 1938 Constitution divided the office of President-Regent between a President and a Prime Minister.7Kaarel Eenpalu(formerly Karl August Einbund)(1888–1942)Acting Prime Minister24 April 19389 May 1938537NonePäts V(continued)non-party coalitionParliamentsuspendedThe "Era of Silence" began with Konstantin Päts' self-coup on 12 March 1934. The Riigikogu approved of the coup retroactively on 15 March 1934. The Riigikogu was thereafter not convened after 2 October 1934. It was officially disbanded on 1 January 1938.PresidentKonstantinPäts(1938–1940)7th Prime Minister(2nd term)9 May 193812 October 1939Eenpalu IInon-party coalitionAs Karl August Einbund Estonianized his name into Kaarel Eenpalu, his two cabinets are therefore known as Einbund I and Eenpalu II cabinets.VI(1938)8Jüri Uluots(1890–1945)8th Prime Minister12 October 193921 June 1940The Soviet Union occupied Estonia on 17 June 1940. The Soviet regime staged a pro-Soviet coup d'état on 21 June 1940, replacing the Jüri Uluots cabinet with that of Johannes Vares. The Republic of Estonia does not consider the Johannes Vares cabinet a legal government of Estonia and considers the Jüri Uluots cabinet to have legally remained in office until 18 September 1944.254NoneUluotsnon-party coalition1st Soviet Occupation (1940–1941)German Occupation (1941–1944)—Otto Tief(1889–1976)Acting Prime Minister18 September 1944Prime Minister in the duties of the President Jüri Uluots appointed a new government after the departure of German forces, hoping to restore Estonian independence before the arrival of Soviet forces.25 September 1944The Soviet Union occupied Estonia on 17 June 1940. The Soviet regime staged a pro-Soviet coup d'état on 21 June 1940, replacing the Jüri Uluots cabinet with that of Johannes Vares. The Republic of Estonia does not consider the Johannes Vares cabinet a legal government of Estonia and considers the Jüri Uluots cabinet to have legally remained in office until 18 September 1944.8NoneTiefnon-party coalitionParliamentdisbandedPrime Ministerin duties ofthe PresidentJüri UluotsThe legal Prime Minister Jüri Uluots assumed the role of Prime Minister in the duties of the President on 18 September 1944, after the departure of German forces and before the arrival of Soviet forces.2nd Soviet Occupation(See )
1990–present PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical partyCabinetRiigikogu(Election)SeparateHead of StateTook officeLeft officeDays2nd Soviet Occupation(See Estonian Government in Exile)—Edgar Savisaar(1950–2022)1st Prime Ministerof the Interim Government3 April 1990The Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR on 30 March 1990 declared Soviet rule to have been illegal since 1940 and declared a transition period for full independence. Full independence was restored on 20 August 1991.29 January 1992668Popular Front of Estonia(RR)The Popular Front of Estonia formed the Estonian People's Centre Party on 12 October 1991.Estonian People's Centre Party(ERKE)Savisaar Interimvarious coalition partnersSupremeSoviet(1990)Chairman of theSupreme SovietChairman of theSupreme CouncilArnold RüütelThe "Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic" was renamed the "Republic of Estonia" on 8 May 1990 and thus the translation of the Ülemnõukogu was changed from "Supreme Soviet" to "Supreme Council".—Tiit Vähi(born 1947)2nd Prime Ministerof the Interim Government29 January 199221 October 1992266NoneVähi Interimvarious coalition partnersPresidentLennart Georg Meri(1992–2001)President left the party upon assuming office.9Mart Laar(born 1960)9th Prime Minister21 October 19928 November 1994749Pro Patria(I)The electoral alliance "Pro Patria" formed the Pro Patria National Coalition Party on 21 November 1992.Pro Patria National Coalition Party(RKEI)Laar I