The Riigikogu (Estonian: [ˈriːkiˈkoku], from Estonian riigi-, "of the state", and kogu, "assembly") is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. In addition to approving legislation, the Parliament appoints high officials, including the prime minister and chief justice of the Supreme Court, and elects (either alone or, if necessary, together with representatives of local government within a broader electoral college) the president. Among its other tasks, the Riigikogu also ratifies significant foreign treaties that impose military and proprietary obligations and bring about changes in law, as well as approves the budget presented by the government as law, and monitors the executive power.
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👉 Riigikogu in the context of Prime minister of Estonia
The prime minister of Estonia (Estonian: peaminister) 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.
In this Dossier
Riigikogu in the context of Kaja Kallas
Kaja Kallas (Estonian: [ˈkɑjɑ ˈkɑlːɑs]; born 18 June 1977) is an Estonian politician and diplomat. She was the first female prime minister of Estonia, a role she held from 2021 until 2024, when she resigned in advance of her appointment as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Since 2024, she has served in that role as well as Vice-President of the European Commission in the second von der Leyen Commission.
The leader of the Estonian Reform Party since 2018, she was a member of parliament (Riigikogu) in 2011–2014, and 2019–2021. Kallas was a member of the European Parliament in 2014–2018, representing the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. Before her election to Riigikogu, she was a lawyer specialising in European competition law.
Riigikogu in the context of Anne Sulling
Anne Sulling (born 12 October 1976 in Tartu) is an Estonian politician and a member of Riigikogu. She represents the Tartu constituency as a member of the Estonian Reform Party.
Between 2005 and 2006, Sulling worked for the Ministry of Finance on the Estonia's euro changeover project. Between 2009 and 2014, Sulling was an adviser to the Prime Minister Andrus Ansip in matters related to macro-economics, the euro and the CO2 quota trade. She was named the “Person of the Year” by Postimees in 2011, for her work concerning CO2 quota sales.
Riigikogu in the context of Toompea
Toompea (from German: Domberg, "Cathedral Hill") is a hill in the central part of Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. The hill has an area of 7 hectares (17 acres) and is about 20–30 metres higher than the surrounding areas. Toompea is part of the medieval Tallinn Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Toompea is the site of the Government of Estonia and the Riigikogu (parliament), both of which are often simply referred to as Toompea. The parliament meets in the Toompea Castle which is situated in the southwestern corner of the hill and topped by the Pikk Hermann ("Tall Hermann") tower. The flag on the top of the tower is one of the best-known symbols in Estonia of the government in force.
Riigikogu in the context of Congress of Estonia
The Congress of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti Kongress) was a grassroots parliament elected in February 1990 in then Soviet-occupied Estonia and actively participating in the popular nonviolent resistance to the Soviet rule, which resulted in the restoration of the country's independence from the Soviet Union in August 1991.
In September 1991, a Constitutional Assembly was formed with half of its members elected from the Congress of Estonia to write a new constitution. The new Constitution of Estonia was approved by the referendum in June 1992, and the Congress dissolved itself in October 1992, once the freshly elected parliament of Estonia (Riigikogu) had been sworn in.