Edgar Savisaar

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Edgar Savisaar
Edgar Savisaar 2005.jpg
Mayor of Tallinn
In office
9 April 2007 – 30 September 2015
Preceded by Jüri Ratas
Succeeded by Taavi Aas (ct)
In office
December 2001 – October 2004
Preceded by Tõnis Palts
Succeeded by Tõnis Palts
Prime Minister of Estonia
In office
20 August 1991 – 29 January 1992
President Lennart Meri
Preceded by Otto Tief (1944)
Succeeded by Tiit Vähi
Personal details
Born (1950-05-31) 31 May 1950 (age 73)
Harku, Estonia
Political party Communist Party (1983–1988)
Popular Front (1988–1991)
Centre Party (1991–present)
Spouse(s) Vilja Laanaru (1996–2009)
Children 4
Alma mater University of Tartu

Edgar Savisaar (born 31 May 1950 in Harku, Harju County), is an Estonian politician, one of the founding members of Popular Front of Estonia and the leader of the Centre Party. He has served as the acting Prime Minister of Estonia, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications and Mayor of Tallinn.

Early life and parents

He was born into a rural family of Elmar and Marie Savisaar (née Bureshin) residing in Vastse-Kuuste. In 1949 his parents wanted to leave the local kolkhoz with their livestock, this resulted in a physical conflict. Both were arrested on charges of seizing public property, tax evasion and an assault. Elmar Savisaar was sentenced 15 years (freed in 1952) and Marie Savisaar 5 years (freed in 1950) in prison.

Marie Savisaar gave birth to Edgar Savisaar in Harku women's prison while serving the sentence. It has been theorized that Elmar Savisaar is not his biological father.[1] The mother with the newborn was released the same year after being pardoned and they returned to Vastse-Kuuse.

Education

After graduating from high school, Savisaar continued his studies at the University of Tartu. In 1973, he graduated from the university with a degree in history. In 1980, he wrote his candidate thesis in philosophy on the topic "Social Philosophical Foundations of the Global Models of the Club of Rome".[2]

Career

From 1980 to 1988, Savisaar worked in the Soviet Estonian governmental institutions dealing with the planning of economy. During 1988–1989, he was the academic director for the consultation company "Mainor".

In April he co-established the Popular Front (Rahvarinne) which became the first political mass organization in Soviet Union outside Communist Party after 1920. Initially formed to "support perestroika" Popular Front started increasingly develop ideas of Estonian national independence and created so called Singing Revolution phenomenon. The process with several others lead to dissolution of Soviet Union ultimately.

In 1989, he became the Vice-Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Estonian SSR and the Head of the State Plan Committee. In 1990, he was the Minister of Economic Affairs. On 3 April 1990, he was appointed the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. When Estonia declared its independence on 20 August 1991, he became the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia. His government was in office until 29 January 1992, when he resigned after supplementary problems and a continuing decline in economy.

From 1992 until 1995, Savisaar was the Vice-Speaker of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu). From 17 April – 6 November 1995, he was the Minister for Internal Affairs. When he was accused of recording private conversations of other politicians, the entire government faltered. Although his participation in the recordings was never proved, he announced his intention to leave politics. However, in 1996, he participated in the elections of the Riigikogu and became the Chairman of the Tallinn City Council. His return to the Centre Party leader's post evoked a split, as some leading members disillusioned with Savisaar's leadership style left to found Arengupartei. From 2001 to 14 October 2004, he was mayor of Tallinn. On 11 April 2005, he became Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications in the new coalition of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and worked in the post until March 2007. From 2007 he has been mayor of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.

Edgar Savisaar and Estonia People's Union leader Villu Reiljan jointly supported Arnold Rüütel's candidature for presidency in August–September 2006; Toomas Hendrik Ilves was elected though, a choice criticised by Savisaar and attributed by him[3] to alleged hostile media and partisan lawmakers. Savisaar refused to congratulate the winner.[4]

Savisaar has published four books. He has received the Order of the National Coat of Arms 2nd Class in 2001[5] and 1st Class in 2006[6] from Estonia and the Order of the Three Stars 2nd Class in 2005 from Latvia.[7]

Controversy

File:Edgar Savisaar2.jpg
Savisaar giving an interview during the 2006 presidential election

Savisaar is one of the most controversial politicians in Estonia. While some people, including many from the Russian-speaking minority, see him as a defender of the poor, his political opponents accuse him of authoritarianism, nepotism, corruption, destructive intrigues, and having close ties with some Russian politicians. The latter accusation has been fuelled by the Centre Party's collaboration agreement with Putin's United Russia party, particularly since the agreement's content has not been made public. Savisaar is often associated with using Machiavellian politics and deals to achieve his goals, such as taping other politicians, which caused the so-called tape scandal in 1995; and while being the mayor of the Estonian capital Tallinn, real-estate deals that were good for the members of the Centre Party, but were bad for the town.[8]

Bronze Soldier

During the events surrounding the Bronze Soldier, Edgar Savisaar spoke out against the removal of the monument and accused Andrus Ansip of deliberate attempts of splitting the Estonian society by provoking the Russian minority.[9] In response to this many government officials and public figures have stated distrust and disrespect towards him.[10][11][12]

In relation to his reactions to the Bronze Soldier controversy, the Estonian Patriotic Movement created on 29 April 2007 an online petition website www.mahasavisaar.com to suggest resignation of Savisaar's position as the Mayor of Tallinn.[13][14] It ended on the 9 May 2007 and had collected 98,200 e-mail addresses (not signatures, although organizers of petition claimed so). In 2009 being a candidate for EP elections collected a 103506 votes in closed list system.

Bribery allegations

On 17 July 2015, Estonian Internal Security Service launched a criminal investigation on Savisaar and six others in relation to bribery allegations. He is suspected of accepting bribes with a value of hundreds of thousands of euros in 2014 and 2015 on behalf of himself and Estonian Centre Party.[15] Because of the ongoing investigation, Savisaar was suspended from mayor's office on 30 September 2015.[16]

Personal life

Edgar Savisaar has been married three times and is the father of four children.[2] From his marriage to Kaire Savisaar he has a son, Erki, and from his marriage to Liis Remmel (then Liis Savisaar), he has a daughter, Maria. The last marriage was to Vilja Toomast (then Vilja Savisaar), who is also an Estonian politician. They had a daughter, Rosina. The couple announced their separation in December 2009.

In March 2015 Savisaar was hospitalized, and due to an infection of Streptococcus bacteria his right leg had to be amputated above the knee.[17][18]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ video of Savisaar's reaction to the results: http://www.postimees.ee/240906/esileht/siseuudised/presidendivalimised_2006/219571.php?r
  4. ↑ Postimees: Edgar Savisaar seab kahtluse alla riigikohtu erapooletuse. Postimees.ee. Retrieved on 4 August 2011.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Savisaar's and Kruuda's mutual gifts. Delfi.ee. Retrieved on 4 August 2011.
  9. ↑ Lõhestaja number üks Postimees
  10. ↑ Paet: Savisaar ei aita kaasa rahu tagamisele linnas. Postimees.ee. Retrieved on 4 August 2011.
  11. ↑ Peeter Oja: Savisaar on silmakirjalik ja valelik. Postimees.ee. Retrieved on 4 August 2011.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Savisaare vastaste lõplik arv - 96678 rahvuslikliikumine.ee
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ http://tartu.postimees.ee/3132097/edgar-savisaare-jalg-amputeeriti

External links

Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
1990–1991		 Position abolished
Vacant
Title next held by
Otto Tief		 Prime Minister of Estonia
1991–1992		 Succeeded by
Tiit Vähi
Preceded by Minister of the Interior
1995		 Succeeded by
Märt Rask
Preceded by Mayor of Tallinn
2001–2004		 Succeeded by
Tõnis Palts
Preceded by Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications
2005–2007		 Succeeded by
Juhan Parts
Preceded by Mayor of Tallinn
2007–2015		 Succeeded by
Taavi Aas
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