NordenBladet — The Chancellery of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) announces the eleventh competition for August Rei Scholarship in Parliamentary Studies.

The purpose of the Scholarship is to support and promote parliamentary research. It is awarded to authors of Master’s or Doctoral theses on parliament, parliamentarism or the parliamentary assemblies of Estonia, written in Estonian or foreign languages. All students, master’s students and doctoral students who are interested in conducting research on these topics are welcome to submit the concepts of their works.

Students wishing to apply for the Scholarship have to submit the application, CV, title of the master’s thesis or doctoral thesis, concept paper and timeline, the supervisor’s recommendation and other documents to the Chancellery of the Riigikogu by 20 September 2019.

Up to two 1500-euro scholarships are awarded in two parts. The first part is paid to the master’s or doctoral student, or a candidate for master’s or doctoral studies after being admitted as a student, who submitted the best concept for a thesis. The second part is paid to the same person after successful defending of the thesis or dissertation.

The applications for scholarship are evaluated by the scholarship committee of the Chancellery of the Riigikogu. The winners of the competition will be announced by 30 October 2019 at the latest.

August Rei Scholarship in Parliamentary Studies is awarded annually, and it was founded by the Chancellery of the Riigikogu in 2008. By today, the scholarship has been granted to twelve master’s and doctoral students. Eleven of them have successfully defended their theses.

We hope that the competition for scholarship in parliamentary studies will inspire young researchers also in the future, and contribute to the research and valuing of the activities and history of our 100 years old parliament.

August Rei was a member and the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly from its convening on 23 April 1919 until the end of its work on 20 December 1920. In 1920–1937, Rei was a member of the 1st–5th Riigikogu; from 9 June 1925 to 22 June 1926, he was the Speaker of the 2nd Riigikogu.

More information: https://www.riigikogu.ee/infoallikad/uuringud/stipendiumid and stipendium@riigikogu.ee

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — At today’s sitting of the Riigikogu, substitute member Andrei Korobeinik took his oath of office. He became member of the Riigikogu in connection with the assumption of office by the new Government of the Republic.

The Board of the Riigikogu registered as members of factions the new members who had taken their oaths of office, and made changes to the membership of standing committees.

The Board of the Riigikogu registered Siim Pohlak as the Chairman of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, and Alar Laneman and Helle-Moonika Helme as Deputy Chairmen.

Urmas Espenberg, Tiit Kala and Kai Rimmel were registered as members of the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction.

Andrei Korobeinik, Kerstin-Oudekki Loone, Natalia Malleus and Peeter Rahnel were registered as members of the Estonian Centre Party Faction.

Heiki Hepner and Mart Nutt were registered as members of the Faction Isamaa.

In connection with the assumption of office by the new members, the Board of the Riigikogu also made changes to the membership of standing committees.

The following was approved: Heiki Hepner as a member of the Rural Affairs Committee, Mart Nutt as a member of the Constitutional Committee, Kerstin-Oudekki Loone as a member of the Constitutional Committee, Natalia Malleus as a member of the Finance Committee, Peeter Rahnel as a member of the National Defence Committee, Urmas Espenberg as a member of the Social Affairs Committee, Tiit Kala as a member of the Finance Committee, Kai Rimmel as a member of the Economic Affairs Committee, Andrei Korobeinik as a member of the Constitutional Committee, Kert Kingo leaving the Constitutional Committee and becoming a member of the Legal Affairs Committee, and Paul Puustusmaa leaving the Legal Affairs Committee and becoming a member of the Constitutional Committee.

The first meeting of standing committees is at 2 p.m. today. Each committee will elect a Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet —

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — Speech by President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas at the concert to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Riigikogu at the “Estonia” Theatre and Concert Hall on 26 April 2019.

Former and current members of the Riigikogu, President Rüütel, members of the Government of the Republic, Excellencies and guests, people of Estonia,

I have the honour to greet you in the beautiful Estonia Theatre Hall. We are celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Estonian parliament. The 100^th anniversary of the Estonian democracy.

90 minutes and exactly one hundred years ago, the fourth meeting of the Constituent Assembly was concluded right here. The participants were committed to their work and understood its gravity. After all, the War of Independence was still raging.

The night before, Russian cannons had lit a massive fire in Narva. One week before, the enemy had launched an offensive on the southern front. Men were being mobilised and our forces were mounting a counter-attack. The frontline was being held by the most patriotic and brave fighters. Our heroes.

The Constituent Assembly was also like a frontline unit in 1919. The average age was 36 years. They knew that by laying the foundations of democracy, they themselves would be under attack. However, the Constituent Assembly was supported by the whole Estonian society. They did not see themselves as the elite, but as part of the people.

The Constituent Assembly was brimming with self-confidence and courage to walk their own path. They adopted a radical Land Act, although their opponents called it alien to European values. This, as well as the Constitution, were passed against the backdrop of fiery but well-argued debates. They also introduced the right to conduct referendums by public initiative. However, we no longer have the possibility of public initiative that would lead to a referendum, the adoption of an Act, or an Act not being promulgated.

The Constituent Assembly did not worry about how we would be seen elsewhere, nor did they wait for foreign guidelines. They were thinking about how to serve the best interests of the Estonian state and people. They declared that the people of Estonia wanted to live independently in a nation state. Forever, as our Constitution confirms to this day.

In 1920s, Estonia was among the twelve most democratic states in the world, and among the top seven in Europe. Women’s suffrage had already been introduced here in 1917. Nearly thirty years before France or Switzerland.

By autumn 1944, more than one half of the members of the 1919 Constituent Assembly were either dead or missing. Half of the rest had to flee Estonia. They shared the fate of their people. The occupied Estonia remained at the mercy of the communist regime and Russification policy for half a century.

But we did not just accept that. Our yearning for freedom and democracy never went out. We survived as a people and restored our country in 1991. Our nation state. We clearly remember the emotional moment when we hoisted our national flags again. We had to start everything from the beginning once more. Just like the Constituent Assembly, the Riigikogu began to draft legislation, procedures, and provisions. Today, we are a member of the European Union and NATO.

Our time may not be as dramatic and dangerous as it was between the two world wars. Yet sometimes it feels like we have been our own worst enemy. Low self-awareness, lack of critical thinking when it comes to the recommendations of others, ignoring the real values, steam-roll policies that disregard the will of the majority, provoking polarisation… However, we can already sense the positive changes coming.

In his political testament, member of the Constituent Assembly Jaan Tõnisson said that ’If our generation wishes to rise to the height of a sovereign nation who would be capable of supporting the independent nationhood of Estonia and ensuring our national future, we must open our souls to the ideals that would take us further and higher.’

On the centenary of Estonian democracy and parliamentarianism, the key to our future is in our own hands. The courage, patriotism, and truly democratic attitude of the Constituent Assembly are an example to us. This has taken root in the mindset of our people. What brought us here will also take us forward.

I thank all the members of the Constituent Assembly and the Riigikogu throughout history. All those who have carried and still carry the spark of freedom and democracy in their hearts.

We are facing the future with optimism. Long live Estonia!

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet — The Riigikogu celebrated its 100th anniversary with a special sitting, where the President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas and President of the Republic Kersti Kaljulaid made speeches.

The President of the Riigikogu Henn Põlluaas pointed out that just around the same time one hundred years ago, 117 men and women had convened in the Estonia Concert Hall. They could rightfully consider themselves the first people’s representatives in Estonia.

“Those brave men and women had no way of taking a lead from external models to solve their complicated tasks, unlike us.  There simply were no good role models. Europe was only just coming out of a devastating world war,” Põlluaas noted. He emphasised: “They made their decisions fearlessly and independently. They did not think about the opinions of others. They thought about what the decisions should be like to serve the best interests of the Estonian state and nation. Their support base was their own people, the greatest possible foundation.”

In his speech, Põlluaas stressed the importance of public initiative. “Public initiatives and referendums were viewed as instruments of democracy, not as means for political parties to push their agendas. Just as it is in every country where direct democracy complements representative democracy,” Põlluaas said.

The Constituent Assembly existed for 19 months and 28 days, holding 170 sittings in five sessions. The Constituent Assembly had a wide grasp. “However, the main focus was on two topics: the passing of the Land Act, and, second, the drafting of the Constitution, the foundation of our nationhood, on which to build up the Republic of Estonia and to cement the everlasting dream of our nation – to be the masters in our own country,” Põlluaas noted.

“We have survived destructive historical storms; we persevered and restored our country. We have something to be proud of. I really hope that the members of the current Riigikogu will not forget the democratic and noble principles of the founders of the Republic of Estonia and the Constituent Assembly,” the President of the Riigikogu stressed.

President of the Republic Kersti Kaljulaid said that the parliament was a place to which different opinions convened. “They must be debated and discussed here. The parliament is a place where the people’s representatives most reasonably find their points of agreement, because we all have different wishes and opinions, and our points of agreement can indeed come out only in the course of reasonable discussions,” the President underlined.

“The Riigikogu is the representation of our people, and thus a model for our people. Your every word and opinion is under heightened scrutiny, and shapes the attitude towards not only you but the whole of our country,” the President said. She added that the same also went for the decisions taken in that session hall. If a representative body of a country has turned a hundred years old, citizens require great maturity and a greater responsibility of it, a deeper work on decisions.

“A hundred years ago, there was a lot of enthusiasm and, understandably, little parliamentary experience in the “Estonia” concert hall. By now, we have a sufficient experience, and I would very much like to hope that enthusiasm will never be lacking. We will have a more steadfast Estonia when we respect each other,” Kaljulaid emphasised.

In conclusion, the President repeated what had been said in that session hall at the beginning of April: the spirit of our Constitution is alive when we use democratic values as citizens and patriots of Estonia and let others use them as well.

Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, Chairman of the Administrative Chamber Ivo Pilving, Auditor General Janar Holm and Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise made welcoming speeches, discussing various aspects of the history and activity of the parliament.

On 23 April 1919, the first representative body elected by the people in independent Estonia – the Constituent Assembly – convened in Tallinn. The representative body who adopted the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Land Act, and solved other issues of vital importance for the Republic of Estonia, acted as a parliament. The decisions of the Constituent Assembly laid the foundation for the Republic of Estonia.

At the special sitting, the chamber choir “Collegium Musicale” under conductor Kristel Marandi created a festive atmosphere.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

NordenBladet —

Source: Parliament of Estonia