Riigikogu
Riigikogu
Skip navigation

Riigikogu

The 10th Riigikogu represented the citizens of Estonia as the legislative power from 22 March 2003 to 26 March 2007. Its members represented six political parties: Estonian Centre Party, Union for the Republic – Res Publica, Estonian Reform Party, Estonian People's Union, Pro Patria Union and People's Party Mõõdukad. 772 acts were passed, but the most important event that took place during the term of office of this Riigikogu was Estonia's accession to the European Union.

Photo of the opening of the 10th Riigikogu, spring 31.03.2003.

Elections

500,686 people or 58.2% of the 859,714 Estonian citizens with the right to vote took part in the election of the 10th Riigikogu on 2 March 2003. 963 persons stood as candidates in the Riigikogu elections. 947 persons stood as candidates on the lists of 11 political parties, and 16 persons stood as independent candidates.

The highest number of votes was cast for the Estonian Centre Party, who received 125,709 votes (25.4%), and the Union for the Republic – Res Publica  (as of 9 June 2005, Res Publica), who received 121,856 votes (24.6%). Both parties got 28 seats in the Riigikogu.

Six political parties exceeded the 5% election threshold stipulated by the Riigikogu Election Act:

  • Estonian Centre Party,
  • Union for the Republic – Res Publica,
  • Estonian Reform Party,
  • Estonian People’s Union,
  • Pro Patria Union and
  • People’s Party Mõõdukad (since 10 February 2004 Social Democratic Party).

The Riigikogu elected Ene Ergma from the Union for the Republic – Res Publica as its President and Toomas Savi from the Estonian Reform Party and Peeter Kreitzberg from the Centre Party as its Vice Presidents.

The 10th Riigikogu was convened for its first sitting on 31 March 2003 and it held its last sitting on 22 February 2007. The mandate of this Riigikogu lasted from 22 March 2003 to 26 March 2007.

Legislation

The 10th Riigikogu passed 772 legal acts, including  640 Acts, 129 Resolutions and 3 statements.

The most important event during this period was undoubtedly Estonia’s accession to the European Union. Most of the preparatory work was done by the previous Riigikogu  by passing the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia Amendment Act. This Act gave the 10th Riigikogu the authority to ratify  the Treaty of Accession of Estonia to the European Union, or to formally complete Estonia’s accession to the European Union. The referendum on amending the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia was held on 14 September 2003 and the Act entered into force on 6 January 2004.

The 10th Riigikogu passed 772 legal acts, including  640 Acts, 129 Resolutions and 3 statements. In comparison to the 9th Riigikogu, the number of legal acts passed decreased by nearly 12%, and the number of Acts passed decreased by nearly 17%.

Up

Last updated: 19.10.2021

Feedback