Riigikogu
Riigikogu
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Riigikogu

The 12th Riigikogu represented the citizens of Estonia as the legislative power from 27 March 2011 to 23 March 2015. Its members represented four political parties: the Estonian Reform Party, the Estonian Centre Party, the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union and the Social Democratic Party. Besides the 623 legislative acts that were passed, the important achievements of this Riigikogu were keeping the defence expenses at 2 per cent of GDP, increasing of child benefits and lowering of the income tax for individuals.

Photo of the opening of the 12th Riigikogu, 4 April 2011.

Elections

The elections of the 12th Riigikogu were held on 6 March 2011. 580,264 people or 63.5 per cent of the 913,346 citizens with the right to vote took part in the elections. 789 persons stood as candidates in the Riigikogu elections. 757 persons ran on the lists of nine political parties, and 32 persons ran as independent candidates.

The highest number of votes was cast for the Estonian Reform Party, who received 164,255 votes (28.6%), and the Estonian Centre Party, who received 134,124 votes (23.3%). Four political parties exceeded the 5% election threshold stipulated by the Riigikogu Election Act:

  • the Estonian Reform Party,
  • the Estonian Centre Party,
  • the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union and
  • the Social Democratic Party.

The Riigikogu elected Ene Ergma from the Union for the Republic – Res Publica as its President and Laine Randjärv from the Estonian Reform Party and Jüri Ratas from the Centre Party as its Vice Presidents.

Altogether 473 sittings (458 regular sittings and 15 additional sittings) were held. During the four years, the working time of the Riigikogu was divided into nine sessions, besides that, also seven extraordinary sessions were held.

In four years the 12th Riigikogu passed 623 legislative acts, including 477 laws, 143 resolutions and 3 statements.

The 12th Riigikogu was convened for its first sitting on 4 April 2011 and it held its last sitting on 19 February 2015. The mandate of this Riigikogu lasted from 27 March 2011 to 23 March  2015.

Legislation

The most important decisions of the 12th Riigikogu were connected with the purpose of creating greater sense of security to all people living in Estonia. The principle that the NATO countries are obliged to spend two per cent of GDP on defence  was firmly adhered to. The increasing of child benefits and also lowering of personal income tax from 21 per cent to 20 per cent gave more security to families.

In four years the 12th Riigikogu passed 623 legislative acts, including 477 laws, 143 resolutions and 3 statements.

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Last updated: 12.07.2019

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