General information
This is my fifth term in the Riigikogu. I represent and try to realise the ideas of the people who elected me to the Riigikogu.
Parliamentary group:
Committee:
Delegation:
Electoral district:
E-mail:
Phone:
+372 631 6696
Seniority in days:
8566
Date of birth:
07.06.1946
Place of birth:
Tallinn
Family:
Widowed, one child
Education:
Tallinn English College (former Tallinn Secondary School No. 7) 1964;
Tallinn University, English language (equivalent to Master’s degree) 1969
Tallinn University, English language (equivalent to Master’s degree) 1969
Career:
Estonian Television, Programme Deputy Director, Editor-in-Chief of news programme “Aktuaalne Kaamera”, presenter (entertainment and culture programmes, quiz shows), newsreader, commentator 1970–1993;
Finnish Mainos-TV, Baltic correspondent 1989–1993;
Office of the President of the Republic, Media Adviser 1993–1994;
EVTV, Director General 1994–1996;
TV3, Head of News Department, presenter, foreign news editor 1996–2003
Finnish Mainos-TV, Baltic correspondent 1989–1993;
Office of the President of the Republic, Media Adviser 1993–1994;
EVTV, Director General 1994–1996;
TV3, Head of News Department, presenter, foreign news editor 1996–2003
Party affiliation:
Estonian Centre Party 2003–2024
Membership in representative bodies:
10th Riigikogu (Deputy Chair 2003–2005 and Chair 2005–2007 of Foreign Affairs Committee), 11th ‒13th Riigikogu (Deputy Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee 2007–2016, Vice-President of the Riigikogu 2016–2019), 14th Riigikogu (Chair 2019–2021 and Deputy Chair 2022–2023 of Foreign Affairs Committee, Chair of National Defence Committee 2021–2022), 15th Riigikogu;
Saaremaa Rural Municipality Council 2017–2021, also elected 2021;
elected to Tallinn City Council 2005–2013
Saaremaa Rural Municipality Council 2017–2021, also elected 2021;
elected to Tallinn City Council 2005–2013
Awards:
Order of the White Star, 4th Class 2002;
Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour of France 2001;
Cross of Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania 2006, Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria 2010, Grand Cross of Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania 2026;
Medal of the Baltic Assembly 2018;
EFTA award for contribution to Estonian TV sector 2025
Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour of France 2001;
Cross of Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania 2006, Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria 2010, Grand Cross of Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania 2026;
Medal of the Baltic Assembly 2018;
EFTA award for contribution to Estonian TV sector 2025
Other activities:
Radio programmes “Tagasivaade” (“Retrospect”) 2014–2015 and “ENNtsüklopeedia” (“ENNcyclopedia”) 2023– (Radio Kuku), “Olnud olevik” (“Passed Present”) 2021–2022 (Vikerraadio);
published book “Sajandi suured staarid” (“Great Stars of the Century”) 2001 and articles in the Estonian press
published book “Sajandi suured staarid” (“Great Stars of the Century”) 2001 and articles in the Estonian press
Hobbies:
history, music, literature, television, cinema