General information
After a quarter of a century in journalism, I felt I needed to join the parliament because Estonia needs a new impetus and Estonian politics need a fresh viewpoint. My priorities are the alleviation of salaried poverty, and emigration. All honest working people should be able to manage on their salary, and no one should have to leave their country because of appalling wages.
Electoral district:
Seniority in days:
796
Date of birth:
10.01.1958
Place of birth:
in Tapa
Family:
In a relationship, two daughters and one son
Education:
Puurmani Secondary School 1976;
University of Tartu, law 1981–1988
University of Tartu, law 1981–1988
Career:
ETKVL, Põltsamaa Agricultural Group of Enterprises, loader 1977–1978;
Jõgeva Road Maintenance and Construction Board, carpenter 1981–1982;
Tallinn Industrial Commodities Trust, legal adviser 1982–1983;
Estonian SSR Ministry of Trade, Senior Legal Adviser 1983–1984, Head of Department for Organisation of Trade 1984–1986;
youth magazine Pioneer, Literature Department, Senior Editor 1986–1989;
cultural magazine Kultuur ja Elu, editor 1989–1990;
newspaper Edasi/Postimees, correspondent 1989–1993;
newspaper Rahva Hääl, Deputy Editor-in-Chief 1994–1995;
newspaper Eesti Päevaleht, Editor-in-Chief 1995–2000;
newspaper Postimees, Head of News Department 2000–2003, Head of Opinion Department 2003–2008, Deputy Editor-in-Chief 2008–2010, editor of daily news 2010–2011;
newspaper Õpetajate Leht, Editor-in-Chief 2012–2015
Jõgeva Road Maintenance and Construction Board, carpenter 1981–1982;
Tallinn Industrial Commodities Trust, legal adviser 1982–1983;
Estonian SSR Ministry of Trade, Senior Legal Adviser 1983–1984, Head of Department for Organisation of Trade 1984–1986;
youth magazine Pioneer, Literature Department, Senior Editor 1986–1989;
cultural magazine Kultuur ja Elu, editor 1989–1990;
newspaper Edasi/Postimees, correspondent 1989–1993;
newspaper Rahva Hääl, Deputy Editor-in-Chief 1994–1995;
newspaper Eesti Päevaleht, Editor-in-Chief 1995–2000;
newspaper Postimees, Head of News Department 2000–2003, Head of Opinion Department 2003–2008, Deputy Editor-in-Chief 2008–2010, editor of daily news 2010–2011;
newspaper Õpetajate Leht, Editor-in-Chief 2012–2015
Party affiliation:
Pro Patria and Res Publica Union 2015–
Membership in representative bodies:
Congress of Estonia;
13th Riigikogu
13th Riigikogu
Awards:
Order of the White Star, 4th class 2008;
Enn Soosaar Ethical Essayistics Prize 2012
Enn Soosaar Ethical Essayistics Prize 2012
Other activities:
Estonian Environmental Research Centre, Member of the Supervisory Board;
collections of poetry: “Sajus” 1986, “Kollase kuninga org” 1989 (co-author), “Klaasi tumeduses” 1991;
books about recent political history of Estonia “Isamaa tagatuba. Mart Laari valitsus 1992–1994” (“Government of Mart Laar 1992–1994”) 2012, “Vabariigi sünnimärgid. Varjatud murdehetki Eesti poliitikas [1987–2007]” (“Hidden Turning Points in Estonian Politics [1987–2007]”) 2013,“Kodanike riik. Reformierakond loomisest kuni tänapäevani” (“Citizen’s State. From the Creation of the Reform Party Until Today”) 2014, “Vilja teine elu” (“Vilja’s Second Life”, co-author) 2015, in Russian 2016;
presenter of socio-political radio programmes “Keskpäevatund”, “Muuli ja Samost” (Radio Kuku) and “Olukorrast riigis” (Radio 2)
collections of poetry: “Sajus” 1986, “Kollase kuninga org” 1989 (co-author), “Klaasi tumeduses” 1991;
books about recent political history of Estonia “Isamaa tagatuba. Mart Laari valitsus 1992–1994” (“Government of Mart Laar 1992–1994”) 2012, “Vabariigi sünnimärgid. Varjatud murdehetki Eesti poliitikas [1987–2007]” (“Hidden Turning Points in Estonian Politics [1987–2007]”) 2013,“Kodanike riik. Reformierakond loomisest kuni tänapäevani” (“Citizen’s State. From the Creation of the Reform Party Until Today”) 2014, “Vilja teine elu” (“Vilja’s Second Life”, co-author) 2015, in Russian 2016;
presenter of socio-political radio programmes “Keskpäevatund”, “Muuli ja Samost” (Radio Kuku) and “Olukorrast riigis” (Radio 2)
Hobbies:
tennis, history