On the open House Day of the Riigikogu, the Parliament of Estonia, nearly 3500 people came to Toompea to visit the Riigikogu, meet the politicians and see the rooms they work in.

400 visitors climbed the Tall Hermann Tower and 500 people participated in the guided tours of the parliament buildings. There were visitors from France, Turkey, Finland, Italy, Russia, Lithuania, Sweden, Australia, USA, Canada and Belarus.

The office rooms of the President of the Riigikogu and other official rooms of Toompea were open the whole day. The rooms of the factions of the Riigikogu also attracted many visitors.

At the Government Question Time, Minister of Education and Research Jürgen Ligi, Minister of Justice Urmas Reinsalu and Minister of Culture Indrek Saar answered the questions of the people. Among other things, the ministers were posed questions about teachers’ salaries, fuel excise duty, agricultural subsidies and the state and administrative reform. It was also asked how to reduce children’s addiction to computers.

In the cafeteria of Toompea, all who wished could pose questions to the Vice-President of the Riigikogu Helir-Valdor Seeder and members of the Riigikogu Monika Haukanõmm, Mailis Reps, Henn Põlluaas, Ivi Eenmaa and Tanel Talve.

At the Open House Day quiz “Estonia in the 20th and 21st Century”, the 2nd team of the Riigikogu (members of the Riigikogu Yoko Alender, Andres Ammas and Mart Nutt and the Adviser of the Research Department of the Riigikogu Riho Kangur) knew the most right answers. The best school team was from Audentes Private School.

Various workshops of NGO Estlander, where it was possible to make metalwork, rune talismans and woven decorations, to try woodwork and to cook over open fire, were held in the Governor’s Garden next to Toompea Castle.

With the Open House Day, the Riigikogu celebrated its 96th birthday. The first representative body elected by the independent Estonian nation – the Constituent Assembly – convened in Tallinn on 23 April 1919. The Constituent Assembly reaffirmed the Declaration of Independence, adopted the Constitution of Estonia, passed the Land Act and solved other issues of vital importance to the Estonian state; essentially, it was the first parliament of Estonia. The decisions of the Constituent Assembly formed the foundation of the Republic of Estonia.

The tradition of the Open House Days was started in 1999. This year the 17th Open House Day was held.

Photos of the birthday of the Riigikogu: https://fotoalbum.riigikogu.ee/v/Riigikogu/XIII+Riigikogu/Lahtiste+uste+paev/

Video of the Government Question Time: http://youtu.be/2X6tc4Fj0a4