Edgar Savisaar

His parents Elmar Savisaar (1911–1970) and Marie Savisaar née Burešin (1912–1984) were farmers from Vastse-Kuuste, Tartu County, who both had been convicted in 1949 of resisting collectivization.

The events, which had culminated with physical conflict, had started when kolhoz activists came to nationalise Savisaar couple's two cows (named Marja and Oksa), a pig, a horse drawn hay rake, a spring-tooth harrow, and other farming equipment.

Elmar was sentenced to 15 years and Marie to 5 years in prison.

In April he co-established the Popular Front (Rahvarinne) which became the first mass political organization in the Soviet Union outside of the Communist Party since 1920.

Initially formed to support perestroika, the Popular Front eventually developed ideas of Estonian national independence.

This process among several others led to dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Edgar Savisaar (31 May 1950 – 29 December 2022) was an Estonian politician, one of the founding members of Popular Front of Estonia and the Centre Party.

He served as the acting Prime Minister of Estonia, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications, and twice mayor of Tallinn.

Savisaar was born in the Harku Prison in 1950.

In the autumn of 1950, Marie was released from prison under an amnesty and returned to Vastse-Kuuste with her son.

In 1952, Elmar was acquitted of one of the offences, and the sentence for the second episode was reduced to 2.5 years, which was deemed to have been served, and he was released from prison.

After graduating from high school, Savisaar continued his studies at the University of Tartu.

In 1973, he graduated from the university with a degree in history.

In 1980, he wrote his candidate thesis in philosophy on the topic "Social Philosophical Foundations of the Global Models of the Club of Rome".

From 1980 to 1988, Savisaar worked in the Soviet Estonian governmental institutions dealing with planning of the economy.

During 1988–1989, he was the academic director for the consultancy firm "Mainor".

In 1989, he became the vice-chairman of the Council of Ministers of Estonian SSR and the Head of the State Plan Committee.

In 1990, he was the Minister of Economic Affairs.

On 3 April 1990, he was appointed the Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

When Estonia declared independence on 20 August 1991, he became the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia.

During the winter of 1991/1992 preparations were made to evacuate the dormitory regions of Tallinn due to shortage of fuel.

On 31 December 1991, people stood for hours in the bread queues, many were eventually left without bread.

His government was in office until 29 January 1992, when he resigned after supplementary problems and a continuing decline in economy.

Most of his governing time was characterized by hyperinflation and ever increasing deficit of goods.

"Purchase cards" and ration stamps were introduced.

In January 1992, butter disappeared from the shops.

Savisaar managed to win a vote of non-confidence, being mostly supported by his Popular Front, left-wing parties and the Intermovement, but stepped down when it turned out impossible to introduce a state of emergency.

He was replaced by a technocratic government under Tiit Vähi.

From 1992 until 1995, Savisaar was the Vice-Speaker of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu).

From 17 April to 6 November 1995, he was the Minister for Internal Affairs.

When he was accused of recording private conversations of other politicians, the entire government faltered.

Although his participation in the recordings was never proved, he announced his intention to leave politics.

However, in 1996, he participated in the local municipalities elections and became the chairman of the Tallinn City Council.

His return to the Centre Party leader's post evoked a split, as some leading members disillusioned with Savisaar's leadership style left to found Arengupartei.

From 2001 to 14 October 2004, he was mayor of Tallinn.

On 11 April 2005, he became Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications in the new coalition of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and worked in the post until March 2007.

Edgar Savisaar and Estonia People's Union leader Villu Reiljan jointly supported Arnold Rüütel's candidature for presidency in August–September 2006; Toomas Hendrik Ilves was elected though, a choice criticised by Savisaar and attributed by him to alleged hostile media and partisan lawmakers.

Savisaar refused to congratulate the winner.

Since 2007 he has been mayor of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.

In 2016, the discussion on electing a new leader escalated in the Centre Party and an extraordinary party congress was called for November.