Jaan Kundla (born 11 October 1937 in

Suure-Jaani Suure-Jaani is a Populated places in Estonia, town in the northern part of the county of Viljandi County, Viljandimaa in Põhja-Sakala Parish, Põhja-Sakala rural municipality, 25 kilometres north of the town of Viljandi. Until 2017, Suure-Jaani ...

) is an

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

. He was previously an independent member of

Riigikogu The Riigikogu (; from Estonian ''riigi-'', of the state, and ''kogu'', assembly) is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. In addition to approving legislation, the Parliament appoints high officials, including the Prime Minister and Chief Jus ...

, formerly (until expulsion) a member of

Estonian Centre Party The Estonian Centre Party ( et, Eesti Keskerakond, EK) is a populist political party in Estonia. It was founded in 1991 as a direct successor of the Popular Front of Estonia, and it is currently led by Jüri Ratas. The party was founded on 12 Oc ...

. He had previously been a member of the People's Party Moderates and the leader of the Estonian Pensioners' Party. Kundla has caught attention by using the Riigikogu member's expense account to buy foodstuffs, including

mayonnaise Mayonnaise (; ), colloquially referred to as "mayo" , is a thick, cold, and creamy sauce or dressing commonly used on sandwiches, hamburgers, composed salads, and French fries. It also forms the base for various other sauces, such as tartar ...

Postimees ''Postimees'' () is an Estonian daily newspaper established on 5 June 1857, by Johann Voldemar Jannsen. In 1891, it became the first daily newspaper in Estonia. Its current editor-in-chief is Priit Hõbemägi. The paper has approximately 250 ...

23 May 2009 9:47
Ivari Padar: Eesti saab majoneesivalitsuse
/ref> He became unexpectedly important as a potential swing voter after the

Estonian Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party ( et, Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond, SDE) is a centre-left political party in Estonia. It is currently led by Lauri Läänemets. The party was formerly known as the Moderate People's Party ( et, Rahvaerakond Mõõduka ...

left the government, leaving a governing coalition consisting of

Estonian Reform Party The Estonian Reform Party ( et, Eesti Reformierakond) is a liberal political party in Estonia. The party has been led by Kaja Kallas since 2018. It is colloquially known as the "Squirrel Party" ( et, Oravapartei). It was founded in 1994 by Si ...

and

Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica Isamaa is a Christian democracy, Christian-democratic and National conservatism, national-conservative political party in Estonia. It was founded on 4 June 2006 under the name of "Pro Patria and Res Publica Union", by the merger of two conservati ...

. In this structure, the two coalition parties hold 50 of 101 Riigikogu seats — a very narrow minority.

References

1937 births Living people Members of the Riigikogu, 2007–2011 Estonian Centre Party politicians 21st-century Estonian politicians Tallinn University of Technology alumni People from Suure-Jaani {{Estonia-politician-stub