This article gives an overview of liberalism and centrism in

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 ...

. It is limited to

liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

and

centrist Centrism is a political outlook or position involving acceptance or support of a balance of social equality and a degree of social hierarchy while opposing political changes that would result in a significant shift of society strongly to Left-w ...

parties A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature ...

with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it is not necessary that the party has labeled itself as a liberal party.

History

At the beginning of the twentieth century liberal parties emerged and played an important role in Estonia. They lost influence in the 1930s. After the restoration of independence in 1990, both pragmatic centrist and liberal forces arose. The Estonian Reform Party (''Eesti Reformierakond'') is a free market liberal party. Despite its liberal international affiliations the

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 O ...

(''Eesti Keskerakond'') is generally not considered a liberal party, so therefore it is not included.

From Estonian Progressive People's Party to National Centre Party

*1905:

Jaan Tõnisson Jaan Tõnisson (; , – 1941?) was an Estonian statesman, serving as the Prime Minister of Estonia twice during 1919 to 1920, as State Elder (head of state and government) from 1927 to 1928 and in 1933, and as Foreign Minister of Estonia from ...

founded the Estonian Progressive People's Party (''Eesti Rahvameelne Eduerakond'') *1917: The party is renamed

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

(''Demokraatlik Erakond'') *1919: The Democratic Party merged with the ⇒ Radical Democratic Party into the

Estonian People's Party The Estonian People's Party ( et, Eesti Rahvaerakond, ER) was a centre-right political party in Estonia. History The party was established in March 1919 by a merger of the Estonian Democratic Party and the Estonian Radical Democratic Party.Vin ...

(''Eesti Rahvaerakond'') *1931: The Estonian People's Party merged with the Christian People's Party (''Kristlik Rahvaerakond'') into the United People's Party (''Ühendatud Rahvaerakonnad'') *1932: This is followed by the merger with the ⇒ Estonian Labour Party (''Tööerakond'') and the Union of Landlords (''Üleriikline Majaomanikkude Seltside Liit'') into the National Centre Party *1934: The party is banned

Radical Democratic Party

*1917:

Konstantin Päts Konstantin Päts (; – 18 January 1956) was an Estonian statesman and the country's president in 1938–1940. Päts was one of the most influential politicians of the independent democratic Republic of Estonia, and during the two decades prior ...

, the later conservative leader, founded the Radical Democratic Party (''Radikaal-Demokraatlik Erakond''). *1919: The party merged with the ⇒ Democratic Party into the ⇒ Estonian People's Party

Radical Socialist Party / Estonian Labour Party

*1917: Inspired by the French Radical Socialist and the Russian Trudoviki the Radical Socialist Party (''Radikaalsotsialistlik Erakond'') is founded. *1919: The party merged with the Social Travaillist Party into the

Estonian Labour Party The Estonian Labour Party ( et, Eesti Tööerakond, ETE) was a political party in Estonia. It was formed in 1919 by a merger of the Radical Socialist Party and the Social Travaillist Party, and ceased to exist in 1932, when it merged with other ce ...

(''Eesti Tööerakond'') *1931: The Estonian Labour Party merged into the ⇒ National Centre Party.

From Popular Front to Estonian Centre Party

*1988:

Edgar Savisaar 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, Ministe ...

and Marju Lauristin founded the

Popular Front A popular front is "any coalition of working-class and middle-class parties", including liberal and social democratic ones, "united for the defense of democratic forms" against "a presumed Fascist assault". More generally, it is "a coalition ...

(''Rahvarinne'') officially aiming at consolidating reform-minded people. *1992: The Popular Front fell apart and Savisaar founded the

Estonian People's Centre Party Estonian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Estonia, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe * Estonians, people from Estonia, or of Estonian descent * Estonian language * Estonian cuisine * Estonian culture See also * ...

(''Eesti Rahva-Keskerakond''), which was later renamed the

(''Eesti Keskerakond''). *1996: A faction formed the ⇒ Progressive Party *2004: A faction leaves and joins various parties (see

Social Liberals Social liberalism (german: Sozialliberalismus, es, socioliberalismo, nl, Sociaalliberalisme), also known as new liberalism in the United Kingdom, modern liberalism, or simply liberalism in the contemporary United States, left-liberalism ...

). The

and centrist character of the party is often disputed, whereby the party is usually considered a left of centre populist/

personalist Personalism is an intellectual stance that emphasizes the importance of human persons. Personalism exists in many different versions, and this makes it somewhat difficult to define as a philosophical and theological movement. Friedrich Schleierm ...

party.

Estonian Liberal Democratic Party / Estonian Reform Party

*1990: Liberals formed the

Estonian Liberal Democratic Party The Estonian Liberal Democratic Party ( et, Eesti Liberaaldemokraatlik Partei), abbreviated to ELDP, was a social liberal political party in Estonia that existed between 1990 and 1994. The ELDP was founded on 9 March 1990, during the Estonian So ...

(''Eesti Liberaal-Demokraatlik Erakond'') *1994: The party is the basis for the new Estonian Reform Party (''Eesti Reformierakond'')

Estonian Coalition Party

*1991: Dissident members of Savisaar cabinet (Jaak Tamm), and centrists found the

Estonian Coalition Party Estonian Coalition Party ( et, Eesti Koonderakond) was an Estonian centre-right liberal political party. Founded in 1991 by Tiit Vähi, it disbanded in 2002. The party was an observing member of Liberal International Liberal International (L ...

(''Eesti Koonderakond''), led by

Tiit Vähi Tiit Vähi (born 10 January 1947) is an Estonian politician who was Prime Minister of Estonia from 1995 to 1997. He was also acting Prime Minister for several months during 1992 under the transitional government. Life and career Born in Kaagjä ...

*2000s: The party was disbanded

Progressive Party

*1996: A faction of the

formed the

Progressive Party Progressive Party may refer to: Active parties * Progressive Party, Brazil * Progressive Party (Chile) * Progressive Party of Working People, Cyprus * Dominica Progressive Party * Progressive Party (Iceland) * Progressive Party (Sardinia), Ita ...

(''Arengupartei'') *1999: The party disappeared

Estonia 200

*2018:

Estonia 200 Estonia 200 (, russian: Эстония 200) is a liberal political party in Estonia. It is a party that adheres to social and economic liberalism. History In 2017 the initiators started to discuss about the future of Estonia. The formal foun ...

(''Erakond Eesti 200'') has been founded.