Arnold Rüütel (, 10 May 1928 – 31 December 2024) was an Estonian politician. He was the third

President of Estonia The president of the Republic of Estonia () is the head of state of the Estonia, Republic of Estonia. The current president is Alar Karis, elected by Parliament on 31 August 2021, replacing Kersti Kaljulaid. Estonia is one of the few parliam ...

from 8 October 2001 to 9 October 2006. Rüütel was the second president of the country after the end of the 1944–1991 Soviet occupation, and the restoration of the independent

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

on 20 August 1991.

Biography

Rüütel was born in the village of Pahavalla in

Laimjala Parish Laimjala Parish (also called the Laimjala rural municipality or Laimjala parish) was in Saare County, Estonia. This parish did consist of 24 villages. The municipality had a population of 793 people (as of 1 January 2006) and covers an area of 1 ...

, Saaremaa, Estonia on 10 May 1928. His parents were Feodor Rüütel (1900−1965) and Juulia Rüütel (1905−1990). He graduated from the Agricultural College in Jäneda in 1949. Karl XXII istutatud tamm Vana-Antsa pargis

Karl XXII istutatud tamm Vana-Antsa pargis

He worked as a senior agronomist in Saaremaa (1949−1950) and then as a teacher at the Tartu School of Agricultural Mechanization (1955−1957). In between those two jobs, he served his term in the

Soviet Army The Soviet Ground Forces () was the land warfare service branch of the Soviet Armed Forces from 1946 to 1992. It was preceded by the Red Army. After the Soviet Union ceased to exist in December 1991, the Ground Forces remained under th ...

. In 1957, he was appointed the director of the experimental farm of the Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, and in 1963 he was appointed director of the Tartu Reference State Farm, remaining in this position until 1969. He graduated from the Estonian Academy of Agriculture in 1964. From 1969 to 1977, Rüütel was rector of the Estonian Academy of Agriculture. He served as the last chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR (thus he was also one of the 15 deputy chairmen of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union) from 8 April 1983 to 29 March 1990. On 29 March 1990, he was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council (head of parliament), after the first free elections in the then Soviet-occupied Estonia. He served in that position when Estonia restored full independence on 20 August 1991, and continued in office until 6 October 1992. In the independent Estonia, Rüütel was also a member of the Constitutional Assembly from 1991 to 1992, which drafted the new Constitution of the Republic of Estonia. He stood as a candidate in the first presidential election in 1992. In the first round, Rüütel received the best result, 43% of popular vote, but still short of required 50% majority. The second round was held in the parliament (''

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 chi ...

''), and there Rüütel lost in the presidential elections to Lennart Meri. In 1991, Rüütel took his Doctorate in agriculture. He served as Chairman of the People's Union of Estonia from 1994 to 2000, and was elected as a member of parliament (''Riigikogu''), in 1995, where he acted as vice-chairman until 1997. He ran for president in the 1996 election (this time an indirect election with no popular vote) and lost to Meri once again.

Presidency

Rüütel was elected president by an electoral college on 21 September 2001, defeating Toomas Savi in the final round by votes of 186 to 155. Rüütel was inaugurated as President of the Republic on 8 October 2001. Rüütel announced in his election manifesto that his principal aims would be to reduce the negative effects that Estonia's speedy economic changes had had on a large number of people, and to seek greater solidarity within the society. The end of Rüütel's term was overshadowed by several controversies. At the Independence Day military parade on 24 February 2005, Rüütel repeatedly congratulated soldiers on "Victory day" ( Estonian Victory Day is on 23 June), which caused speculation about the then 77-year-old president's mental health. In January 2006, Estonian Television reported that Rüütel's underage granddaughters had organized a party in the presidential palace and drunk alcohol. Later that year, the newspaper ''

Eesti Ekspress ''Eesti Ekspress'' (''Estonian Express'') is an Estonian weekly newspaper. Founded in 1989, ''Eesti Ekspress'' was the first politically independent newspaper in the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic during the Soviet control of Estonia. Th ...

'' published archived documents suggesting that Rüütel as a top functionary of the Estonian SSR was involved in the persecution of scientist Johannes Hint (later sentenced to jail in a

show trial A show trial is a public trial in which the guilt (law), guilt or innocence of the defendant has already been determined. The purpose of holding a show trial is to present both accusation and verdict to the public, serving as an example and a d ...

) by the

KGB The Committee for State Security (, ), abbreviated as KGB (, ; ) was the main security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 to 1991. It was the direct successor of preceding Soviet secret police agencies including the Cheka, Joint State Polit ...

. Rüütel himself commented that he had tried to defend Hint. As Rüütel's term was due to end in October 2006, he announced on 7 June 2006 that he would be a candidate for re-election, thus ending speculation as to his candidacy. In late August, the parliament failed to elect a President. The election of Ene Ergma and Toomas Hendrik Ilves by the parliament was blocked by Rüütel's supporters, who did not take out ballots. The electoral college met to vote for a president on 23 September. The latest opinion polls (September 2006) had suggested that Rüütel's popular support was around 31 per cent (Ilves' support was 51%); Rüütel was more popular amongst the elderly and the Russian-speaking minority. In the electoral college, Rüütel received 162 votes against 174 for Ilves. Rüütel's presidency therefore expired at the end of his term, and Ilves took office on 9 October 2006.

Later activities

Rüütel voiced support for Mart Helme of the

Conservative People's Party of Estonia The Conservative People's Party of Estonia (, EKRE) is a Estonian nationalism, nationalist and right-wing populist political party in Estonia led by Martin Helme. It was founded in March 2012 with the merger of People's Union of Estonia and Est ...

in the

2016 Estonian presidential election An indirect election took place in Estonia in 2016 to elect the president of Estonia, who is the country's head of state. The Riigikogu — the Parliament of Estonia — elected Kersti Kaljulaid to be the next head of state of Estonia to succee ...

. Since leaving office, he has continued to meet with his former counterparts, including Kazakh president

Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council of ...

and Moldovan president

Petru Lucinschi Petru Lucinschi (; born 27 January 1940) is a former Moldovan politician who was Moldova's second President from 1997 to 2001. He currently serves as the founder and head of the Lucinschi Foundation of Strategic Studies and International Relat ...

. On 26 June 2024, Rüütel left the Conservative People's Party of Estonia, with which he had been involved in its various forms for 30 years.

Personal life and death

Rüütel was married to Ingrid Rüütel and had two daughters. In his later years, Rüütel resided in Kadriorg. He died on 31 December 2024, at the age of 96. The government accorded him a

state funeral A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honour people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements o ...

on 11 January 2025. He was buried in Metsakalmistu.

Awards

* : Order of the Badge of Honour (1965) * :

Order of Lenin The Order of Lenin (, ) was an award named after Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the October Revolution. It was established by the Central Executive Committee on 6 April 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration bestowed by the Soviet ...

(1971) * : Order of Friendship of Peoples (1981) * :

Order of the Red Banner of Labour The Order of the Red Banner of Labour () was an order of the Soviet Union established to honour great deeds and services to the Soviet state and society in the fields of production, science, culture, literature, the arts, education, sports ...

(1988) * : Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (2001) * : Collar of the Order of the National Coat of Arms (2008) * : (2009) * : Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose with collar (2001) * : Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (2002) * : Great Cross of the Order of the White Eagle * : Grand Collar of the

Order of Prince Henry The Order of Prince Henry () is a Portuguese order of knighthood created on 2 June 1960, to commemorate the quincentenary of the death of the Portuguese ''infante'' Prince Henry the Navigator, one of the main initiators of the Age of Discovery. M ...

(2003) * : Great Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau (2003) * : Knight Grand Cross of the

Order of the Falcon The Order of the Falcon () is the only order of chivalry in Iceland, founded by Christian X of Denmark, King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland on 3 July 1921. The award is awarded for merit for Iceland and humanity and has five degrees. Nowaday ...

(2004) * : Grand Cross (or 1st Class) of the Order of the White Double Cross (2005) * : Grand Collar of the Order of Saint James of the Sword (2006) * : Knight Grand Cross with Grand Cordon of the

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic () is the most senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of Italy, President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi. The highest-ranking honour of the Republi ...

* : Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the

Order of the Three Stars Order of the Three Stars () is the highest civilian order awarded for meritorious service to Latvia. It was established in 1924 in remembrance of the founding of Latvia. Its motto is ''Per aspera ad astra'', meaning "Through hardships towards the ...

* : Grand Cross with Golden Chain of the Order of Vytautas the Great (30 September 2004) * :

Gusi Peace Prize The Gusi Peace Prize is a private award given by the Gusi Peace Prize Foundation, based in Manila, Philippines. The Gusi Peace Prize is given to recognize individuals and organizations who contribute to global peace and progress through a wide v ...

for Statesmanship (27 November 2013)

Gallery

File:GW Bush in Riga 2005.jpg,

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...

, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Arnold Rüütel, and

Valdas Adamkus Valdas Adamkus (; born Voldemaras Adamkavičius; November 3, 1926) is a Lithuanian politician, diplomat and civil engineer who served as the fifth and seventh president of Lithuania from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2004 to 2009. Adamku ...

Riga Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...

, 7 May 2005. File:George W. Bush John Paul II funeral.jpg, Rüütel with Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium, Prince Henrik of Denmark,

Bernadette Chirac Bernadette Thérèse Marie Chirac (; née Chodron de Courcel; born 18 May 1933) is a French politician and the widow of the former president Jacques Chirac. She and Chirac met as students at Sciences Po, and were married on 16 March 1956. They ...

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Jorge Sampaio of Portugal,

and First Lady

Laura Bush Laura Lane Welch Bush (née Welch; born November 4, 1946) is an American educator who was the first lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009 as the wife of George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States. Bush was previously the fir ...

of the United States, and

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal-Arroyo (; born April 5, 1947), often referred to as PGMA or GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician who served as the 14th president of the Philippines from Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 2001 to 2010 ...

of the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

at the funeral of John Paul II. File:Putin and Alexy II with Estonian President (2005-01-20).jpg, Arnold Rüütel with

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...

and Patriarch Alexy II in January 2005. File:Arnold and Ingrid Rüütel - Laulupidu 2009.jpg, Arnold Rüütel and his wife Ingrid Rüütel at the XXV Estonian Song Festival (''Laulupidu'') in 2009. File:Arnold Rüütel, poliitik ja põllumajandusteadlane, Eesti Vabariigi president 2013.jpg, Conference dedicated to Arnold Rüütel in 2013

References

External links

About Arnold Rüütel in ''The President of the Republic of Estonia'' homepage

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruutel, Arnold 1928 births 2024 deaths People from Saaremaa Parish Politicians from Saare County Presidents of Estonia Conservative People's Party of Estonia politicians Members of the Central Auditing Commission of the 27th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Estonia Members of the Riigikogu, 1995–1999 Members of the Riigikogu, 1999–2003 People's Union of Estonia politicians Heads of state of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic Members of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1967–1971 Members of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1971–1975 Members of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1975–1980 Members of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1980–1985 Members of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, 1985–1990 Eleventh convocation members of the Soviet of Nationalities People of the Singing Revolution Resigned Communist Party of the Soviet Union members Voters of the Estonian restoration of Independence Estonian University of Life Sciences alumni Academic staff of the Estonian University of Life Sciences Grand Collars of the Order of Prince Henry Grand Collars of the Order of Saint James of the Sword Grand Crosses with Chain of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (civil) Grand Crosses with Golden Chain of the Order of Vytautas the Great Knights Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon Recipients of the Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana Recipients of the National Order of Merit (Malta) Recipients of the Order of the Badge of Honour Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour Recipients of the Order of the Star of Romania Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Poland)