- Pro Patria Union
Infobox Estonian Political Party
party_name = Isamaaliit
party_
color_code = #014f9a
leadership =Tõnis Lukas
foundation =2 December 1995
ideology =Conservatism ,Christian Democracy Nationalism
international =Christian Democrat and People's Parties International andInternational Democrat Union
european =European People's Party andEuropean Democrat Union
europarl = EPP-ED
colours = Blue
headquarters = Wismari 11Tallinn 10136
website = [http://www.isamaaliit.ee/ www.isamaaliit.ee]
|The Pro Patria Union (Estonian: "Isamaaliit", meaning literally "Fatherland Union") was a conservative
political party inEstonia . OnApril 4 ,2006 , representatives of the Pro Patria Union and the representatives of Res Publica decided to merge the two parties. The merger was approved by the general assemblies of both parties inPärnu on4 June 2006 . Although originally the name "For Estonia" ("Eesti Eest") was considered for the united party, it was rejected. New party was officially registered on15 October 2006 under the nameUnion of Pro Patria and Res Publica ("Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit").According to party statements, the programme was based on
Christian Democracy andNationalism . Together with its predecessors the Pro Patria Union was the main force behind the economic and legal reforms in the Republic of Estonia at the beginning of 1990s.History
The party was founded on
2 December 1995 by merging the Estonian National Independence Party (ERSP, Eesti Rahvusliku Sõltumatuse Partei) and the National Coalition Party "Pro Patria" (Rahvuslik Koonderakond "Isamaa"). Most of the latter's founding members had been political dissidents during Soviet era and had participated actively in the movement for regaining national independence late 1980s and early 1990s. National Coalition Party 'Pro Patria' was founded in September, 1992, as four electoral cartel parters merged:
*"Christian Democratic Party" (Kristlik-demokraatlik Erakond)
*"Christian Democratic Union" (Kristlik-Demokraatlik Liit)
*"Conservative People's Party" (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond),
*"Republicans' Coalition Party" (Vabariiklaste Koonderakond),The latter 3 had left the National Coalition Party "Pro Patria" during 1994, Liberal Democratic Party "(Liberaaldemokraatlik Partei))" was a member of electoral cartel, but didn't merge. In 1994, dissident groups split and formed their own
People's Party of Republicans and Conservatives .Toivo Jürgenson was elected the first Chairman of the party. He served in this position till
1998 and later became Minister of Transportation and Communications.In government and opposition
Mart Laar , a historian, former Chairman of the National Alliance "Pro Patria" andPrime Minister of Estonia from1992 to1994 was elected the new Chairman of the party on24 October 1998 .The party was successful on the parliamentary elections of
1999 , receiving 18 seats. Its leaderMart Laar became Prime Minister again. His coalition government was in office till28 January 2002 .The Pro Patria Union was a member of the
European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats , known also by the abbreviation EPP-ED. The party has one seat in theEuropean Parliament , held byTunne Kelam , the Chairman of the Pro Patria Union from7 December 2002 to16 April 2005 .In parliamentary elections in
2003 they won 7 seats in Riigikogu and joined the opposition. The current Chairman of the party isTõnis Lukas , elected on16 April ,2005 . Historian and archivist Aimar Altosaar was re-elected a Secretary General in2005 , having served in the same position from1996 to1999 .The party has an official newspaper called "Tribüün" (The Tribune). It was established in
2001 .For the local elections in autumn 2005 Pro Patria Union signed a cooperation agreement with Union of Farmers ("Põllumeeste Kogu") on
6 July ,2005 and withEstonian Democratic Party ("Eesti Demokraatlik Partei") on12 July ,2005 . The local elections on16 October ,2005 showed a growing support for the party. Presence of the Pro Patria Union grew from 0 to 7 seats inTallinn City Council and remained the same (9 seats) inTartu City Council.In April, 2006, former party leader and twice PM
Mart Laar was awarded Friedman Prize for Liberty. [http://www.cato.org/friedman/]External links
* [http://www.isamaaliit.ee/ The Pro Patria Union] (official site)(this site is not working any more)
* [http://www.irl.ee/ The Pro Patria and Res Publica Union] (official site)
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