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{{Infobox political party
|country = Estonia
|name_english = Estonian Centre Party
|name_native = Eesti Keskerakond
|logo = [[Image:Keskerakond.png]]
|colorcode = #017e60
|leader = [[Edgar Savisaar]]
|foundation = 12 October 1991
|ideology = [[Centrism]],<br>[[Social liberalism]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.parties-and-elections.de/estonia.html|title= Estonia|publisher = parties-and-elections.de}}</ref><br>
|international = [[Liberal International]]
|european = [[European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party]]
|europarl = [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe]]
|colours = [[Green]]
|headquarters = Toom-Rüütli 3/5<br />[[Tallinn]] 10130
|website = [http://www.keskerakond.ee/ http://www.keskerakond.ee/]
}}
The '''Estonian Centre Party''' ({{lang-et|Eesti Keskerakond}}) is a [[centrist]], [[social liberal]] party in [[Estonia]]. Keskerakond is a member of the [[European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party]]. It has the largest membership of an Estonian party, with over 12 000 members.

The party was founded on 12 October 1991, on the basis of the [[Popular Front of Estonia]] after several parties had split from it. At that time, the party was called Rahvakeskerakond (People's Centre Party), in order to differentiate from the smaller [[people's Party Moderates|Maa-Keskerakond]] (Rural Centre Party). The party's chairman is [[Edgar Savisaar]]. Vice chairmen of the party are [[Kadri Simson]] and [[Enn Eesmaa]].

The party claims that its goal is the formation of a strong [[middle class]] in Estonia. Keskerakond declares itself as "middle class liberal party". It supports small enterprises. It is by far the most popular party among [[Russians in Estonia]].

==History==

In general elections in March [[1995]], CPE placed third with 14.2% of votes and 16 seats. It entered the coalition, Savisaar taking the position of the Minister of Internal Affairs, and 4 other ministerial positions (Social Affairs, Economy, Education and Transportation&Communications). After the "[[tape scandal]]" (secret taping of talks with other politicians) where Savisaar was involved, the party was forced to go to opposition. A new party was formed by those who were disappointed by their leader's behaviour. Edgar Savisaar became the Chairman of the City Council of the capital city Tallinn.

In [[1996]], CPE candidate [[Siiri Oviir]] ran for the presidency of Estonia.

In the general elections in March [[1999]], Keskerakond, whose main slogan was [[progressive tax|progressive]] [[income tax]], gained 23.4% of votes (the first result) and 28 seats in the [[Riigikogu]]. CPE members are active in its 26 branches - eight of them are promoting the centrist values in [[Tallinn]], 18 in towns and counties.

The Centre Party became the member of the ELDR [[European Liberal Democrats]] in 2003 London Congress. Estonian Centre Party has never applied for the membership of the [[Liberal International]].

In 2001, Kreitzberg ran for the presidency of Estonia.

In January [[2002]], Keskerakond and the [[Estonian Reform Party|Reform Party]] formed a new governmental coalition where Centre Party got 8 ministerial seats (Minister of Defense, Education, Social Affairs, Finances, Economy&Communications, Interior, Agriculture and Minister of integration and national minorities). The coalition stayed until the new elections in [[2003]], in which the party won 28 seats. Though the Centre Party won the greatest percent of votes, it was in opposition until March, 2005 when Juhan Parts' government collapsed.

In 2003, the majority of the party's assembly did not support Estonia's joining the [[European Union]] (EU). Savisaar did not express clearly his position.

A number of Keskerakond members left the party in fall 2004, mostly due to objections with Savisaar's autocratic tendencies and the party's anti-EU stance, forming the Social Liberal group. Some of them joined the Social Democratic Party, others the Reform Party and others the People's Party. One of these MPs later rejoined Keskerakond. Keskerakond is affiliated with the [[European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party]] since July 2003.

Savisaar was the Mayor of [[Tallinn]], the capital of Estonia, from 2001 to fall 2004, when he was forced to step down after a vote of [[no confidence]]. He was replaced by [[Tõnis Palts]] of [[Res Publica Party|Res Publica]].

Keskerakond has since 2004 one member in the [[European Parliament]] - [[Siiri Oviir]]. The Centre Party gathered 17.5% share of votes on the elections to the European Parliament.

Keskerakond participated in government with the [[Estonian Reform Party]] and the [[People's Union of Estonia]] from 12 April 2005 until a new government took office after the March 2007 elections. They had 5 minister portfolios (Edgar Savisaar as Minister of Economy, also Minister of Social Affairs, Education, Culture and Interior).

Local elections on 16 October 2005 were very successful to the Centre Party. Keskerakond managed to win 32 seats out of 63 in [[Tallinn]] City Council, having now an absolute majority in that municipality. One of the factors behind this success in Tallinn was probably the immense popularity of Centre Party among Russian speaking voters. The controversial contract of co-operation between Estonian Centre Party and Russian 'party of the power' [[United Russia]] concluded in December, 2004 has probably contributed to success in ethnic Russian electorate as well.

Centre Party formed one-party government in Tallinn was lead by Jüri Ratas, a 27 year old politician elected the Mayor of Tallinn in November 2005. He was replaced by Savisaar in April 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/17623/|title = Article | publisher = baltictimes.com}}</ref> The Centre Party is also a member of coalitions in 15 other major towns of Estonia like [[Pärnu]], Narva, Haapsalu and [[Tartu]].

In the [[Estonian parliamentary election, 2007]], they received 143,528 votes (26.1% of the total), an improvement of +0.7%. They took 29 seats, a gain of one seat compared to the 2003 elections, though due to the 2004 defections which had decreased their strength, they actually gained 10 seats. They are now the second largest party in Parliament and the largest opposition party. In 2008, the party have criticised [[Andrus Ansip]]s policies, that in Centre party's opinion have contributed to Estonia's economic problems of the recent times. On June 16, 2007, [[Edgar Savisaar]] and [[Jaan Õmblus]] published a proposal of how to improve what they regard as Estonia's economic crisis<ref>{{cite web|url= http://kesk.eurorscg4d.ee/news.php?nsID=3dd48ab31d016ffcbf3314df2b3cb9ce&lang=est|title= Keskerakond<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref>.

==References==

<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.keskerakond.ee Official web site]

{{ELDR member parties}}
{{Political parties in Estonia}}

[[Category:Liberal parties]]
[[Category:Political parties in Estonia]]
[[Category:ELDR member parties]]

[[bg:Естонска центристка партия]]
[[ca:Partit del Centre Estonià]]
[[de:Estnische Zentrumspartei]]
[[et:Eesti Keskerakond]]
[[fr:Parti du Centre (Estonie)]]
[[it:Partito del Centro Estone]]
[[lv:Igaunijas Centra partija]]
[[no:Eesti Keskerakond]]
[[nn:Eesti Keskerakond]]
[[pl:Estońska Partia Centrum]]
[[ro:Partidul de Centru (Estonia)]]
[[ru:Центристская партия (Эстония)]]
[[sv:Centerpartiet (Estland)]]
[[fi:Viron keskustapuolue]]

Revision as of 20:05, 22 December 2009

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