Edgar Savisaar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edgar Savisaar
Savisaar in 1992
1st Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Estonia
In office 20 August 1991 – 29 January 1992
President	Arnold Rüütel as Chairman of the Supreme Soviet (1990) as Chairman of the Supreme Council (1990–1992)
Preceded by	position established Otto Tief as last acting Prime Minister in 1944
Succeeded by	Tiit Vähi
Minister of the Interior
In office 12 April 1995 – 10 October 1995
Preceded by	Kaido Kama
Succeeded by	Märt Rask
Mayor of Tallinn
In office 9 April 2007 – 30 September 2015
Preceded by	Jüri Ratas
Succeeded by	Taavi Aas
In office December 2001 – October 2004
Preceded by	Tõnis Palts
Succeeded by	Tõnis Palts
Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications
In office 12 April 2005 – 5 April 2007
Prime Minister	Andrus Ansip
Preceded by	Andrus Ansip
Succeeded by	Juhan Parts
Personal details
Born	(1950-05-31)31 May 1950 Harku, Estonia
Died	29 December 2022(2022-12-29) (aged 72) Tallinn, Estonia
Political party	Communist Party (1983–1988) Popular Front (1988–1991) Centre Party (1991–2022)
Spouse	Vilja Laanaru (1996–2009)
Children	4, including Erki Savisaar
Alma mater	University of Tartu

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, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications, and twice mayor of Tallinn.

Early life and education

Savisaar was born in the Harku Prison in 1950. His parents Elmar Savisaar (1911–1970) and Marie Savisaar née Burešin (1912–1984) were farmers from Vastse-Kuuste, Tartu County, who both had been convicted in 1949 of resisting collectivization. The events, which had culminated with physical conflict, had started when kolhoz activists came to nationalise Savisaar couple's two cows (named Marja and Oksa), a pig, a horse drawn hay rake, a spring-tooth harrow, and other farming equipment. Elmar was sentenced to 15 years and Marie to 5 years in prison. In the autumn of 1950, Marie was released from prison under an amnesty and returned to Vastse-Kuuste with her son. In 1952, Elmar was acquitted of one of the offences, and the sentence for the second episode was reduced to 2.5 years, which was deemed to have been served, and he was released from prison.

After graduating from high school, Savisaar continued his studies at the University of Tartu. In 1973, he graduated from the university with a degree in history. In 1980, he wrote his candidate thesis in philosophy on the topic "Social Philosophical Foundations of the Global Models of the Club of Rome".

Career

From 1980 to 1988, Savisaar worked in the Soviet Estonian governmental institutions dealing with planning of the economy. During 1988–1989, he was the academic director for the consultancy firm "Mainor".

In April he co-established the Popular Front (Rahvarinne) which became the first mass political organization in the Soviet Union outside of the Communist Party since 1920. Initially formed to support perestroika, the Popular Front eventually developed ideas of Estonian national independence. This process among several others led to dissolution of the Soviet Union.

In 1989, he became the Vice-Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Estonian SSR and the Head of the State Plan Committee. In 1990, he was the Minister of Economic Affairs. On 3 April 1990, he was appointed the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. When Estonia declared independence on 20 August 1991, he became the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia. His government was in office until 29 January 1992, when he resigned after supplementary problems and a continuing decline in economy. Most of his governing time was characterized by hyperinflation and ever increasing deficit of goods. "Purchase cards" and ration stamps were introduced. During the winter of 1991/1992 preparations were made to evacuate the dormitory regions of Tallinn due to shortage of fuel. On 31 December 1991, people stood for hours in the bread queues, many were eventually left without bread. In January 1992, butter disappeared from the shops. Savisaar managed to win a vote of non-confidence, being mostly supported by his Popular Front, left-wing parties and the Intermovement, but stepped down when it turned out impossible to introduce a state of emergency. He was replaced by a technocratic government under Tiit Vähi.

From 1992 until 1995, Savisaar was the Vice-Speaker of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu). From 17 April to 6 November 1995, he was the Minister for Internal Affairs. When he was accused of recording private conversations of other politicians, the entire government faltered. Although his participation in the recordings was never proved, he announced his intention to leave politics. However, in 1996, he participated in the local municipalities elections and became the chairman of the Tallinn City Council. His return to the Centre Party leader's post evoked a split, as some leading members disillusioned with Savisaar's leadership style left to found Arengupartei. From 2001 to 14 October 2004, he was mayor of Tallinn. On 11 April 2005, he became Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications in the new coalition of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and worked in the post until March 2007. Since 2007 he has been mayor of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.

Edgar Savisaar and Estonia People's Union leader Villu Reiljan jointly supported Arnold Rüütel's candidature for presidency in August–September 2006; Toomas Hendrik Ilves was elected though, a choice criticised by Savisaar and attributed by him to alleged hostile media and partisan lawmakers. Savisaar refused to congratulate the winner.

In 2016, the discussion on electing a new leader escalated in the Centre Party and an extraordinary party congress was called for November. MP Jüri Ratas was the first to announce his candidacy, after which four others followed, including Yana Toom. Even though Savisaar first announced his candidacy, he later announced that he would not participate in the leadership election and instead endorsed Toom.

Savisaar published four books. He received the Order of the National Coat of Arms 2nd Class in 2001 and 1st Class in 2006 from Estonia and the Order of the Three Stars 2nd Class in 2005 from Latvia.

Personal life

Edgar Savisaar married three times and was the father of four children. From his marriage to Kaire Savisaar he had a son Erki Savisaar, who is a Centre Party politician. From his marriage to Liis Remmel (then Liis Savisaar), he had a daughter Maria and son Edgar. The last marriage was to Vilja Toomast (then Vilja Savisaar), who is also an Estonian politician. They had a daughter, Rosina. The couple announced their separation and divorce in December 2009.

Death

In March 2015, Savisaar was hospitalized due to an infection of streptococcus bacteria in his right leg which had to be amputated above the knee. He contracted the disease during a trip in Thailand.

Savisaar's health never recovered from the event. In 2018 Savisaar was freed from political corruption trial as court determined him seriously ill and thus unable to stand trial or carry a punishment if convicted.

Savisaar died on 29 December 2022, at the age of 72.

A state funeral was held for Savisaar at the Concert Hall of the Estonia Theatre in central Tallinn.

See also

In Spanish: Edgar Savisaar para niños