Eesti Vabariik
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Digraph: EN

Type: republic

Capital: Tallinn

Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond):
Harju maakond (Tallinn), Hiiu maakond (Kardla), Ida-Viru maakond
(Johvi), Jarva maakond (Paide), Jogeva maakond (Jogeva), Laane maakond
(Haapsalu), Laane-Viru maakond (Rakvere), Parnu maakond (Parnu), Polva
maakond (Polva), Rapla maakond (Rapla), Saare maakond (Kuessaare),
Tartu maakond (Tartu), Valga maakond (Valga), Viljandi maakond
(Viljandi), Voru maakond (Voru)
note: county centers are in parentheses

Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)

Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 21 October 1992);
election last held 20 September 1992; (next to be held fall 1996);
results - no candidate received majority; newly elected Parliament
elected Lennart MERI (21 October 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Andres TARAND (since NA October
1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister,
authorized by the legislature

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Riigikogu): elections last held 5 March 1995 (next to be
held NA 1998); results - KMU 32.22%, RE 16.18%, K 14.17%, Pro Patria
and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is Estonia and Right-Wingers 5.0%;
seats - (101 total) KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria 8, Our Home is
Estonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Coalition Party and Rural Union (KMU)
made up of 4 parties: Coalition Party, Country People's Party,
Farmer's Assembly, and Pensioners' and Families' League; Coalition
Party, Tiit VAHI, chairman; Country People's Party, Arnold RUUTEL,
chairman; Farmer's Assembly, Jaak-Hans KUKS, chairman; Pensioners' and
Families' League; Reform Party-Liberals (RE), Siim KALLAS, chairman;
Center Party (K), Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman; Union of Pro Patria
(Isaama of Fatherland), Mart LAAR, chairman; National Independence
Party (ERSP), Kelam TUNNE, chairman; Our Home is Estonia made up of 2
parties: United Peoples Party and the Russian Party in Estonia; United
Peoples Party, Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman; Russian