Estonian Heads of State

President of the Republic of Estonia

Under the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, adopted by referendum on 28 June 1992 (Riigi Teataja, 6 July 1992, No. 26, Art. 349), the President of the Republic is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia (Chapter 5, §§ 77–85). The President of the Republic is elected for a term of five years. No one may be elected President for more than two consecutive terms. Following the adoption of the Constitution, the President of the Republic was, by way of exception, elected for a four-year term.

• 11 October 2021 – 12 October 2026 Alar Karis
• 10 October 2016 – 11 October 2021 Kersti Kaljulaid
• 9 October 2006 – 10 October 2016 Toomas Hendrik Ilves
• 8 October 2001 – 9 October 2006 Arnold Rüütel
• 6 October 1992 – 8 October 2001 Lennart Meri

Prime Minister acting as President of the Republic of Estonia

On 17 June 1940, the Soviet Union occupied the Republic of Estonia. Under § 46 of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia (Riigi Teataja, 3 September 1937, No. 71, Art. 590), if the office of President of the Republic was vacant, or if the President of the Republic was unable to perform the duties of office in the circumstances prescribed by law, the Prime Minister performed the duties of the President of the Republic, assigning the duties of Prime Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister for that period. If neither the Prime Minister nor the Deputy Prime Minister could perform the duties of Prime Minister, those duties were performed by the oldest member of the Government of the Republic (§ 52). Following Jüri Uluots’s death in 1945, the office was assumed by Minister of Foreign Affairs August Rei, the oldest member of the Government of the Republic appointed by Uluots on 18 September 1944, in which Otto Tief served as Deputy Prime Minister. Until 1992, successive Prime Ministers acting as President of the Republic of Estonia assumed office in the same manner.

• 1 March 1990 – 6 October 1992 Heinrich Mark
• 23 December 1970 – 1 March 1990 Tõnis Kint
• 30 March 1963 – 23 December 1970 Aleksander Warma
• 9 January 1945 – 29 March 1963 August Rei
• 17 June 1940 – 9 January 1945 Jüri Uluots

President of the Republic of Estonia

Under the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, adopted at a plenary session of the National Assembly on 28 July 1937 and promulgated on 17 August 1937 by Konstantin Päts, Prime Minister acting as State Elder (Riigi Teataja, 3 September 1937, No. 71, Art. 590), the President of the Republic was the head of state of the Republic of Estonia (Chapter 4, §§ 38–47).

• 24 April 1938 – 17 June 1940 Konstantin Päts

President-Regent of the Republic of Estonia

Under the Transitional Period Act, promulgated on 17 August 1937 by Konstantin Päts, Prime Minister acting as State Elder, and entering into force upon its publication in Riigi Teataja on 3 September 1937 (Riigi Teataja, 3 September 1937, No. 71, Art. 598), the Prime Minister acting as State Elder continued to perform his duties under the title of President-Regent until the new Riigikogu convened and a President was elected.

• 3 September 1937 – 24 April 1938 Konstantin Päts

Prime Minister acting as State Elder of the Republic of Estonia

Under the Act Amending the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, proposed through a popular initiative and adopted by the people in a referendum held on 14, 15 and 16 October 1933 (Riigi Teataja, 28 October 1933, No. 86, Art. 628), which entered into force on the 100th day after the referendum, namely 24 January 1934, the State Elder was the representative of the people and exercised the supreme governing authority of the state. The Government of the Republic served alongside the State Elder in governing the state (§ 57); it was appointed by the State Elder and headed by the Prime Minister (§ 64). By State Elder’s Decision No. 173 of 12 March 1934 (Riigi Teataja, 16 March 1934, No. 22, Art. 156), Konstantin Päts declared a state of emergency for six months, which he subsequently extended. No elections to the Riigikogu or for the office of State Elder were held during the state of emergency, and Konstantin Päts performed the duties of State Elder in his capacity as Prime Minister.

• 24 January 1934 – 3 September 1937 Konstantin Päts

State Elder of the Republic of Estonia

Under the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia (Riigi Teataja, 9 August 1920, No. 113/114), adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 15 June 1920 and brought into force under the Act of 2 July 1920 on the Entry into Force of the Constitution of the Republic and the Act on Riigikogu Elections, Referendums and the Right of Popular Initiative, the Government of the Republic consisted of the State Elder and ministers (§ 58). The duties of the State Elder were to represent the Republic of Estonia, direct and coordinate the activities of the Government of the Republic, and chair government meetings. The State Elder also had the right to address questions to ministers regarding their activities (§ 62). The Government of the Republic appointed one of its members as Deputy State Elder.

• 21 October 1933 – 24 January 1934 Konstantin Päts
• 18 May 1933 – 21 October 1933 Jaan Tõnisson
• 1 November 1932 – 18 May 1933 Konstantin Päts
• 19 July 1932 – 1 November 1932 Kaarel Eenpalu
• 19 February 1932 – 19 July 1932 Jaan Teemant
• 12 February 1931 – 19 February 1932 Konstantin Päts
• 9 July 1929 – 12 February 1931 Otto (August) Strandman
• 4 December 1928 – 9 July 1929 August Rei
• 9 December 1927 – 4 December 1928 Jaan Tõnisson
• 15 December 1925 – 9 December 1927 Jaan Teemant
• 16 December 1924 – 15 December 1925 Jüri Jaakson
• 26 March 1924 – 16 December 1924 Friedrich Karl Akel
• 2 August 1923 – 26 March 1924 Konstantin Päts
• 21 November 1922 – 2 August 1923 Juhan (Johann) Kukk
• 25 January 1921 – 21 November 1922 Konstantin Päts
• 20 December 1920 – 25 January 1921 Ants Piip

Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia

Under Decision No. 2 of 9 May 1919, recorded in the minutes of the Government of the Republic of Estonia, the Government approved by the Constituent Assembly that same day was designated the “Government of the Republic of Estonia”. By Decision No. 1 of 9 May 1919, Otto Strandman was appointed Prime Minister and Minister of War (Riigi Teataja, 21 May 1919, No. 30/31).

• 26 October 1920 – 20 December 1920 Ants Piip
• 30 July 1920 – 26 October 1920 Jaan Tõnisson
• 28 July 1920 – 30 July 1920 Aadu (Ado) Birk
• 18 November 1919 – 28 July 1920 Jaan Tõnisson
• 9 May 1919 – 18 November 1919 Otto (August) Strandman

Prime Minister of the Provisional Government

On 24 February 1918, the Estonian Provisional Government was established by the Salvation Committee’s Order No. 5, “On the Establishment of the Provisional Government”. It was headed by Konstantin Päts, Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of the Interior (Riigi Teataja, 1918/1919, No. 1). By a decision of the Council of Elders of the Provincial Assembly on 12 November 1918, the composition of the Provisional Government was determined, with Konstantin Päts serving as Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior (Riigi Teataja, 1918/1919, No. 1).

• 24 February 1918 – 9 May 1919 Konstantin Päts