Estonian Centre Party
|
Estonian Centre Party
Eesti Keskerakond |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Leader | Jüri Ratas |
| Founded | 12 October 1991 |
| Preceded by | Popular Front of Estonia |
| Headquarters | Toom-Rüütli 3/5 Tallinn 10130 |
| Membership (2014) | 14,322 |
| Ideology |
Centrism Social liberalism Populism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| European affiliation | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| European Parliament group | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| Colours | Green |
| Riigikogu |
27 / 101
|
| European Parliament |
1 / 6
|
| Website | |
| http://www.keskerakond.ee/ | |
The Estonian Centre Party (Estonian: Eesti Keskerakond) is a centrist,social-liberal and populistpolitical party in Estonia. It is one of the two largest political parties in Estonia and currently has 27 seats in the Estonian Parliament. The Party is a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).
The Centre Party chairman from November 5, 2016 is Jüri Ratas.
The party was founded on 12 October 1991 from the basis of the Popular Front of Estonia after several parties split from it. At that time, the party was called People's Centre Party (Rahvakeskerakond) in order to differentiate from the smaller center-right Rural Centre Party (Maa-Keskerakond).
The Centre Party has become by far the most popular party among Russians in Estonia, being supported by up to 75% of ethnic non-Estonians.
The party claims that its goal is the formation of a strong middle class in Estonia. The Centre Party declares itself as "middle class liberal party"; however, against the backdrop of Estonia's economic liberal policies, the Centre Party has a reputation of having more left-leaning policies. The party holds positions considered contrary to social liberalism on a number of issues. For example, the party suggests that Estonia should deliberate re-establishing criminal punishments for the possession of even small amounts of illegal substances. Nor could Centre Party's parliamentary faction agree on its stance in regards to same-sex marriage, which is traditionally supported by social liberals. In an Estonian Public Broadcasting program 'Foorum', Estonian Reform Party parliamentarian Remo Holsmer listed the ideologies of other three political parties represented in the Parliament, but could not name the ideological position of the Centre Party. Centre Party parliamentarian Kadri Simson then helped to clarify that the ideology of the Centre Party is "Centre Party".
...
Wikipedia