Jürgen Ligi | |
---|---|
Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
In office 12 September 2016 – 23 November 2016 |
|
Prime Minister | Taavi Rõivas |
Preceded by | Marina Kaljurand |
Succeeded by | Sven Mikser |
Minister of Education and Research | |
In office 9 April 2015 – 12 September 2016 |
|
Prime Minister | Taavi Rõivas |
Preceded by | Jevgeni Ossinovski |
Succeeded by | Maris Lauri |
Minister of Finance | |
In office 3 June 2009 – 3 November 2014 |
|
Prime Minister |
Andrus Ansip Taavi Rõivas |
Preceded by | Ivari Padar |
Succeeded by | Maris Lauri |
Minister of Defence | |
In office 10 October 2005 – 5 April 2007 |
|
Prime Minister | Andrus Ansip |
Preceded by | Jaak Jõerüüt |
Succeeded by | Jaak Aaviksoo |
Personal details | |
Born |
Tartu, Estonia |
16 July 1959
Political party | Reform Party |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | University of Tartu |
Jürgen Ligi (born 16 July 1959 in Tartu) is an Estonian politician, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a member and the Vice-Chairman of the liberal Reform Party. He was Minister of Education and Research in Taavi Rõivas' cabinet from 9 April 2015 to 12 September 2016. Previously, Ligi has served as the Minister of Defence from 2005 to 2007 and as the Minister of Finance from 2009 to 2014.
After graduating from Tartu Second Gymnasium in 1977, he studied geography and foreign economics at the University of Tartu. He also graduated from the Estonian Business School. Ligi has been the Head of Kuressaare Branch of the EVEA Pank, the Economic Advisor and Business Consultant to Kaarma Parish Rural Municipality Government, the Head of the Kuressaare Regional Office of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chief Specialist of Saaremaa Agro-industrial Association, and the Economist of the Planning Institute of the National Planning Committee.
Ligi was member of the Riigikogu from 1995–2005, from 2007–2009 and from 2014–2015.
From 2005 to 2007, Jürgen Ligi was the Minister of Defence.
On 3 June 2009, he was nominated Minister of Finance and sworn in a day later. In October 2014, Ligi raised controversy by bringing up the ethnicity of the Minister of Education and Research Jevgeni Ossinovski. Ligi later apologized, but was pressured to resign from his post.