Pro Patria and Res Publica Union

Pro Patria and Res Publica Union
Leader Margus Tsahkna
Founded 4 June 2006
Merger of Pro Patria Union and
Res Publica
Headquarters Paldiski mnt 13, Tallinn
Membership  (2014) 9,781
Ideology Christian democracy[1]
National conservatism[2]
Conservatism[1]
Political position Centre-right
European affiliation European People's Party
International affiliation Centrist Democrat International
International Democrat Union
European Parliament group European People's Party
Colours Blue
Riigikogu
14 / 101
European Parliament
1 / 6
Website
http://www.irl.ee/

Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (Estonian: Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit, IRL) is a conservative political party in Estonia. It was founded on 4 June 2006 when two conservative parties, Pro Patria Union and Res Publica Party merged. Up to the 2007 parliamentary elections, the party held 32 seats out of 101 in the Riigikogu (the Estonian parliament) and one of Estonia's six seats in the European Parliament. The party is a member of the European People's Party (EPP). It has about 8,500 members. The merged party consisted of two separate boards and two party leaders, which was replaced by a unified board and leader in May 2007. The party's prime minister candidate was Mart Laar, who became a chairman of the party.

History

Pre-foundation

Prior to the merger, there was an extreme drop in public support for Res Publica after the government led by Juhan Parts was forced to step down, and Pro Patria had also been relatively marginalized after the fall of their own governing coalition. There was also concern among conservatives about splitting the vote between two parties with largely similar ideologies and being unable to oppose the much more cohesive left wing electorate, which was mostly rallied behind the Centre Party. On 4 April 2006, representatives from the Pro Patria Union and Res Publica decided to merge the two parties, which took place officially on 4 June 2006. Although originally the name For Estonia (Eesti Eest) was considered for the newly formed party, it was rejected and the provisional name has been used to date.

On 15 November 2006 the parties were officially merged as Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (Erakond Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit).

Electoral results

Parliamentary elections

Election Votes Seats Pos. Government
# % ± pp # ±
2007 98,347 17.9 –
19 / 101
 Increase 19 3rd Coalition
2011 118,023 20.5 Increase 2.6
23 / 101
 Increase 4 3rd Coalition (2011–2014)
2015 78,699 13.7 Decrease 6.8
14 / 101
 Decrease 9 4th Coalition

European Parliament elections

Election Votes Seats Pos.
# % ± pp # ±
2009 48,492 12.2 –
1 / 6
 Increase 1 4th
2014 45,765 13.9 Increase 1.7
1 / 6
 Steady 0 3rd

Chairmen

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/estonia.html
  2. ↑ Bakke, Elisabeth (2010), "Central and East European party systems since 1989", Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989, Cambridge University Press, p. 79, retrieved 17 November 2011
  3. ↑ "IRLi esimeheks valiti Margus Tsahkna". Postimees. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
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