The Estonian Reform Party (Estonian: Eesti Reformierakond) is a liberal pro-free market political party in Estonia. The party is led by current Prime Minister of Estonia Andrus Ansip, and has 33 members in the 101-member Riigikogu, making it the largest party in the legislature. The Reform Party has participated in the government of Estonia for all but three years since its foundation in 1994.
The party was founded by then-President of the Bank of Estonia Siim Kallas as a split from National Coalition Party Pro Patria. At the 1995 election, it won 19 seats in the Riigikogu, making it the second largest party. The Reform Party replaced the Estonian Centre Party in government in autumn 1995, and remained there until 1996. In 1999, the party lost a seat, but returned to the cabinet in coalition with the Pro Patria Union and the People's Party Moderates. The party has remained in various coalitions since then, with Andrus Ansip as Prime Minister since 2005. At the 2007 election, the party won 31 seats, becoming the largest party for the first time, and increased its seat tally again in 2011, with 33 seats.
As the Reform Party has participated in most of the government coalitions in Estonia since the mid-1990s, its influence has been great, especially regarding Estonia's free market and low taxes policies. The party has been a full member of Liberal International since 1996, having been an observer member between 1994–1996, and a full member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. The founder and the first chairman of the Reform Party, Siim Kallas, has been since 2004 a Commissioner of the European Commission. He is also one of the five Vice Presidents of the Barroso Commission.
Read more about Estonian Reform Party: History, Ideology, Political Support, Organisation, Election Results
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