Urmas Reinsalu

Urmas Reinsalu (born 22 June 1975) is an Estonian politician who was the minister of foreign affairs between April 2019 and 26 January 2021.[1][2] Previously, Reinsalu has served as the minister of defence between 2012 and 2014 and minister of justice from 2015 to 2019.[3] Reinsalu is a member of the Isamaa ("Fatherland") political party (Formerly called the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union) and was the party leader from 2012 to 2015.

Urmas Reinsalu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 29 April 2019 – 26 January 2021
Prime Minister	Jüri Ratas
Preceded by	Sven Mikser
Succeeded by	Eva-Maria Liimets
Minister of Justice
In office 9 April 2015 – 29 April 2019
Prime Minister	Taavi Rõivas Jüri Ratas
Preceded by	Andres Anvelt
Succeeded by	Raivo Aeg
Leader of the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union
In office 28 January 2012 – 6 June 2015
Preceded by	Mart Laar
Succeeded by	Margus Tsahkna
Minister of Defence
In office 11 May 2012 – 26 March 2014
Prime Minister	Andrus Ansip
Preceded by	Mart Laar
Succeeded by	Sven Mikser
Personal details
Born	22 June 1975 Tallinn, Estonia
Political party	Isamaa
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Tartu

Early life and education

Reinsalu was born in Tallinn on 22 June 1975.[4] He graduated from the Tallinn Secondary School No. 37 and studied law at the University of Tartu, graduating in 1997.[5]

Political career

From 1996 to 1997, Reinsalu worked as a specialist in public law in the Ministry of Justice and as an advisor to then Estonian President from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, Reinsalu was appointed Director of the Office of the President of Estonia when Lennart Meri was in office.[5][6] From 2001 to 2002, he worked as the political secretary of the Res Publica Party.[5] From 2002 to 2003, Reinsalu was a lecturer in the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences.

From 2007 to 2013, Reinsalu was a member of the Riigikogu. On 28 January 2012, Reinsalu became the chairman of the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union, replacing Mart Laar.[7][8] He elected chairman with an absolute majority in the first round of voting at the party congress held in Tallinn.[8]

On 11 May 2012, Reinsalu was appointed minister of defence, replacing Mart Laar who resigned from office due to health reasons.[4][7][9][10] Reinsalu's term as the minister of defence ended on 26 March 2014 when he was replaced by Sven Mikser.[11] From 2014 to 2015, he was a member of the Riigikogu.

In the 2015 parliamentary election, Reinsalu was re-elected to the Riigikogu with 2,949 individual votes.[12] On 9 April 2015, Reinsalu became the minister of justice in Taavi Rõivas' second cabinet.

As the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union was the biggest loser in the elections with 9 seats lost, Reinsalu announced he would resign as party chairman after the party's congress in June.[13] On 6 June 2015, he was replaced by Margus Tsahkna in the post.[14]

Personal life

Reinsalu is married and has two children.[4] He is fluent in English, German, Russian and Finnish.[5]

References

1. "Ratas' second government sworn in Monday afternoon". ERR. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
2. "Reform, Center announce incoming ministers". ERR. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
3. "New Estonian government assumes office". ERR. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
4. "Minister". Estonian Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
5. "Urmas Reinsalu". IRL. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
6. "Urmas Reinsalu - IRL". European People's Party. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
7. "Minister of Defence of Estonia". NATO Parliamentary Assembly. 27 May 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
8. "Estonia: EPP President congratulates new IRL leader". European People's Party. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
9. "Minister of Defence Urmas Reinsalu Assumes Office". Estonian Review. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
10. "Prime Minister Ansip Makes Proposal to President to Appoint Urmas Reinsalu Minister of Defence". Government Communication Unit. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
11. "Minister of Defence Sven Mikser". Government of Estonia. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
12. "Riigikogu valimised 2015: Detailne hääletamistulemus". Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
13. "Reinsalu to resign as IRL chairman". ERR. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
14. "Tsahkna named IRL chairman, pledges to unite party". ERR. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.

External links