National Flag of Estonia
According to aceinland, the national flag of Estonia is a tricolor flag consisting of three equal horizontal stripes; the top stripe is blue, the middle stripe is black, and the bottom stripe is white. The flag was adopted on February 24, 1918 and has since become a symbol of national pride for Estonian citizens.
The colors of the flag were inspired by an old coat-of-arms used during the Middle Ages in Estonia. The blue color represents loyalty to one’s country, while the black symbolizes courage in times of difficulty and danger. The white color stands for purity and virtue.
The current design of the Estonian flag was first adopted after Estonia declared independence from Russia in 1918. However, during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1991, a different version of the flag was used; this version had a red star in place of the blue stripe. After regaining independence in 1991, Estonia restored its original tricolor design with no star in its center.
The Estonian flag is flown on government buildings and at official events such as Independence Day (February 24) or Victory Day (June 23). It may also be seen at sporting events or other public gatherings where it serves as a reminder to citizens of their country’s history and achievements.
The national flag of Estonia has come to represent freedom and unity among its citizens as well as hope for a better future for all Estonians.
Presidents of Estonia
The President of Estonia is the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the Defense Forces of Estonia. The current president, Kersti Kaljulaid, was elected in October 2016 and is the first female president in Estonia’s history.
The first president after Estonia regained its independence from Soviet Union in 1991 was Lennart Meri. During his six-year tenure, he was instrumental in helping Estonia join the European Union and NATO. He also worked to improve relations with neighboring countries such as Russia and Latvia.
After Lennart Meri, Arnold Rüütel served as president from 2001 to 2006. Under his leadership, Estonia joined the Schengen Area and adopted the euro currency. He also focused on combating corruption and increasing transparency within government institutions during his term.
Toomas Hendrik Ilves served as president from 2006 to 2016 and was a strong advocate for human rights and democracy during his tenure. During his time in office, he placed emphasis on strengthening ties with other European countries as well as pushing for more economic reform within Estonia itself.
Kersti Kaljulaid is the current President of Estonia since October 2016. She has been praised for her efforts to modernize government institutions, increase transparency, promote gender equality, foster economic growth and create new job opportunities for Estonian citizens. She has also sought to strengthen ties between Estonian people living abroad by creating a virtual embassy in foreign countries such as Canada or Australia that would provide services such as voting registration or passport renewal assistance online.
Prime Ministers of Estonia
The Prime Minister of Estonia is the head of government and is responsible for leading the executive branch of the government. The current prime minister, Jüri Ratas, was elected in 2016 and is the first prime minister from the Centre Party.
Prior to Jüri Ratas, Taavi Rõivas was the Prime Minister of Estonia from 2014 to 2016. His main focus during his time in office was on economic growth and creating more employment opportunities for Estonian citizens. He also worked to improve relations with neighboring countries such as Latvia and Russia as well as with other European countries.
Andrus Ansip served as Prime Minister from 2005 to 2014 making him one of the longest serving prime ministers in Estonian history. During his tenure, he focused on modernizing government institutions and improving public services such as healthcare and education. He also worked to increase transparency within government institutions and foster economic growth by liberalizing markets and encouraging foreign investment into Estonia.
Before Andrus Ansip, Juhan Parts served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2005. During his time in office he worked on improving public services such as healthcare and education while also strengthening ties with other European countries through increased trade agreements. He also sought to reduce poverty levels within Estonia by providing support for low-income families through tax credits or subsidies.
Jüri Ratas has been serving as Prime Minister since November 2016 and has focused on increasing foreign investment into Estonia while also promoting gender equality within society by introducing measures such as equal pay for men and women in similar jobs or positions within companies or organizations. He has also worked to strengthen ties between Estonian people living abroad by creating a virtual embassy in foreign countries that would provide services such as voting registration or passport renewal assistance online.