Estonia’s second president, Arnold Rüütel, has died at the age of 96—playing a pivotal role in freeing his country from Soviet hegemony, the politician will further be remembered for consolidating his nation’s independence and setting it on a European-facing path.
The office of the President of the Republic of Estonia announced Rüütel’s death on Tuesday, adding that he would be laid to rest with full state honors.
Estonia’s current president, Alar Klaris, has led the tributes, saying: “We reflect with gratitude on a man who significantly influenced the story of Estonia's restoration and consolidation of independence. Estonia always remained with him, just as he remained with Estonia.”
He continued: “He was able to give many people the confidence that joining the EU aligned with Estonia's national interests.”
This sentiment was echoed by Kersti Kaljulaid, Estonia’s president from 2016 to 2021: “In my view, President Arnold Rüütel’s greatest achievement was convincing the Estonian public of the necessity of the EU, ahead of the referendum,” said Kaljulaid.
However, yet others will remember Rüütel for the part he played in helping the country break from its Soviet shackles.
Although something of a latecomer to high-level politics, by 1977—when he was nearly 50—the former agriculturalist began rising up the political ladder and, in 1983, was elected the chairman of Estonia’s supreme council.
While this made him the highest-ranking Communist in the country, Rüütel exploited his position to ultimately engineer Estonia’s break from the Soviet Union.
In 1988 he contributed to the drafting and adoption of the Estonian Sovereignty Declaration, an act that asserted Estonia’s right to self-governance.
Later, Rüütel was elected president in 2001. Serving in this position for five years, it was during his tenure that Estonia joined both NATO and the EU.
Estonia’s current president, Alar Klaris, has led the tributes, saying: “We reflect with gratitude on a man who significantly influenced the story of Estonia's restoration and consolidation of independence. Estonia always remained with him, just as he remained with Estonia.”
He continued: “He was able to give many people the confidence that joining the EU aligned with Estonia's national interests.”
This sentiment was echoed by Kersti Kaljulaid, Estonia’s president from 2016 to 2021: “In my view, President Arnold Rüütel’s greatest achievement was convincing the Estonian public of the necessity of the EU, ahead of the referendum,” said Kaljulaid.
However, yet others will remember Rüütel for the part he played in helping the country break from its Soviet shackles.
Although something of a latecomer to high-level politics, by 1977—when he was nearly 50—the former agriculturalist began rising up the political ladder and, in 1983, was elected the chairman of Estonia’s supreme council.
While this made him the highest-ranking Communist in the country, Rüütel exploited his position to ultimately engineer Estonia’s break from the Soviet Union.
In 1988 he contributed to the drafting and adoption of the Estonian Sovereignty Declaration, an act that asserted Estonia’s right to self-governance.
Later, Rüütel was elected president in 2001. Serving in this position for five years, it was during his tenure that Estonia joined both NATO and the EU.
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