In Government and Opposition
Mart Laar, a historian, former Chairman of the National Alliance "Pro Patria" and Prime Minister of Estonia from 1992 to 1994 was elected the new Chairman of the party on 24 October 1998.
The party was successful on the parliamentary elections of 1999, receiving 18 seats. Its leader Mart Laar became Prime Minister again. His coalition government was in office till 28 January 2002.
The Pro Patria Union was a member of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats (EPP-ED). The party had one seat in the European Parliament, held by Tunne Kelam, the Chairman of the Pro Patria Union from 7 December 2002 to 16 April 2005.
In parliamentary elections in 2003 they won 7 seats in Riigikogu and joined the opposition. Tõnis Lukas was elected chairman of the party on 16 April 2005. Historian and archivist Aimar Altosaar was re-elected Secretary General in 2005, having served in the same position from 1996 to 1999.
The party had an official newspaper called "Tribüün" (The Tribune). It was established in 2001.
For the local elections in autumn 2005 the Pro Patria Union signed a cooperation agreement with two minor parties: Union of Farmers (Põllumeeste Kogu) on 6 July 2005 and with Estonian Democratic Party (Eesti Demokraatlik Partei) on 12 July 2005. The local elections on 16 October 2005 showed a growing support for the party. The presence of the Pro Patria Union grew from 0 to 7 seats in Tallinn City Council and remained the same (9 seats) in Tartu City Council.
In April, 2006, former party leader and twice PM Mart Laar was awarded the Friedman Prize for Liberty.
Read more about this topic: Pro Patria Union
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