This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 3 Löwi (talk | contribs) at 11:15, 14 May 2007 (not only were descendants of 1940 citizens registered, but the 1940 citizens themselves as well). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 11:15, 14 May 2007 by 3 Löwi (talk | contribs) (not only were descendants of 1940 citizens registered, but the 1940 citizens themselves as well)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Congress of Estonia was a rival parliament set up in the Estonian SSR to challenge the power and authority of the Supreme Soviet of the ESSR. The Congress claimed to represent the highest authority on questions of Estonian statehood and citizenship.
In 1989 independence activists started registering the people who held Estonian citizenship in June 1940 (when the country was occupied by the USSR) and their descendants, who were Estonian citizens by birth by the jus sanguinis principle By February 1990, 790,000 Estonian citizens as well as about 60,000 applicants for citizenship had been registered.
In election in February 1990, registered citizens elected 499 delegates to the Congress from 31 different political parties. The Estonian National Independence Party won the most seats, other parties represented included the the Popular Front of Estonia, the Heritage Society and the Communist Party of Estonia. The permanent standing committee, the Committee of Estonia was chaired Tunne Kelam.
A constitutional assembly was formed in September 1991, with equal numbers of members of the Supreme Soviet and the Congress of Estonia. The new Constitution, approved by referendum in June 1992, enabled the election of a new parliament in September 1992. After the election, the Congress dissolved itself in October 1992.
References
- Soviet Union Cry Independence - Time magazine - August 21, 1989
External links
- ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS IN ESTONIA 1989-1999 - 3. ELECTIONS TO THE ESTONIAN CONGRESS 24.02-1.03 1990
- Estonia's Way to Freedom
- Independence Reclaimed, August 1991-October 1992
 Elections and referendums in Estonia | |
|---|---|
| Parliamentary elections | |
| Municipal elections | |
| Presidential elections | |
| European elections | |
| Referendums | |