Res Publica Party

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Res Publica Party (Erakond Res Publica) was an Estonian conservative political party that existed from 2001 to 2006. It grew from a 1989 community of young conservatives linked to the Pro Patria Union and described itself as liberal-conservative, centrist to centre-right, advocating economic liberalism and anti-corruption. The party was part of the European People’s Party (EPP) at the European level and aligned with the EPP-ED group in the European Parliament; it also had international ties with the International Democrat Union. The party was headquartered in Tallinn, and its colors were blue and red.

Taavi Veskimägi led the party toward its merger, while former chair Juhan Parts had served as Estonia’s prime minister from 2003 to 2005. Res Publica won seats in the 2003 parliamentary elections, reaching a peak of 28 out of 101 seats and forming a coalition with the Reform Party and the People’s Union until 2005, when the coalition broke over policy disagreements.

On 4 April 2006, representatives of Res Publica and Pro Patria Union agreed to merge to form the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit). The merger was approved by both parties’ general assemblies on 4 June 2006. The new party finished third in the 2007 elections.