Jüri Ratas, Estonian politician, 42nd Mayor of Tallinn
Jüri Ratas (Estonian pronunciation: [ˈjy.ri ˈrɑ.tɑs]; born 2 July 1978) is an Estonian politician who was the 18th prime minister of Estonia from 2016 to 2021. He has been Leader of the Centre Party since 2016, and was the mayor of Tallinn from 2005 to 2007.
Jüri Ratas' first cabinet was in office from 23 November 2016 to 29 April 2019. It formed when Social Democrats and the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica joined the opposition's no-confidence vote against the previous cabinet and switched the liberal centre-right Reform Party with the Estonian Centre Party.
Jüri Ratas' second cabinet was active from April 2019 to January 2021. It has been notable for its share of public scandals, resignations of ministers and the number of public apologies from Ratas, mostly connected to the activities of the nationalist and right-wing populist EKRE party, a coalition member. His tenure has also seen the national budget of Estonia moving to deficit after years of being in surplus. According to a national poll conducted in November 2019, Ratas was the preferred person for the seat of the prime minister in the country for 36% of voters, the highest in the poll. In January 2020 his coalition was supported by a quarter of the electorate.Ratas resigned as prime minister on 13 January 2021 after the prosecutor general of Estonia suspected the Centre Party of "criminal involvement" in an influence peddling scandal involving businessman Hillar Teder. Ratas stated that he had no knowledge of the alleged affair and had committed no wrongdoing, but resigned to take political responsibility for the scandal. He remained as the head of a caretaker government until a new coalition was formed. On 26 January, Ratas' second cabinet was superseded by Kaja Kallas' cabinet.