Chairman of the Estonian Reform Party Andrus Ansip is the Prime Minister of Estonia, a former Soviet republic. He assumed his first term as Prime Minister on April 12, 2005 and his second term began on April 5, 2007.http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Andrus_Ansip#encyclopedia

Andrus Ansip was born October 1, 1956, in Tartu, Estonia. He graduated from Tartu State University in 1979 with a degree in organic chemistry. He took a two year break to serve his mandatory military commitment. From 1987-1989, he attended the Estonian Academy of Agriculture studying agronomy. He later attended York University in Toronto, studying Business Management.http://www.valitsus.ee/?id=6540&tpl=1007

Career History

• 1979-1981: Organic Chemistry Chair, Senior Engineer, Tartu State Universityhttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 1981-1983: Military service in the Baltic Fleethttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 1983-1987: Senior Engineer, Tartu State University, General and Molecular Pathology Institutehttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 1986-1988: Head of Organisational Department, Estonian Communist Party, Tartu District Committeehttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 1989-1993: Joint Venture Estkompexim, Head of Tartu regional officehttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 1993-1994: Chairman of the Management Board and General Director, AS Rondamhttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 1993-1995: Rahvapank (People's Bank), Member of the Board of Directorshttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 1994-1996: Estonian Social Bank, Head of Tartu Department, North Estonian Bank, Deputy Head of Tartu Departmenthttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 1994-1998: Radio Tartu Ltd, Chairman of the Boardhttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 1994-1998: Tartu Commercial Bank, Bankruptcy Trusteehttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 1995-1996: Fondijuhtide AS, a fund manager for SEIF, Chairman of the Management Boardhttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 1995-1996: Livonia Privatization IF, Chairman of the Boardhttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 1998-2004: Mayor of Tartuhttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 2004-2005: Minister of Economic Affairs and Communicationshttp://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4
• 2005-Present : Prime Minister http://www.silobreaker.com/biography-for-andrus-ansip-5_2260484668178563072_4

Ansip's promises to the country as he took office were to cut taxes while increasing defense spending based on pledges made to NATO and to lead the country in efforts to adopt the European single currency. In March of 2007, he backed legislation which led to the relocation of the controversial Red Army memorial in Tallin, angering some in Moscow.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1106425.stm