Independent Royalist Party of Estonia

The Independent Royalist Party of Estonia ( _et. Sõltumatud Kuningriiklased) was a political party (now defunct) in early post-Soviet Estonia.

The party, widely considered a humorous expression of protest, was surprisingly successful in the first post-Soviet elections of Riigikogu, gaining 8 seats (with 32638 votes) after spending a grand total of 1 crown. Its most prominent members were known humorists Priit Aimla, Kirill Teiter and Ralf Parve, and the party was led by Kalle Kulbok. Later, Vilja Laanaru (later Vilja Savisaar) and Aadu Must joined Keskerakond, Priit Aimla Reformierakond, and several others withdrew from regular party politics.

The party's official programme called for establishing Estonia as a monarchy, as modeled by Sweden and Norway.

In practice, the party's main achievement was consistent ridicule of ridiculous laws, most notably getting rid of the proposed mandatory hour of prayer by using it to perform a Neopagan rite, complete with tambourine. The party is also remembered for their eating strike, as opposed to the hunger strike of Lebedev and Petinov, and the order to hold a parade in Tallinn in celebration of the Gustav Adolf day—which instantly ended any lingering plans of holding a parade in celebration of the October Revolution in Tallinn.

The party was also instrumental in plotting the exact route of Baltic Way and in making the determination to barricade the Riigikogu building on Toompea during the August coup.

The members of the party wrote to British Royal family member, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, declaring that, if elected, they would ask him to become King of Estonia. It is believed the Prince did not reply.

List of members who served in Riigikogu

* Priit Aimla
* Tõnu Kõrda
* Lembit Küüts
* Vambola Põder
* Rein Kikerpill
* Kalle Kulbok
* Ralf Parve
* Kirill Teiter

External links

* SL Õhtuleht 3 March 2007: [http://www.sloleht.ee/index.aspx?id=220123 Tänases poliitikas on aateid veelgi vähem. Käib tühjade loosungitega varjatud ost-müük] by Urmo Soonvald
* ETV 2007: by Mati Talvik
* [http://www.erakonnad.instituut.ee/erakonnad/registreeritud/vanad/erp.html Estonian Royalist Party] entry at Eesti Erakondade Ajalugu
* [http://www.erakonnad.instituut.ee/1992.html Results of Riigikogu elections of 1992] at Eesti Erakondade Ajalugu
* Äripäev 2 March 2007: [http://www.aripaev.ee/3512/uud_uudidx_351204.html 15 aastat Riigikogu — seadused ja skandaalid] by Peeter Raidla
* Postimees 25 August 2005: [http://www.postimees.ee/250805/esileht/175032_1.php Kuningatiitliga Kirill Teiter end naljameheks ei pea] by Piret Reiljan