Background
The first lady Ingrid Rüütel is the Doctor of Humanities. She is a world-known specialist for folklore and the president of the Baltic Folklore Association. The couple has two daughters and five grandchildren.
The first lady Ingrid Rüütel is the Doctor of Humanities. She is a world-known specialist for folklore and the president of the Baltic Folklore Association. The couple has two daughters and five grandchildren.
Before the beginning of his political career Arnold Rüütel was closely connected with agriculture. He graduated from agricultural college in 1949 and was sent to Saaremaa Island to serve as the main agronomist of local control of agriculture. In 1950-1950’s he served in army. When Rüütel came back from the army, he worked as a teacher in school of mechanization of agriculture, a senior inspector and the director of experimental farm in Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine. He graduated from Estonian Agricultural University in 1964, specializing in agronomy, defended the Candidate's dissertation and then, his doctoral thesis.
For the first time Rüütel tested himself as a leader in 1969, when he was elected the chancellor in Estonian Agricultural University. The next step in his career was his appointment to the post of the Secretary for agriculture in Estonian Communist Party.
When in 1990 the issue of Estonian independence arose Arnold Rüütel was one of the most active proponents of regaining the independence and adoption the the Resolution on the Situation in Estonia. Rüütel initiated also in 1990 the creating of The Council of the Baltic Sea States, which played an important role in fighting for independence in Estonia. In 1992 “the agriculturist” participated in presidential elections, gained 43 percent of votes, but lost to Lennart Meri.
The main merit of Arnold Rüütel is considered to be the so-called bloodless revolution and relatively peaceful detaching from the Soviet Union. Due this fact Rüütel headed the Estonian People's Party till 1999 and then the People's Union of Estonia. He held the post of vice chairman of the Estonian Parliament since (1995-1997). In 2001 Arnold was elected the president of the Estonian Republic.
Rüütel conseders, that the development of collaboration of Estonia with other European and NATO states is among the priorities of Estonia’s foreign policy. However, before to be elected he used to say that Estonia spent has spent lot of money, preparing for join these organizations and using these means for social programs’ implementation would be much more reasonable.
International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (honorary 2002)
Estonian Academic Agricultural Society 2002
Green Cross International (president, Estonian National Organization 1993?Co2001)
Protect the Estonian Sea Movement (chairman 1993?Co2002, honorary chairman 2002?Co)
B.G. Forselius Society (chairman 1989?Co2002, honorary chairman 2002?Co)
Estonian Society for Nature Conservation (chairman 1981?Co88, honorary 1989?Co)