Jürgen Ligi

Jürgen Ligi
Ligi in 2011
Minister of Finance
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 July 2024
Prime Minister	Kristen Michal
Preceded by	Mart Võrklaev
In office 3 June 2009 – 3 November 2014
Prime Minister	Andrus Ansip Taavi Rõivas
Preceded by	Ivari Padar
Succeeded by	Maris Lauri
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 12 September 2016 – 23 November 2016
Prime Minister	Taavi Rõivas
Preceded by	Marina Kaljurand
Succeeded by	Sven Mikser
Minister of Education and Research
In office 9 April 2015 – 12 September 2016
Prime Minister	Taavi Rõivas
Preceded by	Jevgeni Ossinovski
Succeeded by	Maris Lauri
Minister of Defence
In office 10 October 2005 – 5 April 2007
Prime Minister	Andrus Ansip
Preceded by	Jaak Jõerüüt
Succeeded by	Jaak Aaviksoo
Personal details
Born	(1959-07-16) 16 July 1959 (age 65) Tartu, Estonia
Political party	Reform Party
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Tartu

Jürgen Ligi (born 16 July 1959) is an Estonian politician, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a member and the vice-chairman of the liberal Reform Party. He was Minister of Education and Research in Taavi Rõivas' cabinet from 9 April 2015 to 12 September 2016.^[1] Previously, Ligi has served as the Minister of Defence from 2005 to 2007 and as the Minister of Finance from 2009 to 2014.

After graduating from Tartu Second Gymnasium in 1977, he studied geography and foreign economics at the University of Tartu. He also graduated from the Estonian Business School. Ligi has been the Head of Kuressaare Branch of the EVEA Pank, the Economic Advisor and Business Consultant to Kaarma Parish Rural Municipality Government, the Head of the Kuressaare Regional Office of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chief Specialist of Saaremaa Agro-industrial Association, and the Economist of the Planning Institute of the National Planning Committee.

Ligi was member of the Riigikogu from 1995 to 2005, from 2007 to 2009 and from 2014 to 2015.

From 2005 to 2007, Jürgen Ligi was the Minister of Defence.

On 3 June 2009, he was nominated Minister of Finance and sworn in a day later. In October 2014, Ligi raised controversy by bringing up the ethnicity of the Minister of Education and Research Jevgeni Ossinovski.^[2] Ligi later apologized, but was pressured to resign from his post.^[3]

On 9 April 2015, Ligi became the Minister of Education and Research in Taavi Rõivas' second cabinet.

On 12 September 2016, Ligi was nominated Minister of Foreign Affairs, after the former Minister Marina Kaljurand had decided to step down and run for president.^[4]

Jürgen Ligi is the son of archaeologist Herbert Ligi. Jürgen's mother Reet's father was archaeologist Harri Moora. His brother Priit Ligi was also an archaeologist; he died on the cruise ferry MS Estonia that sank in 1994. Jürgen's sister Katre is married to poet Hando Runnel. He is also related to poet Juhan Viiding and politician Indrek Tarand. Jürgen Ligi himself is married and has two sons.^[5]

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