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Margus Tsahkna

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Margus Tsahkna
Tsahkna in 2024
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 April 2023
Prime MinisterKaja Kallas
Kristen Michal
Preceded byUrmas Reinsalu
Minister of Defence
In office
23 November 2016 – 12 June 2017
Prime MinisterJüri Ratas
Preceded byHannes Hanso
Succeeded byJüri Luik
Minister of Social Protection
In office
9 April 2015 – 23 November 2016
Prime MinisterTaavi Rõivas
Preceded byHelmen Kütt
Succeeded byKaia Iva
Leader of the Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica
In office
6 June 2015 – 13 May 2017
Preceded byUrmas Reinsalu
Succeeded byHelir-Valdor Seeder
Leader of Eesti 200
In office
19 November 2023 – 31 August 2024
Preceded byLauri Hussar
Succeeded byKristina Kallas
Personal details
Born (1977-04-13) 13 April 1977 (age 48)
Tartu, Estonian SSR, Soviet Union
PartyEesti 200 (2018–present)
Other political
affiliations		Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (2000–2017)
SpouseAnna-Greta Tsahkna
Children4

Margus Tsahkna (born 13 April 1977) is an Estonian politician. He has been Minister of Foreign Affairs since the third cabinet of Kaja Kallas was sworn in on 17 April 2023 and continues in that role in Kristen Michal's cabinet.[1][2][3] He is also the leader of the Estonia 200 party since 19 November 2023.

Previously, he was the leader of the conservative Isamaa party, Minister of Defence in Jüri Ratas' cabinet and Minister of Social Protection in Taavi Rõivas' second cabinet.[4]

Early life

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Tsahkna was born in Tartu, Estonia. In 1995, he graduated from a secondary school. From 1996 to 2002, he studied theology and law at the University of Tartu, without graduating. Between 1999 and 2000 he also studied international law at the University of Toronto, without graduating.[5]

Political career

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Minister Tsahkna and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, September 2024

In 2000, he joined the Pro Patria party. From 2001 to 2004 he was chairman of Noor-Isamaa, the party's youth organisation. From 2001 to 2003 he was a member of Tartu city council. From 2003 to 2006 he was the party's political secretary. After the affiliation of the Pro Patria and Res Publica parties, to form the Pro Patria ja Res Publica Liit party, he was secretary general from 2007 to 2010, and political secretary from 2010 to 2013. In 2013, he became assistant chairman. He has been a member of the Estonian parliament since 2007, the member of the parliaments finance committee and social committee. He has also acted as a chairman of the parliaments social committee from 2011 to 2014.[citation needed]

In 2015 parliamentary election, Tsahkna was re-elected to the parliament with 2,267 individual votes.[6] He was chosen the chairman of the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union on 6 June 2015.[7]

In April 2017, Tsahkna announced that he would not seek re-election as chairman.[8] He was followed by Helir-Valdor Seeder on 13 May 2017.[9] Tsahkna left the party on 26 June 2017.[10] In 2018 he left Isamaa and joined Estonia 200.[11]

As the defense minister and a member of the Riigikogu, Tsahkna promoted the interests of the defense industry. During a break in his political career, he became an export manager of medical device manufacturer Semetron, owned by an Estonian tycoon Margus Linnamäe (et), and a shareholder of MM Hospital OÜ (a company co-owned by Linnamäe and affiliated with Semetron's field hospital business).[12]

The investigation by Eesti Ekspress highlighted that while working in the private sector, Tsahkna organized deals and visits with the support of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Tsahkna (appointed as foreign minister in 2023) ultimately benefited from deals between Estonia and other counties to provide Ukraine with container field hospitals produced exclusively by Semetron. By mid-2023, these contracts totaled Euro 28.3 million, with future procurement for Euro 150 millon announced by Estonia and Lithuania.[12][13]

Tsahkna denied an alleged conflict of interest.[12] In August 2023, he sold his share in MM Hospital OÜ to Semetron.[14]

Personal life

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Tsahkna is married to Anna-Greta Tsahkna and they have four children. He speaks Estonian, fluent English, and some Russian.[citation needed]

He's a half-brother of Anders Tsahkna (et), a former deputy mayor of Tallinn and former adviser to the minister of social affairs, tied up in several influence peddling charges.[15]

In 2000, he founded the Christian Adolescent Home in Tartu.[citation needed]

He is a member of the General Johan Laidoner Society and of the Korp! Sakala student society.[citation needed]

In 2009, he won second place in the Estonian television singing competition Laulud tähtedega ("Singing with Stars"). He sang with Birgit Õigemeel, winner of the Eesti otsib superstaari.[citation needed]

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Reformierakond avalikustas oma valitsusdelegatsiooni". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  2. ^ "Coalition agreement: VAT, income tax to rise by 2 percent". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  3. ^ "Riigikogu gives Kaja Kallas mandate to form new government". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  4. ^ "Minister Margus Tsahkna". valitsus.ee. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Margus Tsahkna Minister of Defence" (PDF). kaitseministeerium.ee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Riigikogu valimised 2015: Detailne hääletamistulemus". Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Tsahkna named IRL chairman, pledges to unite party". ERR. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Tsahkna not to seek reelection as chairman of IRL". ERR. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Helir-Valdor Seeder elected chairman of IRL". ERR. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Tsahkna ja Mihkelson lahkuvad IRListTsahkna ja Mihkelson lahkuvad IRList". Postimees. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  11. ^ "New political movement Estonia 200 established". baltictimes.com. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  12. ^ a b c "Minister Tsahkna still owns part of company developing field hospitals". Err.ee. August 2, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  13. ^ Martin Laine (August 2, 2023). "Minister-ärimees Tsahknaga seotud firmad teenivad diplomaatilistest diilidest miljoneid" (in Estonian). Eesti Express. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  14. ^ "Foreign minister sells stake in field hospital company to Linnamäe". Err.ee. August 30, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  15. ^ "Former Deputy Mayor Convicted of Document Falsification". Err.ee. January 14, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  16. ^ "President of Ukraine and the Estonian Foreign Minister discussed ways to increase pressure on Russia and opportunities to expand defense assistance to Ukraine". Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Estonia. October 28, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
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