Estonian Left Party

Estonian Left Party (Eesti Vasakpartei - EVP) was a left socialist political party in Estonia.

History
In June 1988 Communist Party of Estonia (EKP), i.e. the Estonian branch of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, chief Karl Vaino was replaced by the reform-minded Soviet Ambassador to Nicaragua Vaino Väljas, the former ideological secretary of the EKP. Some of the Estonian members declared that they were fighting for Estonian national interests and tried to contribute to the solving of Estonian problems.


 * 1990 was registered the independent Estonian Communist Party (EKP)
 * 1992 the congress of EKP renamed party to the Estonian Democratic Labour Party (EDTP).
 * July 1995 EDLP joined with New European Left Forum
 * 1997 the party was renamed the Estonian Social Democratic Labour Party (ESDTP).
 * 2004 ESDTP is a founding member of European Left party.
 * December 2004 Estonian Social Democratic Labour Party changed the name to Estonian Left Party (EVP).

According to the statutes of party the party congress elects the Party Chairman and Executive board as well as nominates a consultative Central Council representing all regional organizations. Local policies are developed by local organizations, while central bodies formulate national policies.

EVP lost representatives in parliament on the 2003 elections when they got 2,059 votes (0,4%). In 2007 election, it fell further to 0,1% and again got no seats.

The party has been chaired by:
 * Vaino Väljas (1992-1995)
 * Hillar Eller (1995-1996)
 * Tiit Toomsalu (1996-2004)
 * Sirje Kingsepp (2004-2007)

On 28 June 2008, the Estonian Left Party and the Constitution Party merged to form the Estonian United Left Party (Eestimaa Ühendatud Vasakpartei).

In a privacy rights legal dispute between Sirje Kingsepp and Eesti Päevaleht, the party was deemed "completely marginal" in Estonia's public life.