Tanel Parüümaa

**Tanel Parüümaa** (born 21 April 1976) is an Estian politician who has served as interior minister in the cabinet of Kirsti Aalu-Mäkina since 2020. He is a member of the Reform Party, and is the son of former politician Uku Parüümaa.

Parüümaa was born to politician Uku Parüümaa in Tüsamaa. After graduating from secondary school in 1995, Parüümaa enrolled in Jõgeküla University, receiving a bachelor's degree in political science in 1998. He subsequently returned to his hometown, where he worked in the municipal government. In 2000, he was elected to the Tüsamaa Parish Municipal Council for the Reform Party, becoming one of the youngest elected officials in Estland at only 24 years old. After being reelected to a second term in 2002, Parüümaa was included on the Reform Party list in Otesalu County in the 2004 parliamentary election, where he was ultimately elected to the Saadikutemaja. He was later reelected in the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 elections.

Following the 2020 election, the Reform Party entered into a governing coalition with the Future Forwards political party. Parüümaa was recommended by Aiino Peebo to serve as interior minister, and he was later nominated to serve in this position by Kirsti Aalu-Mäkina in her cabinet. Parüümaa was officially appointed to the office on 24 February 2020 by Jarel Köt, along with the rest of the cabinet.

## Early life and education

Parüümaa was born on 21 April 1976 in Tüsamaa, a town in and the seat of Tüsamaa Parish in Otesalu County, considered to be an affluent suburb of Otesalu. His father, Uku Parüümaa (born 1947), was a banker turned politician, while his mother, Liina Ehrmäkki (born 1949), was a journalist. His maternal grandfather was from Ranland, and immigrated to Estland in his early 20s. Parüümaa is the eldest of three sons; his younger brothers include Timo (born 1978) and Luukas (born 1981).

Parüümaa began his education in 1982, attending a public primary school in Tüsamaa. After graduating from primary school in 1992, Parüümaa enrolled in the prestigious Otesalu Gymnasium I, where he studied an academic program in classical studies. While in secondary school, Parüümaa was a classmate of Kirsti Aalu-Mäkina, whose cabinet he would go on to serve in. Parüümaa graduated from the school in 1995, and afterwards enrolled in Jõgeküla University to study political science. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in 1998.

## Political career

### Early politics

Parüümaa began his career in politics in 1998, shortly after graduating with his bachelor's degree. Returning to his hometown of Tüsamaa, Parüümaa was hired in the office of the municipal registrar of Tüsamaa Parish. After working in the office for two years, he was chosen to run for municipal council on behalf of the Reform Party. He ended up being elected to the council, and after taking his seat became one of the youngest elected officials in the country, at only 24 years old. Parüümaa was elected to a second term in 2002.

In 2004, Parüümaa was selected by the Reform Party to run on their party list in Otesalu County during the 2004 parliamentary election. He went on to be elected to parliament, and took his seat in the Saadikutemaja on 13 February 2004. As a member of parliament, Parüümaa opted not to run for reelection to the municipal council in the 2004 elections later that year. After being seated in parliament, Parüümaa began to focus his legislation on issues involving foreign affairs and national security. He has become known for being a strong opponent of Kasha, and opposes measures to strengthen relations between the two nations. Parüümaa was later reelected in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 elections.

Following the resignation of Jüri Kokk as Reform Party leader in February 2017, Parüümaa confirmed that he would not run to succeed him. Parüümaa supported the election of Aiino Peebo as party leader, and has been noted as a supporter of her. Parüümaa was later reelected in the 2020 election.

### Interior minister

Following the 2020 election results, the Reform Party was included in a coalition agreement with the Future Forwards political party, creating a governing coalition between the two parties. Parüümaa was proposed by Peebo as a cabinet minister, and was nominated by Kirsti Aalu-Mäkina to serve as interior minister in her cabinet. He was later appointed to the office by Jarel Köt on 24 February 2020, along with the remainder of the cabinet. As interior minister, Parüümaa is tasked with overseeing immigration and citizenship, national security, domestic and foreign intelligence, and management of emergency services.

During his tenure as interior minister, Parüümaa has supported legal immigration to Estland, and opposed widespread immigration restrictions proposed by right-wing parties, believing that immigration will stimulate the Estian economy. He has also supported programs in order to invite skilled workers to work in the country.

## Personal life

Parüümaa began a relationship with Estian singer and songwriter Liis Oja in 2004. They became engaged after one year of dating, and later married in 2006. Parüümaa and Oja have two children together: Ülla (born 2009) and Ott (born 2013). The family resides in Luroja, a small village in Tüsamaa Parish.

In addition to Estian, Parüümaa is additionally fluent in Ditrovian, Medish, and Rann, and is also conversational in Pescan.