Kadri Simson (née Must, born 22 January 1977) is an Estonian politician from the Centre Party, European Commissioner for Energy in the von der Leyen Commission since 1 December 2019.

Kadri Simson
Simson in 2024
European Commissioner for Energy
Assumed office
1 December 2019
PresidentUrsula von der Leyen
Preceded byMiguel Arias Cañete
Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure
In office
23 November 2016 – 29 April 2019
Prime MinisterJüri Ratas
Preceded byKristen Michal
Succeeded byTaavi Aas
Personal details
Born
Kadri Must

(1977-01-22) 22 January 1977 (age 47)
Tartu, Estonia
Political partyCentre Party
EducationUniversity of Tartu
University College London

Early life

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Simson graduated from Tartu 10th Middle School in 1995, Tartu University in 2000, (majoring in history).[1] She holds an MA in Political Science from University College London (2003).[2] Simson was a board member of the NGO Institute of Recent Studies.[3]

Political career

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Simson has been a member of the Estonian Center Party since 1995. She worked as an advisor to the Tallinn City Government in 1999, later Tallinn Mayor between 2001 and 2002.[4] Simson served as chairwoman of the Pärnumaa region from 2011 until 2021.[5]

In 2015, Simson failed to challenge party leader Edgar Savisaar for his role after an almost uninterrupted 25-year tenure. Savisaar won the vote of 541 delegates, to Simson's 486, from a total of 1,051.[6]

Personal life

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Between 6 June 2008 and February 2015, Simson was married to journalist Priit Simson.[7] Afterwards, she began a relationship with former chairman of HKScan Estonia, Teet Soorm.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Kadri Simsoni CV Riigikogu kodulehel". Riigikogu (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 23 July 2019.
  2. ^ Pullerits, Priit (16 April 2005). "Aukardetud Kadri Must". Post Times (in Estonian).
  3. ^ "Kalju Laidi sahinad: Niks-naks, Sõõrumaa!". Eesti Ekspress. 25 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Kadri Simson Biography". European Commission. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  5. ^ Tooming, Marko (24 May 2021). "Andrei Korobeinik on Keskerakonna kandidaat Pärnu linnapeaks". ERR (in Estonian).
  6. ^ "Savisaar beats Simson in party leadership race". ERR. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  7. ^ Merdik, Merje (25 February 2015). "Kadri ja Priit Simson lahutavad abielu: oleme teineteisele tänulikud paljude ilusate hetkede eest". Kroonika (in Estonian).
  8. ^ Kattago, Denes (30 November 2017). "Kadri Simson: Teet Soorm on väga hea mees, kui pean valima, valin töö asemel lähedased (133)". Õhtuleht (in Estonian).
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure
2016–2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Estonian European Commissioner
2019–
Incumbent