Keskseavalitsuse

Keskseavalitsuse refers to the government of the Republic of Estonia between 1934 and 1938. The period was marked by authoritarian rule under the leadership of Konstantin Päts. Following a constitutional crisis, Päts, who was the Prime Minister of Estonia at the time, staged a coup on March 12, 1934. He suspended the Estonian Constitution and established a centralized authority, effectively abolishing the office of the President.

As a result of these events, Estonia became a de facto regime under Päts' leadership. He maintained power through a combination of fear, control over the media, and staged elections. The parliamentary system was dismantled, and the subsequent regime flourished by refining the constitutional basis of governance. However, it legitimized the rule through public support and firmly surveilled the political environment.

Päts' leadership earned him recognition internationally, particularly from authoritarian regimes such as Germany's Nazi Party. His allegiance to fascist and corporatist movements evolved into policies within Estonia, however, contributed significantly to its neutral stance during the Second World War. Estonia managed to maintain a significant degree of autonomy throughout, avoiding direct involvement in the conflict. His oppressive tactics that segregated and compromised minority autonomy remained widely felt in Estonia both before and following his removal from power in the late 1930s.