In 1992–1995, Vilja Laanaru was a member of Riigikogu, belonging to the Independent Royalist Party of Estonia. In 1997, she joined the Estonian Centre Party and has several times been elected to Riigikogu as well as worked in Tallinn city government. In 2009, she became a Member of the European Parliament after Edgar Savisaar renounced his mandate, so as to remain mayor of Tallinn. She left the Centre Party in 2012, maintaining her position as an MEP, and joined the Estonian Reform Party in June 2013.[3] She ran again at the 2014 European elections, but was not successful.
In June 2018, Toomast returned to Riigikogu to replace MP Eerik-Niiles Kross, who had vacated his seat.[4]
Member of the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan and EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, and for relations with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia delegation
Substitute in Regional Development Committee
Personal life
In her youth she dated Vahur Kersna, an Estonian TV personality also originating from Antsla.
In 1996, Vilja Laanaru married Centre Party leader Edgar Savisaar; they divorced in 2009. They have one daughter. In August 2010, she married opera singer Taimo Toomast (since 2013 member of the Reform Party) and changed her surname to Savisaar-Toomast.[5] In December 2015 she announced the omission of Savisaar from her surname.[6]
Education
1985 Degree from the University of Tartu, psychologist and teacher
1988 Master's degree, Institute of General and Molecular Pathology, State University of Tartu
Career
Psychologist, Mainor consultants (1988–1990)
Assistant to the Prime Minister (1990–1992)
Chief editor, Seitse Päeva magazine (1990–1994)
Adviser to the Deputy Speaker of the Estonian Parliament (1992–1994)
Chief editor, Elu Pilt magazine (1994–1997)
Adviser to the Minister for Home Affairs (1995)
Mayor of the Nõmme section of Tallinn (1999)
Editor responsible for OÜ Pilt ja Sõna (1999–2002)
Deputy mayor, Northern Tallinn Executive (2002), mayor of city section (2005–2007)
Member of the Estonian Parliament (2003–2005 and since 2007).
Member of the executive, Keskerakond Party.
Member, Eestimaa Rahvarinde volikogu (1990), Tallinn City Council (1999–2002)
Member of the Estonian Parliament during the 10th and 11th parliamentary terms.
Chair, board of East Tallinn Central Hospital; chair, board of In Commune Bonum
President, Estonian Volleyball Association;
member, Executive Committee of the Estonian Olympic Committee
President, Eastern European Zonal Association of the European Volleyball Federation
