Jaak Aab

Jaak Aab (born 9 April 1960 in Taagepera) is an Estonian politician and a former Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia. He belongs to the Estonian Centre Party (Eesti Keskerakond).

Life

Jaak Aab attended school in Ala (Helme Parish in Valga County) and in Viljandi. After graduating from high school in 1978, he studied to become a teacher in Russian language and literature from 1978 to 1986 at the Pedagogical Institute in Tallinn (Tallinna Pedagoogiline Instituut, today known as the University of Tallinn). From 1984 to 1991, he was active as a teacher in Ala and Võhma. From 1991 to 1994, Aab worked in Finland.

Back in Estonia, Aab became involved politically. From November 1994 to January 1996, he was the acting senior mayor of the city of Võhma. From August 1998 to February 2002, Aab held the office of senior mayor. From February 2002 to March 2003, Aab was a representative in the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu). From July 2003 to April 2005, he was the executive director of the Estonian Association of Cities and Towns (Eesti Linnade Liit), before Prime Minister Andrus Ansip appointed him to his cabinet in 2005. From April 13, 2005 to April 5, 2007, Jaak Aab was the Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Estonia.

Since April 2007, Aab has been a representative of the Estonian Parliament and acting chairman of the Social Committee.

Jaak Aab is married to teacher Kaie Aab (born 1958). The couple has two daughters.

External links

• Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs: short biography
• Jaak Aab on YouTube (2009)