Kadri Simson

Kadri Simson
Simson in 2024
European Commissioner for Energy
In office
1 December 2019 – 30 November 2024
CommissionVon der Leyen I
Preceded byMiguel Arias Cañete
Succeeded byDan Jørgensen
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
BornKadri Must
(1977-01-22) 22 January 1977 (age 49)
Tartu, then part of Estonian SSR, Soviet Union
PartySDE (2026-present)
Other political
affiliations
Centre (1995-2024)
EducationUniversity of Tartu
University College London
Kadri Simson's voice
Speech delivered by Simson to the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group Conference
Recorded 30 May 2022

Kadri Simson (née Must, born 22 January 1977) is an Estonian politician of the Social Democratic Party, who served as the European Commissioner for Energy in the von der Leyen Commission between 2019 and 2024, then as a member of the Centre Party.

Early life

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

Political career

Simson was a member of the Estonian Centre Party from 1995 to 2024. She worked as an advisor to the Tallinn City Government in 1999, later Tallinn Mayor between 2001 and 2002. Simson served as chairwoman of the Pärnumaa region from 2011 until 2021.

In 2015, Simson failed to beat 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.

In December 2024, Simson announced that she would be leaving the Centre Party.

In October 2026, Simson announced she would be joining the Social Democratic Party and running the 2027 Estonian parliamentary election.

Other activities

Personal life

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

References

  1. ↑ "Kadri Simsoni CV Riigikogu kodulehel". Riigikogu (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  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. ↑ ERR News. Former EU commissioner leaves Center Party. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  8. ↑ ERR (2026-10-13). "Kadri Simson naaseb sotside ridades Eesti poliitikasse". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2026-10-13.
  9. ↑ Decision of the European Commission on Former Commissioner Kadri Simson’s envisaged post term of office professional activity as member of the Global Council for Responsible Transition Minerals of the Paris Peace Forum European Commission, statement of 17 June 2025.
  10. ↑ Merdik, Merje (25 February 2015). "Kadri ja Priit Simson lahutavad abielu: oleme teineteisele tänulikud paljude ilusate hetkede eest". Kroonika (in Estonian).
  11. ↑ Kattago, Denes (30 November 2017). "Kadri Simson: Teet Soorm on väga hea mees, kui pean valima, valin töö asemel lähedased (133)". Õhtuleht (in Estonian).