# Ülo Laanoja > Estonian politician and programmer (born 1953) **Wikidata**: [Q65497278](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q65497278) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ülo_Laanoja) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ulo-laanoja ## Summary Ülo Laanoja is an Estonian politician and programmer born in 1953. He is recognized for his service as a member of the Riigikogu (the Estonian parliament) and for representing Estonia as a substitute member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe during the 1990s. ## Biography * **Born:** 1953 * **Nationality:** Estonia * **Known for:** Serving as a member of the Riigikogu and as a substitute member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; career as a programmer and software engineer. * **Field(s):** Politics, Software Engineering * **Languages:** Estonian ## Contributions Ülo Laanoja has contributed to the public sector through specific legislative and diplomatic roles, while also maintaining a professional identity in the technology sector. **Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)** Laanoja served as a substitute member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In this capacity, he represented Estonia during a critical period following the nation's independence restoration. His tenure is documented with specific identifiers (Member ID: 3246) and lasted from June 29, 1993, to May 22, 1995. This role involved participating in the assembly's activities and contributing to European parliamentary cooperation. **Riigikogu Membership** His role in national governance is defined by his position as a member of the Riigikogu, the supreme legislative body of the Republic of Estonia. **Technology Sector** Distinct from his political career, Laanoja is identified as a programmer and software engineer. This classification indicates a professional background in writing computer software and practicing software engineering, disciplines that require specialized technical expertise in system development and coding. ## FAQs ### Q: What is Ülo Laanoja's professional background? A: Ülo Laanoja has a dual professional identity as both a politician and a programmer (or software engineer). He is noted for his work in computer software development alongside his political career. ### Q: What political position did Ülo Laanoja hold in the Council of Europe? A: He served as a substitute member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) representing Estonia from June 29, 1993, until May 22, 1995. ### Q: When was Ülo Laanoja born? A: Ülo Laanoja was born in the year 1953. ### Q: Is Ülo Laanoja associated with any specific legislative body in Estonia? A: Yes, he is listed as having held the position of a member of the Riigikogu, the national legislature of Estonia. ## Why They Matter Ülo Laanoja represents a specific profile of Estonian public figures who bridged the gap between technical disciplines and statecraft during the country's re-establishment on the world stage. His significance lies in his service during the formative years of Estonia's post-Soviet parliamentary history. By serving as a substitute member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe starting in 1993, Laanoja was part of the earliest delegations integrating Estonia into broader European political structures. This period was crucial for establishing Estonia's international legitimacy and diplomatic ties. Furthermore, his identification as a programmer highlights the presence of technical professionals within the Estonian political landscape, a characteristic that would later define Estonia's global reputation as a "digital society." While specific legislative bills are not detailed in the provided source, his membership in the Riigikogu places him within the core group of individuals responsible for the country's legislative governance during the 1990s. ## Notable For * **Membership in the Riigikogu:** Served as a member of Estonia's supreme legislative body. * **Council of Europe Participation:** Acted as a substitute member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the nation of Estonia. * **Dual Career:** Recognized distinctly as both a politician and a programmer/software engineer. * **Estonian Citizenship:** A documented citizen of the Republic of Estonia. ## Body ### Political Career Ülo Laanoja held significant roles in Estonian and international politics. His primary national role was serving as a **member of the Riigikogu**. Internationally, he was active in the **Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)**. According to official records (Member ID 3246), Laanoja served as a **substitute member**. * **Start of Term:** June 29, 1993 * **End of Term:** May 22, 1995 * **Context:** He served in this capacity representing the delegation from **Estonia**. ### Professional Identity Outside of his legislative duties, Laanoja is classified as a **programmer** and a **software engineer**. * **Occupation:** Defined as a person who writes computer software and a practitioner of software engineering. * **Classification:** This places him in the subclass of software developers. ### Personal Data * **Name:** Ülo Laanoja * **Gender:** Male * **Birth Year:** 1953 * **Languages:** Estonian * **Wikidata ID:** Q65497278 * **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/11fmblcz1q ## References 1. [Source](http://www.assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/AssemblyList/MP-Details-EN.asp?MemberID=3246)