Kersti Kaljulaid

Kersti Kaljulaid
5th President of Estonia
Assumed office
10 October 2016
Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas
Jüri Ratas
Preceded by Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Personal details
Born (1969-12-30) 30 December 1969
Tartu, Estonia
Political party Pro Patria Union (2001–2004)
Independent (2004–present)
Spouse(s) Georgi-Rene Maksimovski
Children 4
Alma mater University of Tartu

Kersti Kaljulaid ([ˈkersti ˈkɑljulɑid̥]; born 30 December 1969) is an Estonian politician who is the fifth and current President of Estonia, in office since 10 October 2016. She is the first female head of state of Estonia since the country declared independence in 1918, as well as the youngest ever President, aged 46.[1]

Kaljulaid is a former state official, serving as Estonia's representative in the European Court of Auditors from 2004 until 2016.[2] After several rounds of Estonian presidential elections in 2016 ended without success, she was brought as a "dark horse" and on 30 September 2016 she was nominated by the majority of parliamentary parties as a joint candidate for President of Estonia, she was the only nominated candidate in that round. She was voted President of Estonia on 3 October 2016, by 81 votes with 17 abstainers.[3][4]

Biography

Education

In 1987, Kaljulaid graduated from Tallinn Secondary School no. 44.[5] During her studies there, she was a member of the Students' Scientific Association, specializing in ornithology.[6] In 1992, she graduated from University of Tartu cum laude as a biologist. In 2001, she graduated from the University of Tartu with an MBA in business management.[7] Her thesis was titled as "Riigi poolt asutatud sihtasutuste juhtimissüsteemi täiustamine" or "The improvement of the management system of state-founded foundations" in English.[8]

University of Tartu Council seminar in 2015.

Business career

From 1996 to 1997 Kaljulaid was a sales manager in state-owned telecom Eesti Telefon and from 1997 to 1998 a project manager in Hoiupanga Investeeringute AS. From 1998 to 1999 she was employed in Hansabank's investment banking division Hansabank Markets.[8][2] From 1999 to 2002, Kaljulaid worked as the economic advisor of Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar.[2] From 2002 to 2004, she was the director of Iru Power Plant, a subsidiary of the state-owned energy company Eesti Energia.[9] She was the first woman to lead a power plant in Estonia.[1]

In 2004, when Estonia joined the European Union, Kaljulaid was appointed the country's representative at the European Court of Auditors.[1] Since 2011, Kaljulaid has been the chairperson of the board of the University of Tartu.[10]

Political career

Kaljulaid, her husband Georgi-Rene Maksimovski, outgoing President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and his wife Ieva Ilves at Kaljulaid's inauguration, Kadriorg Palace, Tallinn, 10 October 2016

Kaljulaid has defined herself as a liberal conservative.[11] She has spoken in support of strong civil society with less state interference, whilst placing high importance on helping those in need.[1][12] She holds liberal views on social issues such as LGBT rights and immigration.[1] She has often published opinion pieces in Estonian media, considering the position of Estonia in the European Union and on social and economical matters. Additionally, she has been a regular participant in political analysis programmes of Radio Kuku, e.g. "Keskpäevatund".[13]

From 2001 to 2004, she was a member of the political party Pro Patria Union, a predecessor of the current Pro Patria and Res Publica Union,[14] yet did not run in the elections.[2]

As Kaljulaid's term as a member of the European Court of Auditors was due to end on 7 May 2016, she was confirmed as the next head of PRAXIS Center for Policy Studies in November 2015. Although the Estonian government should have proposed her replacement in the court by 7 February 2016, it still had not managed to do so by the end of her term, so she remained in the position.[15][16][17]

On 19 September 2016, the freshly founded Development Monitoring Advisory Board at the Chancellary of Estonian Parliament voted Kaljulaid to be its chair.[18]

After several failed rounds in the Estonian presidential elections in August through September 2016, a so-called "council of elders" of the Riigikogu, which included the representatives of all parliamentary parties, the speaker and vice-speakers, asked for Kaljulaid's consent and then proposed her as the only potential presidential candidate to be put before the members of the Riigikogu on 3 October 2016. Her candidacy was officially registered on 30 September.[19] Riigikogu Speaker Eiki Nestor said that Kaljulaid undoubtedly had the required 68 votes from the 101-member Riigikogu, but the exact number remained to be seen.[20] Ultimately her candidacy was supported by 90 Riigikogu MPs.[21] She won the elections by 81 votes with 17 abstainers and no votes against her,[3] while the only parliamentary party that had publicly declared to not support her was EKRE which had only 7 votes.[22]

The main objection raised repeatedly during her candidacy by media as well as politicians and street polls was her being relatively unknown, compared to the candidates that had participated in the campaign.[23][24][25] She confronted the objection in her public letter and during several interviews by promising to become visible across the country, visiting different areas and talking to the people directly.[26] In mid-October 2016, the first conducted survey showed Kaljulaid's approval rating at 73%.[27]

Awards

Personal life

Kaljulaid has a daughter and a son from her first marriage. She is also a grandmother.[30] Kaljulaid's second husband is Georgi-Rene Maksimovski; they have two sons.[31][32]

Kaljulaid's half-brother, Estonian Centre Party politician Raimond Kaljulaid, is the elder of Põhja-Tallinn district[33] of the capital of Estonia, Tallinn.[34]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Former European auditor Kersti Kaljulaid elected president of Estonia Estonian World, 2 October 2016. Accessed on 3 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Kes on Kersti Kaljulaid? Postimees, 27 September 2016 (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 Kersti Kaljulaid sai 81 häälega uueks Eesti presidendiks ERR, 3 October 2016 (in Estonian). Accessed on 3 October 2016
  4. ↑ "Estonia's parliament elects country's first female president". Reuters. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  5. ↑ Tallinna Mustamäe Gümnaasiumi vilistlased (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  6. ↑ Kaljulaid, K. (1986) Vainurästa (Turdus ilacius) pesitsusbioloogiast Eestis. In: Eesti NSV Õpilaste Teadusliku Ühingu VI teaduskonverentsi teesid, Tallinn, p. 24 (in Estonian)
  7. ↑ Kersti Kaljulaid – elu Euroopas, kodu Eestis Postimees, 7 May 2011. Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  8. 1 2 Kersti Kaljulaid. "The improvement of the management system of state-founded foundations"] in ETIS, the Database of Estonian Science (in Estonian) Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  9. ↑ ETIS (in Estonian)
  10. ↑ Tartu Ülikooli nõukogu esimeheks sai Kersti Kaljulaid, University of Tartu's press release, 2011 (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  11. ↑ Otti Eylandt, Kersti Kaljulaid: inimestega tuleb rääkida – igal pool toimib Eesti Päevaleht, 29 September 2016 (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  12. ↑ Kersti Kaljulaid: pagulasküsimuses on vaja julgust nagu iseseisvuse taastamise ajal Postimees, 9 September 2015 (in Estonian). Accessed on 3 October 2016.
  13. ↑ Eurominutid kuku.postimees.ee. Accessed on 28 September 2016.
  14. ↑ Estonian Business Register (in Estonian)
  15. ↑ Praxist valiti juhtima Kersti Kaljulaid UT, November 2015 (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  16. ↑ Kersti Kaljulaiu ametiaeg Euroopa Kontrollikojas lõppes, kuid ta jääb valitsuse otsustamatuse tõttu ametisse ega saa asuda Praxise juhiks Delfi, 6 May 2016 (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  17. ↑ Kaljulaid: viivitus teeb kontrollikoja töö keerulisemaks, kuid tuleme toime BNS/Postimees, 29 April 2016 (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  18. ↑ Arenguseire nõukoja esimeheks valiti Kersti Kaljulaid Estonian National Broadcasting (ERR), 19 June 2016 (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  19. ↑ "FOTOD ja VIDEO | Vanematekogu tegi ettepaneku esitada presidendikandidaadiks Kersti Kaljulaid" Estonian National Broadcasting (ERR), 27 September 2016 (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  20. ↑ Estonia: Parlt parties voice support of Kaljulaid's candidacy BNS/The Baltic Times, 28 September 2016. Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  21. ↑ В поддержку кандидатуры Керсти Кальюлайд было собрано 90 подписей BNS/Postimees, 30 September 2016 (in Russian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  22. ↑ EKRE ei ole muutnud Kaljulaidi suhtes meelt ja oma hääli talle ei anna Postimees, 3 October 2016 (in Estonian). Accessed on 3 October 2016.
  23. ↑ DELFI TÄNAVAKÜSITLUS: Kui tuntud on Kersti Kaljulaid rahva seas? Delfi, 27 September 2016 (in Estonian). Accessed on 3 October 2016.
  24. ↑ Kaljulaiust: rahvale tundmatu inimene, kelle nimegagi eksitakse Postimees, 28 September 2015 (in Estonian). Accessed on 3 October 2016.
  25. ↑ JANEK MÄGGI: Eestile otsiti presidenti justkui personalifirma kaudu Pealinn, 3 October 2015 (in Estonian). Accessed on 3 October 2016.
  26. ↑ Kersti Kaljulaid: minu kiri kõigile Eestimaa inimestele Postimees, 29 September 2015 (in Estonian). Accessed on 3 October 2016.
  27. ↑ "New Estonian president's approval rating at 73%". ERR. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  28. ↑ Aasta eurooplaseks valiti Kersti Kaljulaid BNS/Postimees, 9 May 2009 (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  29. ↑ The Unity Award, Open Estonian Foundation (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  30. ↑ Kersti Kaljulaid ujub presidendiakvaariumis üksinda: nad on kõik mu seljataga olemas, mu perekond Delfi, 28 September 2016 (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  31. ↑ Kes on Kersti Kaljulaiu salapärane abikaasa Georgi-Rene Maksimovski? Õhtuleht, 29 September 2016 (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  32. ↑ TTÜ lõpetajad 1918–2006, Tallinn Technical University (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.
  33. ↑ "Prosecutor ends criminal proceeding concerning Raimond Kaljulaid." News.err.ee, 10 May 2016. Accessed on 18 October 2016.
  34. ↑ Ühe perekonna tähtis nädal: Eesti uueks presidendiks võib saada äsja abielu lahutanud Raimond Kaljulaiu poolõde Delfi, 27. september 2016 (in Estonian). Accessed on 30 September 2016.

External links

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Political offices
Preceded by
Toomas Hendrik Ilves		 President of Estonia
2016–present 		Incumbent
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