Toomas Hendrik Ilves is the current president of Estonia. He was elected on September 23, 2006. Born December 26, 1953 in Stockholm. According to the horoscope - Capricorn.

Family of Toomas Hendrik Ilves

The mother of Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Iriada Siitem, was born in Leningrad in 1927. A year later, with her father (Hendrik's grandfather), she moved to Estonia, where she was adopted by the Rebane family of politicians. In 1944, when the Soviet troops entered Estonia, Iriada's adoptive parents fled to Switzerland.

Toomas Hendrik Ilves is married for the second time. The current wife is Evelyn Ilves (nee Int-Lambort). In 2003, they had a joint daughter, Kadri Keiu. From his first marriage, Ilves has a son, Luukas Kristjan (born 1987) and a daughter, Juulia Kristiine (born 1992).

Political career of Toomas Hendrik Ilves

After Estonia declared independence, Hendrik Ilves moved to his homeland from Switzerland. From 1993 to 1996 was the Estonian ambassador to the USA, Canada and Mexico. He also twice served as Minister of Foreign Affairs (in 1996-1998 and 1999-2002).

From 2001 to 2002 he headed the People's Party of Moderates. After the party's defeat in the municipal elections, it was renamed the Social Democratic Party of Estonia.

With the active assistance of Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Estonia was admitted to the European Union in 2004.

During the 2006 presidential election, he was nominated by the Reform Party and the Estonian Social Democratic Party.

Powers of the President in Estonia

The President of the Republic of Estonia is the highest official of the state. Due to the fact that Estonia has had the status of a parliamentary republic since 1992, the powers of the head of state are significantly limited. For example, he is not a member of the executive power system. In fact, the president in Estonia is a symbolic figure - he is mainly entrusted with representative and various legal functions.

According to Estonian law, the president cannot be a member of any political party, nor can he hold any other appointed or elected position, which should ensure independence and impartiality in making certain decisions of the head of state.

In Estonia, the president is elected by parliamentary vote. If in the course of three rounds none of the candidates achieves the required majority of two-thirds of the constitutional composition of the Riigikogu, a special electoral college is organized.

The President of the Republic of Estonia is elected for a term of five years, but the same candidate cannot be elected for more than two terms.

Article 78 of the Estonian constitution states that the President of Estonia represents the state in international relations. In other words, he is entrusted with the obligation to sign international treaties with the approval of the government. In exceptional cases, the president has the right to represent the country instead of the prime minister in the high council of the European Union and at meetings of the heads of state of the eurozone countries.

The President of the Republic of Estonia, on the proposal of the government, appoints and recalls the country's diplomatic representatives, and also accepts the credentials of diplomats accredited in Estonia.

The head of state also calls regular and extraordinary elections to the Riigikogu (parliament). True, the role of the president here is narrowed down to formalizing required documents except for the case when the Riigikogu expresses no confidence in the government, which in this regard applies to the head of state with a request to hold early elections.

The duties of the President of Estonia include the need to convene a new Riigikogu and open its first sitting. If necessary, the president makes a proposal to the speaker of parliament to convene an extraordinary session.
The President proclaims laws and signs instruments of ratification.

Rights of the President of Estonia:
− may issue a “suspensive” veto and return the bill back to the Riigikogu for revision within two weeks from the date of receipt. In the event that parliament re-approves the bill without amending it, the president has two options: sign it or petition the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of the law. Provided that the Court does not find facts contrary to the constitution, the president is obliged to sign this law and officially proclaim it.
− to publish having legal effect decrees in the event that the parliament cannot meet in session or in case of urgent state necessity. These decrees are considered at the next sitting of the Riigikogu and promptly approved or revoked.
− propose amendments to the constitution;
− after consultations with the chairmen of the parliamentary parties, nominate a candidate for the post of prime minister;
− on the basis of the Prime Minister's proposal to appoint (release) members of the government to positions;
− submit proposals to the Riigikogu for the appointment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Eesti Pank, the Chancellor of Justice and the Auditor General.
− on the proposal of the Council of the National Bank, to appoint the President of the Bank of Estonia;
− on the proposal of the State Court, to appoint judges of lower instances;
− reward state awards;
− assign military ranks, diplomatic ranks.

The President of Estonia is the supreme leader of the national state defense system.

In addition, the President of the Republic of Estonia submits proposals to Parliament for the introduction of a state of emergency, the introduction of martial law and the announcement of mobilization (in the event of aggression against the country) and demobilization.

The President of Estonia, as a pardon at the request of prisoners, releases them from prison terms or commutes their punishment.

Its functions also include the possibility of introducing the issue of criminal liability in relation to the Chancellor of Justice on the basis of a relevant request from the prosecutor's office.
Under the President of the Republic of Estonia, the National Defense Council functions as an advisory body, which includes the Chairman of the Parliament, the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for State Defense, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Affairs, the Head of the Foreign Ministry, the Minister of Defense, the Head of the Ministry of Finance, the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs , Commander of the Defense Forces and Minister of Justice. The head of the Council is the president himself.

Among the informal powers of the President of Estonia, one can name the adoption of the parades of the Armed Forces of Estonia on Independence Day (February 24) and Victory Day near Vynku (June 23), new year performances, patronage over the majority of Estonian public organizations and campaigns.

Only Estonian citizens who have reached the age of forty can run for the presidency of Estonia. At the same time, a candidate for the post of head of state is nominated by members of parliament, the number of which must be at least one fifth of the total number.

An elected president takes office by taking an oath before parliament. Oath text:
“Assuming the office of the President of the Republic, I solemnly swear that I will unwaveringly uphold the constitution and laws of the Republic of Estonia, use the power given to me fairly and impartially, faithfully perform my duties, applying all my strength and abilities for the good of the people of Estonia and the Republic of Estonia.”
The powers of the President of Estonia terminate if:
− he has voluntarily retired;
− death;
− taking office of a new elected president;
- the passing of a guilty verdict of the court against him;
- inability to perform the duties assigned to him for health reasons. In this case, the powers of the president are temporarily transferred to the chairman of the government.

All Presidents of the Republic of Estonia:

Konstantin Päts - 1938-1940;
Lennart Meri - 1992 - 2001;
Arnold Ruutel - 2001-2006;
Toomas Hendrik Ilves - since October 9, 2006.

The guest of the program "Nemtsova. Interview" is the President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid. Members of the Estonian Parliament elected her as head of state in 2016. Kaljulaid is the first woman in Estonia to hold this position. Previously, she was the country's representative at the European Court of Auditors, audited and worked as an economic adviser to Prime Minister Mart Laar.

In her interviews, Kersti Kaljulaid usually stresses the need for EU-NATO unity. Zhanna Nemtsova found out from the president how she sees her mission, why Estonia needs a NATO battalion and how many Russians are in the country's government.

Zhanna Nemtsova: You were elected president in October last year. What are your main achievements during this time?

Kersti Kaljulaid: I prefer to have my achievements judged by other people. It may be too early to draw any conclusions, but I feel the support of the Estonian people and the support of the leaders of other states with whom I have had the opportunity to talk and get to know each other.

- In this case, what goals do you set for yourself as the President of Estonia?

My goal, like, probably, every leader on this stage is to give the European Union self-confidence, to help people realize that nothing tangibly bad is happening to the EU, despite the fact that the global situation around Europe is complex and perhaps less stable than five or ten years ago . The main values ​​of the European Union were tested for strength and remained unchanged. The European project has proved its cost-effectiveness in most EU countries. On this basis, we can build a stronger united Europe.

- What are the main challenges for you personally as a president and for the country?

The main challenge for any country is to achieve economic growth, as well as a fair redistribution of wealth that would suit the majority of people. For me, this means that the state must guarantee universal education. Its quality should never depend on the level of wealth of parents or on where people live - in cities or countryside.

Health care should also be accessible to everyone, regardless of income level. If the state can provide quality education and access to health care, then people will be ready to put up with differences in income and living standards. They won't think that maybe democracy doesn't work, or the market economy doesn't work, or globalization, or maybe the whole European Union doesn't work. This is the purpose political activity.

- What are the external challenges facing your country?

There is nothing that would apply exclusively to our country. But the whole security situation in Europe is unpredictable and changeable. There is Russia, which has shown that it is ready to use force. I am now talking about the occupation of the Crimean peninsula. In addition, we know that the Russian Federation does not fulfill its international obligations, which it itself has taken on.

Let's take, for example, the Budapest Memorandum or the Minsk agreements. The Minsk agreements are constantly violated - which means that sanctions against Russia must remain in place. All this indicates that the security situation remains difficult. Also, look at what is happening in Syria. Libya is actually a failed state. We see that the world is unstable.

- Madam President, you mentioned Russia as one of the security challenges. In an interviewThe Washington Postyou said that the Russian Federation is not a physical danger, but rather a threat to the entire architecture of international security, which does not pose a threat to any of the NATO countries. Is Russia a physical danger for Estonia or not?

No I do not think so. Russia would not attack a country that is part of NATO, or NATO as such. It doesn't matter which country we're talking about. NATO's security space is indivisible, so I don't think Russia will attack NATO.

- Nevertheless, on May 8, it was here, in Estonia, that the large-scale military exercises "Spring Storm" began, which will last until May 26. They involve 9 thousand people from different partner countries and allied countries. What signal are you sending?cii?

Our signal is a defensive exercise, and NATO is a defensive alliance. The Estonian army is called the Estonian Defense Forces. On this side of the border, no one poses a threat to anyone.

- A NATO battalion was stationed in Estonia in April. Why do you need this battalion if Russia is not a threat and you say you don't believe that the Russian Federation will one day invade Estonia?

In fact, it's quite the opposite. NATO is reliable if it deters any enemy it may encounter. The Alliance is 100 percent successful at providing adequate deterrence, which is why I think no one will attack NATO.

- You said "enemy". That is, Russia is an enemy country?

I'm talking more about a potential threat that can come from all sides. This is a general word. We can also talk about the terrorist threat and so on.

- Let's go back to the NATO battalion, which is now stationed in Estonia. Can we say that this is also an infrastructure project that can serve as a stimulus for the economic development of the region where it is deployed?

We don't think so. To host a NATO battalion, we allocated an amount of 0.2 percent of our GDP. This is our contribution to NATO security, in addition to the 2 percent of GDP in defense spending that we allocate, in accordance with Article 3 of the North Atlantic Treaty, to the overall indivisible security of NATO, including our own security.

The defense industry can really spur economic development our country. We have several IT projects in the military sphere, you can call them startups. We are quite famous for our number of IT startups. We very much hope that one day they will provide serious support for our economic growth.

- You said that Estonia is a leader inIT. Meanwhile, Russia is increasingly mentioned in connection with hacker attacks. How can Estonia deal with possible cyber attacks, or is your country not the target of Russian hackers?

No one can tell if he is a target or not. In addition, cyberattacks can come from different directions.

- You raised the issue of sanctions against Russia, and I know that you are in favor of keeping them in force. But if you look at the Russian economy, you will see that it has largely adapted to the sanctions regime. Now the sanctions play a rather symbolic role. What can be achieved with the help of sanctions at the current stage? After all, the Minsk agreements were never implemented ...

You answered your own question. The Minsk agreements have not been implemented, so the sanctions regime remains in place.

- Do you think that these sanctions, which have a symbolic meaning, can force Russia to comply with these agreements? You see that Russia is doing nothing now.

The partner countries got together and decided that they would introduce a sanctions regime. They understand why they did it, and they also understand what needs to be done in order for the sanctions to be lifted. This was not done, so the sanctions remain in place.

- But perhaps there are other means to force Russia to comply with the agreements? After all, sanctions do not work.

Partner countries periodically meet and discuss these issues. A possible tightening of sanctions was also discussed. So far, the common position is that we stick to our chosen point of view.

- In one interview, you said that you need to coordinate and discuss your visit to Russia with your allies, and this will never be your own decision. Why don't you want to go to Russia?

I am not saying that I will never go to Russia. It's just that in the current relationship between the EU and the Russian Federation, we are carefully coordinating our diplomatic steps towards Russia, and that's exactly what I said. Maybe there will be a chance - say, the ratification of the border treaty between Estonia and the Russian Federation, who knows.

- In Estonia, as you know, there is a large Russian-speaking community. Some people still have the so-called "non-citizen" status. Do you understand why they feel discriminated against?

I don't think they feel discriminated against because otherwise they would have solved the problem.

But they say so themselves.

No, they don't. It's one thing what you say and another thing how you act. We know that a large proportion of people of undetermined citizenship can travel to Europe and Russia without a visa. Their passport gives them the most freedom they can have.

But they don't have political rights.

Yes it's true. On the other hand, Estonia has a relatively simple procedure for obtaining citizenship. You learn the language up to a certain level, pass the test and get citizenship. This is absolutely normal. And voluntarily not doing this is also absolutely normal. Precisely because we do not discriminate against these people, they do not take any steps to obtain citizenship at all, Estonian or otherwise.

We are ready to help them learn the Estonian language, to help them gain a foothold in Estonian society. But since there really is no discrimination against these people, they can remain in this indeterminate status, if that is what they want. It is also important to note that since we gained independence, the number of people without citizenship has decreased by three times. This is a significant achievement.

- How many Russians are in the government of Estonia?

Some. But I have never asked people in our government whose names sound like Russians if they are really Russians. I don't know. For example, my children have the surname Maksimovsky, but they are not Russians, they are Estonians. It may also be that the surname is Estonian, but the person is Russian, as, for example, in the case of one minister.

- Can you name this minister? I looked through the list of all the ministers in the government and did not understand whether they were Russians or Estonians.

- Because all the names are Estonian.

No, Evgeny Osinovsky - definitely Russian name and last name. But I speak to him in pure Estonian. And I don't know what nationality he is. To be honest, I never asked.

- Is it necessary to do more in order to facilitate the process of integration of Russians, who still have undetermined citizenship?

Context

We offer the opportunity to learn Estonian and through our publicly funded Russian-language broadcast we also make it clear that the way is open, the invitation has been made. Anyone who wants to can accept this invitation, fulfill the criteria and receive citizenship.

- Now I have some hypothetical questions. What if Vladimir Putin calls you?

I'll go to the phone and talk to him, and then I'll let all my partners and allies know why he called and what we talked about.

- What if Russia joins NATO?

I don't see the logic in this matter.

- What if a Russian by birth becomes the president of Estonia?

Your roots, the language you speak, doesn't matter. There is no problem if Estonia is headed by an Estonian, a Latvian, a Finn. You are an Estonian citizen, you interact with the Estonian society on the Estonian platform. For us this is enough.

- Two years ago, in this very room, I interviewed the then President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves. We spoke in English, but he said two words in Russian: these were the words "disinformation" and "uncivilized". What words do you think best describe modern Russia?

Russian people are people with a great culture, they have a great sense of humor. Russia has an excellent scientific sphere. I really appreciate the Russian people. If I think about Russian state, then today it is a threat to the value-oriented system of international security. But in my understanding, these two aspects are completely separate.

Full version interview:

Watch video 15:21

The President of Estonia in "Nemtsov. Interview": Russia is a threat to the international security system

• "Iron Sword" in Lithuania

  In Lithuania, until December 2, military exercises "Iron Sword" of NATO forces are being held, in which, in addition to Lithuanian military personnel, soldiers from Germany, the USA, Great Britain and Poland take part. Lithuania will host an additional battalion of NATO forces. In the photo: military exercises of NATO soldiers, which took place in the Lithuanian town of Rukla this fall.



How NATO and Russia are building up their military forces

Russia strengthens its positions in the Baltic

The grouping of troops in the Kaliningrad Special Region in 2016 was reinforced by a division of the Bastion coastal missile system. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, new missile systems came into service with the Baltic Fleet in 2016. In the photo: summer exercises Russian army in the Baltic



How NATO and Russia are building up their military forces

Strengthening on both sides

This infographic shows that there is a military buildup on both sides. Russia on its western borders forms three new divisions with a total number of up to 30 thousand military personnel. NATO is sending four battalions to the Baltic states and Poland, each with a thousand soldiers.



How NATO and Russia are building up their military forces

NATO installs missile defense system in Europe

In Romania, in 2016, the Aegis ground-based missile defense base began operating. There is a similar station in Poland. Together with a number of other ground facilities, as well as a group of destroyers, the Romanian base is an integral part of the program for building a European phased adaptive missile defense system (ABM). Russia believes that missile defense is directed against it.



How NATO and Russia are building up their military forces

Iskanders in Kaliningrad

Meanwhile, Russia continues to strengthen the Kaliningrad region. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced that it is realizing its intention to deploy Iskander-M missile systems in the western exclave. According to the Ministry of Defense, they are capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 500 km, Iskanders can be equipped with two types of missiles - ballistic and cruise, and theoretically carry a nuclear warhead.



How NATO and Russia are building up their military forces

Latvia will spend on defense

In the autumn, military exercises were held in various parts of Latvia, including the joint maneuvers of NATO soldiers "Silver Arrow". In the photo: Latvian Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis (center) and US military personnel after military exercises in the Latvian town of Adazi. Bergmanis can expect defense spending to rise by almost 100 million euros in 2017.



How NATO and Russia are building up their military forces

New divisions

For a long time after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the size of the Russian army was reduced. But the announcement of the creation of new divisions, primarily near the Russian-Ukrainian border, could reverse this trend. Experts do not yet know how the Ministry of Defense is going to equip the new divisions with personnel. It is necessary to find about 30 thousand military personnel additionally.



How NATO and Russia are building up their military forces

Major exercise in Poland

In the Baltic region this summer, a major NATO military exercise called "Baltops" took place. Military personnel from 17 countries took part in them - in total over 6,000 soldiers. Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the bloc plans to transfer several hundred thousand soldiers in the member countries of the organization to an enhanced mode of service.



How NATO and Russia are building up their military forces

From howitzers to heavy bombers

Russia is actively testing and introducing new types of military equipment. These are Su-35S fighters, Tor, Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile systems, Verba MANPADS, Tornado-G multiple launch rocket systems and drones. Now the level of rearmament of the army, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, is 50 percent.



How NATO and Russia are building up their military forces

"We are not in a cold war with Russia"

In a recent interview with DW, Jens Stoltenberg stated that NATO is not in a position to cold war with Russia, calling for a more moderate definition. The scale of the military build-up by both sides is, indeed, incomparably smaller than when the arms race between the USSR and NATO was in full swing, as this timeline of the GDR times recalls.

Joonistus: Aivar Juhanson

Eesti Ekspress previously wrote that Kaljulaid's second husband, Georg-Rene Maksimovski, most likely works or worked for the Estonian Information Department or a related institution. Kaljulaid herself confirmed that her husband was doing secret work. Later, however, her team clarified that her husband worked in trust institution state infocommunications, and therefore had access to state secrets.

Even the head of the Department of Information said that the person with the name Maksimovsky does not work in the department and has never worked. However, it should be borne in mind that employees of the Department of Information receive a new secret name when starting work - maybe not everything is so simple?

Husband won sneakers

One can only speculate about the secret activities of Kaljulaid's husband. If the public is not supposed to know anything about it, then only those small details are left that are known for sure. For example, in 2002, Georg-René Maksimovsky won ASICS running shoes in a running competition.

Feud with Cross

When Kersti Kaljulaid was looking for support in, many claimed to be actively working against her, although he himself denies this. Rumor has it that something happened between Kross and Kaljulaid when she served as adviser to the prime minister from 1999-2002.

In 2001, Laar fired Cross as intelligence coordinator. The official reason is the use of a work credit card for personal purposes. The media cited Kross's possible connection with suspicious privatizations as a reason. railways and other steps. One source told Eesti Ekspress that it was Kaljulaid who advised Laar to get rid of speculators. Hence the enmity between Kaljulaid and Kross.

Kaljulaid was invited to lead the IRL

In 2011–2012, Mart Laar was preparing to step down as chairman. Laar's friends advised him to invite Kaljulaid to become the new leader of the party. Laar was well aware that the members had taken over the party, and in Kaljulaid he saw a chance to return the reins of power to Isamaaliytu. In 2012, due to Laar's stroke, these plans had to be put on hold.

Last year, other parties also wanted to recruit Kaljulaid into their ranks. As the deadline for her term at the European Chamber of Control was approaching, several parties contacted her and asked her what her plans for the future were and would not like to enter politics.

pretend until it's true

The nomination of Kersti Kaljulaid as a candidate for the presidency, as well as her appointment to the post, passed quite quickly and spontaneously. The reformist faction asked her if she was ready to become president?

For example, Kaljulaid has successfully predicted that: Estonia will make great strides in the IT sector; the movement for “green energy” will start, and renewable energy will account for 30%-40% of the total production; transit from will begin to disappear; will become stronger and cooperation stronger than when Estonia joined the alliance.

There were also predictions that did not come true: teachers would earn as much as their Western counterparts; the population of Estonia will exceed 2 million people; women on average will give birth to 2.2 children; Trains will depart four times a day.

And one interesting coincidence: Kaljulaid's essay came out second in a series of opinions, and it was preceded by an essay whose author was ... .

Eesti Vabariigi President) is the head of the Republic of Estonia.

Role of the President of the Republic in special situations

According to the constitution, the head of state is assigned a number of important functions in the event of emergency and crisis situations (for example, the outbreak of hostilities, a constitutional crisis or large-scale disasters). The powers described below have not yet been used in practice and are only a potential possibility provided by the Basic Law:

Under the President of the Republic, as an advisory body, there is a so-called. "National Defense Council" (Est. Riigikaitse Nõukogu), which consists of the Chairman of the Riigikogu, the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the National Defense Committee of the Riigikogu, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of the Interior , Minister of Justice, Minister of Economy and Infrastructure, Minister of Enterprise and Information Technology, and Commander of the Defense Forces.

The task of the council is to discuss issues important from the point of view of national defense and form a common opinion. Meetings are held as needed (in reality, they are usually held 1 to 3 times a year). The President of the Republic heads the Council, approves the procedure for its work, and also directs its meetings.

Informal functions of the head of state

In addition to the powers prescribed in the constitution and laws, the President of the Republic also has a number of informal functions, which are due to traditions and personal qualities people holding the post of head of state. So, an established tradition is New Year's greetings from the president, the adoption by the president of the parades of the armed forces of Estonia in honor of Independence Day on February 24 and the Victory Day near Vynnu on June 23. The President of the Republic is responsible for organizing the annual Independence Day reception, to which all the country's top officials and prominent public figures are invited (for many, this is a great honor and recognition). The speech delivered by the president on February 24 (Est. iseseisvuspäeva kõne) is an important political event, since the president has the opportunity to express his vision of what is happening in the country and criticize the actions of the executive and legislative branches in it.

The President of the Republic may also exercise patronage over many public organizations and campaigns such as:

Procedure for election and termination of powers

Only citizens of Estonia by birth who have reached forty years of age are eligible to run for the presidency. The presidential candidate is nominated by the deputies of the Riigikogu (at least 1/5 of their number). The President is elected for 5 years. No one can be elected president for more than two consecutive terms.

The election of the President of Estonia is indirect: he is elected to the Riigikogu or to a special electoral college if the Riigikogu fails to fulfill this task. In the first round, members of the Riigikogu vote in secret for the nominated candidates. If the president fails to be elected in the first round (the candidate is considered elected for whom at least 2/3 of the parliament or 68 deputies voted), then the second round is held the next day, and the candidates are nominated again. If the president is not elected in the second round, then the third round is held on the same day, in which the two candidates who received the largest number of votes in the second round participate. If the President is not elected even in the third round, the President of the Riigikogu convenes an Electoral College consisting of members of the Riigikogu and representatives of local government councils. The Electoral College is represented by two candidates who participated in the third round. In addition, at least 21 members of the Electoral College also have the right to nominate a candidate for the presidency. The Electoral College elects the President of the Republic by a majority vote of the members of the Electoral College participating in the voting. If in the first round none of the candidates is elected, then on the same day a second round of voting is held between the two candidates who received the largest number of votes. If, after the second round of voting in the Electoral College, the President is still not elected, the right to elect the President again passes to the Riigikogu and the procedure is repeated anew in the sequence described above.

The newly elected President takes office by taking the following oath before the Riigikogu:

“Assuming the office of the President of the Republic, I (name and surname) solemnly swear that I will unwaveringly uphold the constitution and laws of the Republic of Estonia, fairly and impartially use the power given to me, faithfully fulfill my duties, applying all my strength and abilities for the good of the people of Estonia and the Republic of Estonia"

From the moment of taking office, all powers and duties of the president in any other elected or appointed positions automatically terminate. The President of the Republic has no right to engage in any other paid activity. The official remuneration of the President of the Republic shall be established by a special law of the Riigikogu. For the duration of his tenure, the president is required to suspend membership in any party.

The powers of the President are terminated in connection with:

• voluntary resignation;
• the inauguration of a newly elected president;
• death;
• the entry into force of the guilty verdict of the court against him;
• persistent inability to perform the duties of the President for health reasons, determined by the State Court.

If the President is unable to perform his duties, the powers of the President temporarily pass to the President of the Riigikogu.

History of the Presidency

The institution of the president was absent in Estonia as such from 1938 until 1938. The first constitution of Estonia was deliberately drafted in such a way as to avoid by any means the concentration of too much power in one hand. The functions that are usually vested in the president in parliamentary republics were distributed between the speaker of parliament, the government and the elder of state, who actually performed the functions of prime minister and nominal head of state. However, the latter could not act as an arbitrator in the event of a conflict between the parliament and the government, since he himself was completely dependent on the deputies and could be dismissed by the parliament at any moment.

After the inclusion of Estonia into the USSR as a separate union republic (in modern Estonia it is interpreted as an initially illegitimate occupation, which is recognized by most of the international community), a new constitution was adopted on the model of the constitution of the USSR, in which the post of president was not provided. During the Soviet period, the chairman of the presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR was considered the formal head of state in the Estonian SSR, whose powers were minimal.

During the period of Soviet rule, the government of the Estonian Republic in exile also operated outside the USSR, the head of which was officially called the "Prime Minister, Acting President of the Republic." However, the legitimacy of the government-in-exile is called into question by some historians, since, according to them, it was not officially recognized by any state in the world. The first government of Estonia in exile consisted of persons appointed by the last legitimate Prime Minister of Estonia, Jüri Uluots (upon presentation Soviet Union ultimatum, which included a demand to form a government of Estonia friendly to the USSR, on June 21, 1940, the Uluots cabinet was dismissed by decree of President Konstantin Päts). Obeying the Soviet ultimatum, President Päts appointed a new government headed by Johannes Vares Barbarus.

The post of President of the Republic was restored in 1992 with the adoption of a new constitution. Since then, presidential elections have been held 6 times (in , , , , 2011 and 2016).

List of Presidents of Estonia (since 1992)

According to the 1992 constitution, the head of Estonia is President of the Republic of Estonia (Est. Eesti Vabariigi President). His powers are largely limited, he is not included in the system of executive power and is mainly a symbolic figure performing representative and various formal legal functions. The President cannot be a member of any political party and may not hold any other elected or appointed office.

Presidential elections are held by voting in Parliament or in a special electoral college (with alternating rounds of voting between these bodies). The President is elected for a term of five years; the same person cannot be elected President for more than two consecutive terms.

№	Portrait	Name (years of life)	Powers		Nominated by the party	Elections
			Start	Ending
1 (I-II)

Eesti Vabariigi President) is the head of the Estonian state.

Since Estonia is a parliamentary republic, the powers of the President are largely limited, he is not part of the executive branch and is mainly a symbolic figure. The President may not be a member of any political party and may not hold any other elected or appointed office. These restrictions are aimed at ensuring the independence and political impartiality of the president in the exercise of his official functions.

The election of the president takes place by voting in parliament or in a special electoral college (in the event that parliament is unable to elect the head of state). The President is elected for a term of five years; the same person cannot be elected President for more than two consecutive terms. The current president of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, was elected by the electoral college on September 23, 2006, having already received the support of 174 electors in the first round of voting (with 173 needed to win). His only competitor, the then incumbent President Arnold Ruutel, received the support of 162 members of the collegium.

History of the Presidency

The institution of the president was absent in Estonia as such from 1918 to 1938. The first constitution of Estonia was deliberately drafted in such a way as to avoid by any means the concentration of too much power in one hand. This eventually led to the creation of an ultra-parliamentary system, in which the powers of parliament were practically unlimited, and the government was completely subordinate to the will of the deputies. The functions that are usually vested in the president in parliamentary republics were distributed between the speaker of parliament, the government and the so-called elder of state, who actually performed the functions of prime minister and nominal head of state. However, the latter could not act as an arbitrator in the event of a conflict between the parliament and the government, since he was completely dependent on the deputies and could be dismissed by them at any moment.

The post of president was first introduced in 1938 after the adoption of a new constitution. According to the new basic law, the president had very broad powers and actually headed the executive branch of government. Konstantin Päts became the first President of the Republic of Estonia. The presidential term was supposed to last six years, but Konstantin Päts was forced to leave his post in 1940 due to the accession of Estonia to the USSR. He was subsequently arrested by the NKVD and deported to Russia. Konstantin Päts died in 1956 in a psychiatric hospital in Kalinin.

After the proclamation of Soviet power, a new constitution was adopted on the model of the constitution of the USSR, in which the post of president was not provided. During the Soviet period, the chairman of the presidium of the Supreme Council of the Estonian SSR was considered the formal head of state in the Estonian SSR, whose powers were minimal.

During the period of Soviet rule, the so-called "government of the Republic of Estonia in exile" also operated outside the USSR, the head of which was officially called the "Prime Minister, Acting President of the Republic." However, the legitimacy of the "government in exile" can be called into question, since it was not recognized by any state in the world and consisted of members of the government of Jüri Uluots, which in reality was dismissed already in 1940 by decree of President Konstantin Päts. Instead of the government of Jüri Uluots, President Päts managed to appoint a new government headed by Johannes Vares Barbarus. Thus, members of this "government in exile" after 1940 could not formally be considered ministers.

However, the interpretation officially accepted in modern Estonia is that the decrees of President Päts on the resignation of the Uluots government and the appointment of the Barbarus government were invalid due to the inability of President Päts at that time to accept independent solutions. It is worth noting that the assertion of the legitimacy of the so-called "government in exile" is one of the cornerstones of the theory of the succession of the Republic of Estonia, as well as one of the justifications for the policy pursued in the field of citizenship and language.

The post of President of the Republic was restored in 1992 with the adoption of a new constitution. Since then, presidential elections have been held 4 times (in 1992, 1996, 2001 and 2006).

Powers

Procedure for election and termination of powers

Only citizens of Estonia by birth who have reached forty years of age are eligible to run for the presidency. The presidential candidate is nominated by the deputies of the Riigikogu (at least 1/5 of their number). The President is elected for 5 years. No one can be elected president for more than two consecutive terms.

The election of the President of Estonia is indirect: he is elected to the Riigikogu or to the Electoral College if the Riigikogu fails to fulfill this task. In the first round, members of the Riigikogu vote in secret for the nominated candidates. If it is not possible to elect the president in the first round (the candidate is considered elected for whom at least 2/3 of the members of parliament voted), then the second round is held the next day, and the candidates are nominated again. If the president is not elected in the second round, then the third round is held on the same day, in which the two candidates who received the largest number of votes in the second round participate. If the President is not elected even in the third round, the President of the Riigikogu convenes an Electoral College consisting of members of the Riigikogu and representatives of local government councils. The Electoral College is represented by two candidates who participated in the third round. In addition, at least twenty-one members of the Electoral College also have the right to nominate a candidate for the presidency. The Electoral College elects the President of the Republic by a majority vote of the members of the Electoral College participating in the voting. If in the first round none of the candidates is elected, then on the same day a second round of voting is held between the two candidates who received the largest number of votes. If after the second ballot the Electoral College fails to elect the President, the right to elect the President again passes to the Riigikogu and the procedure is repeated anew in the sequence described above.

The newly elected President takes office by taking the following oath before the Riigikogu:

"Assuming the office of the President of the Republic, I (name and surname) solemnly swear that I will unwaveringly uphold the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Estonia, fairly and impartially use the power given to me, faithfully fulfill my duties, applying all my strength and abilities for the good of the people of Estonia and the Republic of Estonia"

From the moment of taking office, all powers and duties of the President in any other elected or appointed positions automatically terminate. The President of the Republic has no right to engage in any other paid activity. The official remuneration of the President of the Republic shall be established by a special law of the Riigikogu. For the duration of his tenure, the President is obliged to suspend membership in any party.

The powers of the President are terminated in connection with:

• voluntary resignation;
• the inauguration of a newly elected president;
• death;
• the entry into force of the guilty verdict of the court against him;
• persistent inability to perform the duties of the President for reasons of health determined by the Supreme Court.

If the president is unable to perform his duties, the powers of the president are transferred to the chairman of the National Assembly.