Kersti Kaljulaid Explained

Kersti Kaljulaid
Office:President of Estonia
Primeminister:Taavi Rõivas
Jüri Ratas
Kaja Kallas
Term Start:10 October 2016
Term End:11 October 2021
Predecessor:Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Successor:Alar Karis
Birth Date:1969 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Tartu, Estonia
Party:Independent
Otherparty:Pro Patria Union
(2001–2004)
Children:4
Relatives:Raimond Kaljulaid (half-brother)
Alma Mater:University of Tartu
Office1:Member of the European Court of Auditors
Termend1:30 September 2016
Termstart1:7 May 2004
Successor1:Juhan Parts
Predecessor1:Position established

Kersti Kaljulaid (in Estonian pronounced as /ˈkersʲːtʲi ˈkɑlʲːjuˈlɑi̯ːːt/; born 30 December 1969) is an Estonian politician who served as the fifth president of Estonia between 2016 and 2021, and was its first and only female head of state since the country declared independence in 1918. She was also the youngest president, aged 46 at the time of her election.[1]

Kaljulaid, a state official who at the time served as Estonia's representative in the European Court of Auditors, entered the 2016 Estonian presidential election race in the sixth round after five previous unsuccessful rounds. She was nominated on 30 September 2016 by the majority of parliamentary parties as a joint candidate for president, and the only official candidate for the sixth round. Kaljulaid was voted president on 3 October 2016, with 81 votes and 17 abstentions.[2] [3]

Early life and education

In 1987, Kaljulaid graduated from Tallinn Secondary School no. 44.[4] During her studies there, she was a member of the Students' Scientific Association, specializing in ornithology.[5] In 1992, she graduated from University of Tartu cum laude as a biologist. She is a member of Estonian female student corporation, Filiae Patriae. In 2001, she graduated from the University of Tartu with an MBA in business management.[6] Her thesis was titled as "Riigi poolt asutatud sihtasutuste juhtimissüsteemi täiustamine" or "The improvement of the management system of state-founded foundations" in English.[7]

Career

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] From 1999 to 2002, Kaljulaid worked as the economic advisor of Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar. 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.

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

Political career

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.[12] She holds liberal views on social issues such as LGBT rights and immigration. 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, Kaljulaid 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.

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 chancellery of Estonian Parliament voted Kaljulaid to be its chair.[18]

President of Estonia

After several failed attempts to elect a new president in August and September 2016, a so-called "council of elders" of the Riigikogu, comprising the speaker, vice-speakers, and leaders of most parliamentary parties, asked Kaljulaid if she would be willing to stand for president. With her consent, the "council of elders" 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;[2] the parliamentary party that had publicly declared not to support her was EKRE which had only 7 votes.[22]

Under the Constitution, the president is a ceremonial figure without even nominal executive power; the Constitution explicitly vests executive power in the Government. Nonetheless, Kaljulaid's election was seen as historic, as she was the first female head of state in the country's history.

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]

In 2020, the Estonian government nominated Kaljulaid as its candidate to succeed Angel Gurría in the position of Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for a five-year term.[28] In January 2021, Kaljulaid announced that she had withdrawn her candidacy, citing consultations that led her to believe that accepting the position at the end of her first term as president amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Estonia would "not be the best solution." She had just advanced to the second round of the interview process.[29]

On 21 January 2021, the opposition Social Democratic Party announced that they would support Kaljulaid should she run for a second term in the 2021 Estonian presidential election.[30] Had she been nominated by the government of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as its presidential candidate in the election, this would have given her enough votes to be elected by the Riigikogu.[31] By June 2021, it was stated that the government had "cooled" on the prospective of Kaljulaid serving a second term as president, finding her too polarizing.[32] Nevertheless, Kaljulaid later confirmed that she would stand as a candidate for a second term in the election.[33] However, she did not receive enough endorsements from MPs to be eligible; the Constitution requires presidential candidates to be nominated by at least 21 MPs in order to stand.

Life after politics

After the end of her presidential term in 2021, Kaljulaid co-founded the President Kaljulaid Foundation, an NGO and think-tank for advancing democracy, empowering the vulnerable, and navigating the societal impact of digitalization.[34] Among other things, the foundation has raised around €400 000 to help Ukrainian journalists and schools. [35]

In 2021, Kaljulaid served on the advisory panel for the World Bank's World Development Report.[36] Since 2022, she has been co-chairing – alongside Keith J. Krach – the nonpartisan Global Tech Security Commission to safeguard freedom from technological authoritarianism, which was jointly established by the Atlantic Council and the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue University.[37]

In 2023, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres appointed Kaljulaid as co-chair of the United Nations High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession, alongside Paula-Mae Weekes.[38]

Other activities

Non-profit organizations

Recognition

In 2017, Kaljulaid became the first Estonian to be featured in the Forbes magazine's list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women, placed at 78th,[47] [48] and came twenty second among the most influential female political leaders.[49]

Honours

National honours

Foreign honours

Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (26 May 2021)

Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (7 March 2017)[51]

Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (5 June 2018)[54]

Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (8 April 2019)[55]

Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (12 June 2018)

Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry (16 April 2019)

Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania (16 June 2021)

Recipient of the Order for Exceptional Merits (2 September 2019)

First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class (2021)[56]

Awards

Personal life

Kaljulaid has a daughter and a son from her first marriage. She is also a grandmother of three.[60] [61] Kaljulaid's second husband is Georgi-Rene Maksimovski; they have two sons.[62] [63] Kaljulaid's half-brother, Raimond Kaljulaid, is a politician and member of parliament. [64] [65]

Besides Estonian, Kaljulaid is fluent in English, Finnish, French and to a certain extent, Russian.[66] [67]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://estonianworld.com/people/former-european-auditor-kersti-kaljulaid-elected-president-estonia/ Former European auditor Kersti Kaljulaid elected president of Estonia
  2. http://uudised.err.ee/v/eesti/1182decd-e6dd-4e08-b91e-c7acc87b2559/kersti-kaljulaid-sai-81-haalega-uueks-eesti-presidendiks Kersti Kaljulaid sai 81 häälega uueks Eesti presidendiks
  3. News: Estonia's parliament elects country's first female president . 3 October 2016 . 6 October 2016 . Reuters.
  4. http://www.mg.edu.ee/#vilistlased&lend=XXI Tallinna Mustamäe Gümnaasiumi vilistlased
  5. Kaljulaid, K. (1986) Vainurästa (Turdus ilacius) pesitsusbioloogiast Eestis. In: Eesti NSV Õpilaste Teadusliku Ühingu VI teaduskonverentsi teesid, Tallinn, p. 24 (in Estonian)
  6. Web site: Kersti Kaljulaid – elu Euroopas, kodu Eestis – Elustiil, Postimees.ee . majandus24.postimees.ee . 1 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161003154215/http://majandus24.postimees.ee/v2/430460/kersti-kaljulaid-elu-euroopas-kodu-eestis . 3 October 2016 . dead.
  7. https://www.etis.ee/Portal/Persons/Display/6d3908a6-364c-4ffb-b510-9dee13009ab8 Kersti Kaljulaid. "The improvement of the management system of state-founded foundations"
  8. http://www.postimees.ee/v2/3852005/kes-on-kersti-kaljulaid Kes on Kersti Kaljulaid?
  9. https://www.etis.ee/Portal/Persons/Display/6d3908a6-364c-4ffb-b510-9dee13009ab8 ETIS
  10. http://www.ut.ee/et/1111576 Tartu Ülikooli nõukogu esimeheks sai Kersti Kaljulaid
  11. Otti Eylandt, Kersti Kaljulaid: inimestega tuleb rääkida – igal pool toimib Eesti Päevaleht, 29 September 2016 (in Estonian). Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  12. https://leht.postimees.ee/3321025/kersti-kaljulaid-pagulaskusimuses-on-vaja-julgust-nagu-iseseisvuse-taastamise-ajal Kersti Kaljulaid: pagulasküsimuses on vaja julgust nagu iseseisvuse taastamise ajal
  13. http://podcast.kuku.postimees.ee/saated/eurominutid/ Eurominutid
  14. https://ariregister.rik.ee/erakonnad/liikme_otsing?nimi=kaljulaid Estonian Business Register
  15. http://www.ajakiri.ut.ee/artikkel/1605 Praxist valiti juhtima Kersti Kaljulaid
  16. http://www.delfi.ee/news/paevauudised/eesti/kersti-kaljulaiu-ametiaeg-euroopa-kontrollikojas-loppes-kuid-ta-jaab-valitsuse-otsustamatuse-tottu-ametisse-ega-saa-asuda-praxise-juhiks?id=74452859 Kersti Kaljulaiu ametiaeg Euroopa Kontrollikojas lõppes, kuid ta jääb valitsuse otsustamatuse tõttu ametisse ega saa asuda Praxise juhiks
  17. http://www.postimees.ee/v2/3674911/kaljulaid-viivitus-teeb-kontrollikoja-toeoe-keerulisemaks-kuid-tuleme-toime Kaljulaid: viivitus teeb kontrollikoja töö keerulisemaks, kuid tuleme toime
  18. http://uudised.err.ee/v/eesti/fa2ce90e-97a9-468e-a395-e084a5ecfaa4/arenguseire-noukoja-esimeheks-valiti-kersti-kaljulaid Arenguseire nõukoja esimeheks valiti Kersti Kaljulaid
  19. http://uudised.err.ee/v/eesti/7b052710-91ec-4627-9771-2b852bcabba2/fotod--vanematekogu-tegi-ettepaneku-esitada-presidendikandidaadiks-kersti-kaljulaid "FOTOD ja VIDEO | Vanematekogu tegi ettepaneku esitada presidendikandidaadiks Kersti Kaljulaid"
  20. http://www.baltictimes.com/estonia__parlt_parties_voice_support_of_kaljulaid_s_candidacy/ Estonia: Parlt parties voice support of Kaljulaid's candidacy
  21. http://rus.postimees.ee/3856053/v-podderzhku-kandidatury-kersti-kaljulajd-bylo-sobrano-90-podpisej В поддержку кандидатуры Керсти Кальюлайд было собрано 90 подписей
  22. http://www.postimees.ee/v2/3858451/ekre-ei-ole-muutnud-kaljulaidi-suhtes-meelt-ja-oma-haeaeli-talle-ei-anna EKRE ei ole muutnud Kaljulaidi suhtes meelt ja oma hääli talle ei anna
  23. http://www.delfi.ee/news/paevauudised/eesti/delfi-tanavakusitlus-kui-tuntud-on-kersti-kaljulaid-rahva-seas?id=75742315 DELFI TÄNAVAKÜSITLUS: Kui tuntud on Kersti Kaljulaid rahva seas?
  24. https://www.postimees.ee/3853539/kommunikatsiooniekspert-kaljulaiust-rahvale-tundmatu-inimene-kelle-nimegagi-eksitakse Kaljulaiust: rahvale tundmatu inimene, kelle nimegagi eksitakse
  25. http://www.pealinn.ee/koik-uudised/janek-maggi-eestile-otsiti-presidenti-justkui-personalifirma-kaudu-n177282 JANEK MÄGGI: Eestile otsiti presidenti justkui personalifirma kaudu
  26. http://arvamus.postimees.ee/v2/3855129/kersti-kaljulaid-minu-kiri-koigile-eestimaa-inimestele Kersti Kaljulaid: minu kiri kõigile Eestimaa inimestele
  27. Web site: New Estonian president's approval rating at 73% . ERR . 21 October 2016 . 21 October 2016 .
  28. https://www.oecd.org/newsroom/oecd-announces-candidates-for-next-secretary-general.htm OECD announces candidates for next Secretary-General
  29. Web site: Kersti Kaljulaid withdraws OECD candidacy. 26 January 2021. Eesti Rahvusringhääling.
  30. Web site: SDE would support Kaljulaid for second presidential term. 21 January 2021. Eesti Rahvusringhääling.
  31. Web site: Center not in rush to support Kaljulaid for second term. 28 January 2021. Eesti Rahvusringhääling.
  32. Web site: Speaker calls Riigikogu presidential election session for August 30. 14 June 2021. Eesti Rahvusringhääling.
  33. News: Parties still searching for potential presidential candidates. . 2 July 2021.
  34. Web site: About | Kersti Kaljulaid .
  35. Web site: Ukraine | Kersti Kaljulaid .
  36. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2021 WDR 2021
  37. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/news/press-releases/atlantic-council-and-krach-institute-for-tech-diplomacy-at-purdue-launch-global-tech-security-commission/ Atlantic Council and Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue Launch Global Tech Security Commission
  38. https://press.un.org/en/2023/sga2211.doc.htm United Nations Establishes Teaching Profession High-Level Panel to Build on Outcomes of Transforming Education Summit
  39. https://www.securityconference.de/en/about/advisory-council/ Advisory Council
  40. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/about/international-advisory-board/ International Advisory Board
  41. https://www.cer.eu/advisory-board Advisory Board
  42. https://www.councilwomenworldleaders.org/members.html Members
  43. https://ecfr.eu/council/ Members
  44. https://www.globsec.org/who-we-are/international-advisory-council International Advisory Council
  45. https://yes-ukraine.org/en/about/yes-board Board
  46. Web site: Kersti Kaljulaid, former President of Estonia, and per Mickwitz, Pro Vice Chancellor at Lund University, join SEI Board .
  47. Web site: President first Estonian to make it to Forbes' World's 100 Most Powerful Women list. baltictimes.com. en. 2018-01-28.
  48. News: President Kaljulaid among Forbes' 100 most powerful women. 2017-11-01. Estonian World. 2018-01-28. en-US.
  49. News: Women Who Rule the World: The 25 Most Powerful Female Political Leaders 2017. Howard. Caroline. Forbes. 2018-01-28. en.
  50. Web site: Vabariigi President. www.president.ee. 28 January 2021.
  51. Web site: Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunnan suurristin ketjuineen ulkomaalaiset saajat . 14 April 2019 . 4 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190904154004/http://www.ritarikunnat.fi/index.php/fi/ritarikunnat/rekisterit/216-suomen-valkoisen-ruusun-ritarikunnan-suurristin-ketjuineen-saajat-ulkomaalaiset . dead .
  52. Web site: Speech: Order of Merit to former President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid . . 15 March 2023 . 16 March 2023.
  53. Web site: Artikel: Besuch in Estland und beim Bundeswehrkontingent . . de . 16 March 2023.
  54. Web site: Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana. www.quirinale.it. 28 January 2021.
  55. Web site: Par Triju Zvaigžņu ordeņa piešķiršanu – Latvijas Vēstnesis. www.vestnesis.lv. 28 January 2021.
  56. Web site: УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №392/2021. 2021-08-24. Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України. uk.
  57. http://www.postimees.ee/v2/117217/aasta-eurooplaseks-valiti-kersti-kaljulaid Aasta eurooplaseks valiti Kersti Kaljulaid
  58. http://oef.org.ee/teoksil/koostoo-dialoog-debatt/koosmeel/ The Unity Award
  59. https://www.lgbt.ee/post/lgbt-kogukonna-eest-seisjad-palvisid-vikerkaarekangelase-auhinna/ LGBT+ kogukonna eest seisjad pälvisid vikerkaarekangelase auhinna
  60. http://publik.delfi.ee/news/inimesed/kersti-kaljulaid-ujub-presidendiakvaariumis-uksinda-nad-on-koik-mu-seljataga-olemas-mu-perekond?id=75756461 Kersti Kaljulaid ujub presidendiakvaariumis üksinda: nad on kõik mu seljataga olemas, mu perekond
  61. Web site: ERR. ERR . 2020-05-10. Kersti Kaljulaid: I am a relatively useless grandmother. 2021-05-21. ERR. en.
  62. http://digileht.ohtuleht.ee/761864/kes-on-kersti-kaljulaiu-salaparane-abikaasa-georgi-rene-maksimovski Kes on Kersti Kaljulaiu salapärane abikaasa Georgi-Rene Maksimovski?
  63. http://digi.lib.ttu.ee/i/?113 TTÜ lõpetajad 1918–2006
  64. http://news.err.ee/v/news/7814e30b-ebb8-4d0f-a0af-384c4f732a8d/prosecutor-ends-criminal-proceeding-concerning-raimond-kaljulaid "Prosecutor ends criminal proceeding concerning Raimond Kaljulaid"
  65. http://publik.delfi.ee/news/inimesed/uhe-perekonna-tahtis-nadal-eesti-uueks-presidendiks-voib-saada-asja-abielu-lahutanud-raimond-kaljulaiu-poolode?id=75741119 Ühe perekonna tähtis nädal: Eesti uueks presidendiks võib saada äsja abielu lahutanud Raimond Kaljulaiu poolõde
  66. Web site: Biography. president.ee. Vabariigi Presidendi Kantselei. 2 March 2018.
  67. Web site: New President Of Estonia Doesn't Mind to Speak Russian . russia-ic.com.