On 12 October, Julle Madise was sworn in at the Riigikogu and took office as President of Estonia. She succeeded Alar Karis, whose five-year term had come to an end. In her first address, the new head of state called for the restoration of trust between the authorities and society. Madise became the country’s seventh president and the second woman to hold the post.
Briefly about the main points
- Julle Madise took up her post after being sworn in at the Riigikogu.
- She succeeded Alar Karis, who had completed a five-year term.
- In her address, the President called for greater trust and recognition of people.
- Parliament elected Madise with 71 votes in favour, having secured the required 68.
- Before becoming president, she served as Minister of Justice for over ten years.
The ceremony at Toompea and the President’s first address
Before the ceremony Madise together with my husband Laurie arrived at the Presidential Office in Kadriorz. There, they were met by Alar Karis and his wife Sirye. The participants then travelled to Toompea Castle, where Parliament sits; Karis delivered his farewell address as head of state. The ceremony was broadcast on ERR channels.
In her first speech, Madise focused on the relationship between the state and its citizens. She stated that society needs greater trust and recognition of individuals. In her view, attempts over recent decades to dictate to people how they should live, think, feel and express themselves have had the opposite effect. «Now is the time to rebuild trust», said the President.
The Riigikogu elected Madise at an extraordinary sitting
Parliament Madise was elected on 2 September at an extraordinary sitting. In a secret ballot, she received 71 votes, whilst at least 68 — two-thirds of the Riigikogu — were required for her to win.
78 MPs took part in the procedure; seven ballot papers were left blank. Madise’s candidacy was put forward by 75 MPs.
Legal experience and the start of a five-year term of office
Madise is 51 years old. She was born and educated in Tartu; she has a degree in law and has worked at the Ministry of Justice, the Parliament’s Constitutional Committee and the State Audit Office. She has also served as legal adviser to the President and taught public law at the University of Tartu.
Since 2015, Madise has held the post of Chancellor of Justice — an independent constitutional institution responsible for monitoring compliance with the constitution and human rights. At the end of 2021, she was appointed to a second term. She assumed the duties of the President on the day she was sworn in; the term of office for the Head of State in Estonia is five years.
