Estonian President Madise Raises Pay for Some Advisers Compared With Karis's Team

Some advisers to Estonian President Ülle Madise are paid more than their predecessors under former president Alar Karis. Pay has risen in particular for the security adviser and for the president's adviser. Several staff will also carry a heavier workload, which the president's office says matches that of a vice-chancellor or chancellor.

The office's explanation

Marianne Sudakov, head of communications at the president's office, said the team was recruited from professionals who rank among the best in their fields and can meet the president's high expectations. According to her, most advisers now need to work for Estonia every day and full time, rather than part time or with a limited contribution. The organisation of work and the advisers' duties have therefore changed in both scope and intensity.

Sudakov explained that base pay takes into account workload, range of duties and level of responsibility. Several posts are now full time instead of the previous part-time arrangement.

Pay in Madise's team

Communications adviser Harris Puusepp earns 6,000 euros, security adviser Rainer Saks 6,500 euros and domestic policy adviser Vladimir Svet 6,000 euros. Foreign policy adviser Margus Kolga receives 4,600 euros at 0.9 of a full-time post, culture adviser Jaak Prints 5,000 euros, and adviser Piret Arukaevu 4,800 euros. Taimar Peterkop, adviser to the National Defence Council, earns 4,000 euros at 0.5 of a post. Legal advisers Hent-Raul Kalmo and Ida Ulita Vooglaid each receive 1,900 euros at 0.4 of a post. Head of the office Paavo Nõgene earns 8,000 euros.

Karis's team

Under Karis, communications adviser Hannes Hamburg earned 3,000 euros at 0.5 of a post, security adviser Madis Roll 3,900 euros, and office head Krista Zibo 6,100 euros. Kolga and Kalmo were paid the same as now. Culture adviser Rasmus Pur received 1,800 euros at 0.25 of a post, and adviser Sigrid Haage 3,300 euros. Madise has no science and economic advisers, whom Karis had, while Karis had no advisers for domestic policy or the National Defence Council.

In Estonia's civil service, an institution's management sets specific adviser salaries within its budget. Here, that means the president's office leadership or the president herself.