Alar Karis

Alar Karis
Karis in 2022
6th President of Estonia
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 October 2021
Prime Minister	Kaja Kallas Kristen Michal
Preceded by	Kersti Kaljulaid
Director of the Estonian National Museum
In office 9 April 2018 – 7 September 2021
Preceded by	Tõnis Lukas
Succeeded by	Kertu Saks
Auditor General of Estonia
In office 7 April 2013 – 7 March 2018
Preceded by	Mihkel Oviir
Succeeded by	Janar Holm
Rector of the University of Tartu
In office 3 July 2007 – 30 June 2012
Preceded by	Tõnu Lehtsaar (Acting)
Succeeded by	Volli Kalm
Rector of the Estonian University of Life Sciences
In office 2003–2007
Preceded by	Henn Elmet
Succeeded by	Mait Klaassen
Personal details
Born	(1958-03-26) 26 March 1958 Tartu, Estonia
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Sirje Karis ​ (m. 1977)​
Children	3
Alma mater	Estonian University of Life Sciences

Alar Karis (Estonian pronunciation: [ˈɑlɑr ˈkɑris]; born 26 March 1958) is an Estonian molecular geneticist, developmental biologist, civil servant and politician who, since 11 October 2021, has served as the sixth president of Estonia.

Prior to presidency

Karis was born in Tartu on 26 March 1958. His father was the botanist Harry Karis (1930–2018) and his mother Virve Karis (1929–2020), an agriculture specialist in animal nutrition. He grew up with his mother and grandmother Vilhelmine after his parents divorced in 1960. He graduated from the Estonian Agricultural Academy in 1981. In 1999, he became a professor at the University of Tartu.

Karis served as rector of the Estonian University of Life Sciences from 2003 to 2007, as rector of the University of Tartu from 2007 to 2012, as the Auditor General of Estonia from 2013 to 2018, and as director of the Estonian National Museum from 2018 to 2021.

Presidency

Karis meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, on 22 February 2022

In August 2021, he was approached by the president of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas with a prospect of nomination for the post of president of Estonia in the upcoming autumn election. He accepted the nomination and his candidacy was subsequently endorsed by both coalition parties, the Reform Party and the Centre Party. On 31 August 2021, Karis was elected as the president of Estonia with a two thirds majority of 72 votes in the Riigikogu. He assumed the office on 11 October 2021.

Karis meets with King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf in Tallinn, 2 May 2023

The election received criticism and calls for electoral reform due to the absence of opposing candidates. In his acceptance speech Karis referenced the "turmoil that surrounded the presidential selection process" and called for changes of the system to be examined by the Riigikogu, such as using an enlarged electoral college, facilitating the nomination of candidates or even using direct election. He promised to be a balancer and a mediator during his presidential term.

Karis started his presidency with state visits to Latvia and Finland. The visit to Latvia was hosted by the speaker of the Saeima Ināra Mūrniece as President of Latvia Egils Levits had tested positive for COVID-19 the previous evening.

Karis on several occasions has used his right not to promulgate laws passed by the parliament. In December 2023 Karis refused to promulgate a law due to finding that the rules of proceedings were violated by the government by tying the bill to confidence vote. Karis found in his decision that all-out obstruction in the Riigikogu, that may render the parliament unable to work, does not give the government the right to keep tying all bills to confidence votes and therefore pushing them through the parliament. The Riigikogu however adopted the bill unchanged, Karis refused to promulgate the second time and sent the bill to the Supreme Court. Supreme Court sided with Karis.

In July 2024 Karis did not proclaim the Vehicle Tax Act finding it to be unconstitutional in violating the principle of equal treatment in the part that deals with persons with disabilities. He approved it when the law was amended by the parliament.

Personal life

He has been married to Sirje Karis (née Jädal) since 1977, with whom he has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Besides Estonian, Karis is fluent in English and Russian. Although he is fluent in Russian, he has admitted that it needs some practice since he has not had to speak the language in a long time.

Honours

National honours

• Grand Master and Collar of the Order of the National Coat of Arms (11 October 2021)
• Grand Master of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
• Grand Master of the Order of the White Star
• Fourth Class of the Order of the White Star (2007)
• Grand Master of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle
• Grand Master of the Order of the Estonian Red Cross

Foreign honours

• Belgium: Commander’s Cross of the Order of Leopold II (2008)
• Finland:
  • Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose (27 May 2024)
  • Commander 1st Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland (2013)
• Latvia:
  • Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (20 April 2023)
  • Commander of the Cross of Recognition (9 April 2019)
• Sweden:
  • Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (2 May 2023)
  • Commander 1st Class of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (2011)
• Ukraine:
  • Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise I degree (24 August 2024)