Estonia's ex-presidents' spouses receive over €2,000 a month
In Estonia, spouses of former presidents receive a monthly state payment to cover representation costs. Delfi also examined what support exists in Latvia and Lithuania.
Spouses of Estonia's former presidents receive more than €2,000 a month from the state to cover representation expenses. The Latvian news portal Delfi reported on the arrangement as part of a comparison of what support the partners of ex-presidents can expect in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
How it works in Estonia
While a president is in office, their spouse is entitled to compensation equal to 30% of the president's monthly salary, currently €3,071.91. Once the president's term ends, the amount falls to 20% of the salary, or €2,047.94 a month.
According to the Estonian President's Office, three people currently receive it: Sirje Karis, spouse of former president Alar Karis; Rene Maksimovski, spouse of former president Kersti Kaljulaid; and Ieva Ilves, wife of former president Toomas Hendrik Ilves. Ilves continues to receive the payment even though she and Toomas Hendrik Ilves have announced their divorce.
Separately, Ingrida Rütel, widow of former president Arnold Rüütel, receives a survivor's pension of about €3,840 a month.
Rules in Latvia
In Latvia, the activities of the President and the guarantees for former presidents are set by the law "On Ensuring the Activities of the State President". The procedure for granting social and other guarantees to former presidents is governed by Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 442 of 7 June 2011. The work of the State President's Chancellery is defined by regulations adopted in 2023 and amended in 2024.
The excerpt of the source does not give specific amounts that spouses of former presidents can receive in Latvia; these are covered in the full Delfi article.
