Benefits for former presidents depend on work trips
The size of the benefits to be paid to former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves per year is estimated to be in the same range as that of his predecessor Arnold Rüütel, with the payouts for both depending on how much they travel for work, spokespeople for the Office of the President said.
"The overall estimated size of the expenses related to the former presidents for 2017 is comparable, which means that costs will be in the same range for both President Rüütel and President Ilves," Piret Pert, director of the Public Relations Department at the Office of the President of the Republic, told BNS.
In 2015, payouts for Rüütel totaled 148,149 euros, which included personnel costs for the employment of four persons inclusive of taxes in the amount of 80,760 euros as well as operating costs in the amount of 67,390 euros. The latter included 30,489 euros spent on the upkeep of properties, 22,513 euros on vehicles, 11,914 euros on travel, 1,197 euros on inventories, 683 euros on IT and communications as well as 594 euros on administration costs.
Payouts for Helle Meri, widow of former President Lennart Meri, totaled 37,678 euros in 2015. This included the wages of one person in the amount of 15,181 euros as well as operating costs totaling 22,496 euros. Of the latter, maintenance of vehicles accounted for 13,664 euros, upkeep of properties for 8,161 euros, IT and communications 329 euros, administration costs 210 euros and inventories 132 euros.
Editor: Editor: Aili Vahtla
Source: BNS