Estonia's new president not to bill state for use of own home
President Kersti Kaljulaid, inaugurated on Oct. 10, does not intend to bill the Estonian state for continuing to use her current home in Tallinn's Nõmme district as her predecessor Toomas Hendrik Ilves did regarding his own homestead in Viljandi County.
"President Kaljulaid regards as her home as the home where she lives," Taavi Linnamäe, the president's PR adviser, told BNS. "She is not claiming any rent and continues to pay for utilities herself."
During his time in office, Ilves paid the company Ermamaa OÜ, which belonged to then-wife Evelin Ilves and operated on his Ärma Farm, a monthly rent of 1,278.23 euros from 2007-2010 and 958.67 euros per month in rent from 2011-2014, to which VAT was added. Ilves and Evelin Ilves divorced in 2015, after which the president became the sole owner of Ermamaa OÜ.
At the same time, the Office of the President paid the wages of two staff members for Ärma Farm as well as maintenance expenses for the complex. These outlays totaled 61,722 euros in 2015, 68,113 euros in 2014, 64,836 in 2013, 72,808 euros in 2012, 64,706 euros in 2011, 63,886 euros in 2010, 53,840 euros in 2009 and 65,381 euros in 2008.
Of the expenses covered by the Office of the President in 2015, the wages of the two staff members amounted to 31,362 euros while maintenance accounted for 30,361 euros in expenses.
Editor: Editor: Aili Vahtla
Source: BNS