Tuisk, an independent candidate who is not a member of any party, will be the new mayor of Saaremaa Municipality and the mayor of Kuressaare.

He said serious work now needs to be done to make savings due to the impact of the crisis caused by the coronavirus, reported ETV's "Aktuaalne kaamera".

"This crisis is an economic crisis and we have to make difficult choices. /.../ Economic costs have already been cut sharply, subsidies introduced in good times have been cut. It cannot be ruled out that personnel costs will also be cut," said Tuisk.

He added it will be hard to make cuts because the majority of the people employed by the council are teachers and kindergarten teachers. "There is not much to cut," he said.

The election took place with council members sitting at desks two meters apart and with some members wearing masks.

Tuisk will replace Madis Kallas, who recently stepped down after taking responsibility for the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on the island.

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