President of the Republic of Estonia from 2016-2021

Throughout her tenure, she made a significant impact in both her homeland and the international arena.

In the presidential elections held in 2016, Kersti Kaljulaid was nominated as the candidate for the head of state by 90 members of the Riigikogu on 30 September and was elected to the post with the votes of 81 of the 101 members of the parliament on 3 October. She was inaugurated as the fifth President of the Republic of Estonia on 10 October 2016, taking over in the role from President Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

During her time in office, President Kaljulaid made her presence felt in both her homeland and the international arena. One of her guiding principles in her role as head of state was one which she set out at the start of her time in office: “I am never silent when our security is in question, when our freedoms are at stake or when those weaker than us are treated unjustly.”