Alar Karis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alar Karis
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Karis in 2024
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| 6th President of Estonia | |
| Assumed office 11 October 2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Kaja Kallas Kristen Michal |
| Preceded by | Kersti Kaljulaid |
| Director of the Estonian National Museum | |
| In office 9 April 2018 – 7 September 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Tõnis Lukas |
| Succeeded by | Kertu Saks |
| Auditor General of Estonia | |
| In office 7 April 2013 – 7 March 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Mihkel Oviir |
| Succeeded by | Janar Holm |
| Rector of the University of Tartu | |
| In office 3 July 2007 – 30 June 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Tõnu Lehtsaar (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Volli Kalm |
| Rector of the Estonian University of Life Sciences | |
| In office 2003–2007 |
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| Preceded by | Henn Elmet |
| Succeeded by | Mait Klaassen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 March 1958 Tartu, Estonian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse |
Sirje Karis
(m. 1977) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Estonian University of Life Sciences |
Alar Karis (born 26 March 1958) is an Estonian scientist and politician. He is an expert in molecular genetics and developmental biology. Since 11 October 2021, he has been the sixth president of Estonia.
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Alar Karis's Early Life and Career
Alar Karis was born in Tartu, Estonia, on 26 March 1958. His father, Harry Karis, was a botanist, who studied plants. His mother, Virve Karis, was an expert in animal nutrition. Alar Karis graduated from the Estonian Agricultural Academy in 1981. Later, in 1999, he became a professor at the University of Tartu.
Important Roles Before Becoming President
Before becoming president, Alar Karis held several important positions:
- He was the head, or rector, of the Estonian University of Life Sciences from 2003 to 2007.
- He then served as the rector of the University of Tartu from 2007 to 2012.
- From 2013 to 2018, he was the Auditor General of Estonia. This role involves checking how the government spends money.
- He was also the director of the Estonian National Museum from 2018 until 2021.
Becoming President of Estonia
In August 2021, Alar Karis was asked to consider running for president. Both major political parties in Estonia supported him. On 31 August 2021, he was elected as the president of Estonia. He received 72 votes from the Riigikogu, which is Estonia's parliament. He officially started his job as president on 11 October 2021.
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What the President Does
As president, Alar Karis promised to be a "balancer and a mediator." This means he aims to help different groups in Estonia work together. He also wants to make sure the country runs smoothly.
Soon after becoming president, he made official visits to nearby countries like Latvia and Finland. These visits help build good relationships with other nations.
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President's Role in Laws
The president in Estonia has the right to send laws back to the parliament if they believe there is a problem with them. This is called "not promulgating" a law.
For example, in December 2023, President Karis sent a law back because he felt the government did not follow the correct rules when passing it. The parliament passed the law again, but Karis still refused to approve it. He then sent it to the Supreme Court, which agreed with him.
In July 2024, he also sent back a law about vehicle tax. He believed it was unfair to people with disabilities. The parliament then changed the law to make it fair, and President Karis approved it.
Personal Life
Alar Karis has been married to Sirje Karis since 1977. They have three children and five grandchildren. Besides Estonian, he can speak English and Russian.
Honours and Awards
Alar Karis has received many awards for his work and service to Estonia and other countries.
Estonian Awards
- He is the Grand Master of several important Estonian awards, including the Order of the National Coat of Arms and the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana.
- He also received the Fourth Class of the Order of the White Star in 2007.
International Awards
He has also received awards from other countries, showing his international recognition:
- From Finland, he received the Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose.
- From Latvia, he received the Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars.
- From Sweden, he received the Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim.
- From Ukraine, he received the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise.
See also
In Spanish: Alar Karis para niños
