Rainer Saks may become president’s security adviser

Security expert Rainer Saks may become President Ülle Madise’s security adviser and may not run for parliament with the Parempoolsed party, ERR reports. Saks declined to comment in greater detail, saying talks were under way but no final decision had been made.

Saks served as director of the Office of the President from 2006 to 2011. He also headed the Information Board, now known as the Foreign Intelligence Service, and later worked as secretary general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In recent years, Saks has been a prominent public commentator on security issues, particularly the war in Ukraine.

He joined the Parempoolsed party in spring 2024 and ran for the European Parliament with the party. He received 12,384 votes but was not elected.

Last Saturday, it was announced that Harrys Puusepp would become Madise’s communications adviser. Paavo Nõgene had previously been named as the incoming director of the president’s office.