Madise urges Estonia to seize opportunity in uncertain times

President Ülle Madise said Estonia’s future is neither dark nor predetermined, and called on people to make the most of uncertain times. She made the remarks in her first speech to parliament after taking the oath of office on Monday, ERR reports.

Madise said everyone in Estonia should be able to feel valued, despite their differences. In many parts of the country, she said, people still help one another, from pulling a neighbour’s car out of the snow to leaving cucumbers and tomatoes on a neighbour’s door handle.

But during her time as Chancellor of Justice, Madise said, she had too often seen people who devoted themselves to helping others receive little in return. Estonia needs more trust and warm recognition, she said, adding that doctors, journalists, police officers, teachers, farmers and others are trained professionals who do their best. Trust must be earned, she added.

Madise said past efforts to prescribe how people should live, think or feel had badly damaged trust, which now needs to be rebuilt. Although fears of war are widespread and the world is unpredictable, she said Estonia has become stronger and still has more work to do. People should not give in to fear or hopelessness, she said, calling for more humour, lightness and spiritual sustenance.

She also highlighted the importance of culture, urging people to value local cultural figures while remaining curious about how other peoples live and about their cultures.

Estonia’s future depends on every child receiving a good education, Madise said, whether they attend a rural or city school, live with their parents, in a foster family or in a children’s home, or are still learning Estonian. She said the Estonian language and culture must be well represented in artificial intelligence models, and that AI should be accessible to smaller and poorer users and serve humanity.

Madise also called for action to ensure families have somewhere to live and raise children, and that having a child does not lead to financial hardship. She said a family-friendly Estonia could be an issue in upcoming elections.

The president said she could help make the hopes and expectations of people across the country heard, including in places working to retain residents and develop businesses. She said the state should avoid rules, bans, unnecessary bureaucracy and excessive oversight that stifle creativity and enterprise, adding that she could remind the government of this, including through a veto if necessary.

Madise praised Estonia’s previous presidents for making the country better and stronger, and also commended Sirje Karis for her work. She said trust, freedom, responsibility and clear communication could help people remain hopeful and believe in Estonia.