Karis says household work awaits after presidency ends

President Alar Karis said at a reception in the Rose Garden that his home has become a summer house and that a long list of household tasks awaits him after his term ends, ERR reported.

“The home has become a summer house. You go there and see that spider webs have appeared again, even though nobody has been staying there,” Karis said. He added that the couple would have to work out how to divide their lives between Tallinn and Tartu, with the focus shifting more towards southern Estonia.

His wife, Sirje Karis, said she would not give up all of her duties as the president’s spouse. She also said she enjoys gardening and tending the greenhouse, and does many things herself when she is able to be at home.

Karis said he does not paint ceilings or floors, but added that tasks he cannot do himself should be left to professionals. “You may want to do everything yourself, but you simply do not know how,” he said.

The president said he would be in Estonia for only a few days over the next five weeks because of planned visits to Ukraine, Latvia, Italy, the Nordic countries, Germany and New York.