Karis awards presidential office director 11,200-euro bonus

Estonian President Alar Karis has awarded Krista Zibo, director of the presidential office, a bonus of 11,200 euros for her service achievements in 2026, ERR reports. Zibo has previously received a substantial bonus from Karis.

On January 29, Karis set Zibo’s monthly basic salary at 6,010 euros, up from 5,500 euros. When she took office on September 2, 2024, her salary was 5,000 euros.

On November 24, 2025, Karis awarded Zibo a 10,500-euro bonus for her service achievements.

Zibo initially held the director’s position for nearly two years under a fixed-term contract, after being temporarily transferred from the State Chancellery. From July 1 this year, just months before the new president takes office, she became a permanent member of staff.

When ERR asked in early September why the contract had only then been changed, the presidential office said Zibo needed to ensure stable management and daily operations until the end of Karis’s term and during the change of presidents. The response did not clarify whether this could also have been achieved under the fixed-term transfer contract.

13 people laid off in two years

As of early September, Zibo had laid off 13 people from the presidential office over the previous two years. Two employees had their final working day only about a month before the new president, Ülle Madise, took office. One had worked at the office for 26 years and the other for nearly 19 years.

Zibo said the changes were necessary to save money and organise the work more effectively.

During the same two-year period, however, eight people were hired by the presidential office. The office justified the hires by citing changes in work roles and processes.