Karis challenged 11 laws and was no rubber stamp, experts say

President Alar Karis promulgated 517 laws during his term and declined to promulgate 11, showing he was not merely a rubber stamp for the government, experts told ERR.

The disputed laws covered rules on foreign nationals and international protection, family benefits, family law, construction and planning, land tax and motor vehicle tax, use of mineral resources, money laundering, international sanctions, and employment and military service.

Karis refused twice to promulgate amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act. Parliament reconsidered the legislation and passed a revised version on June 18, 2025. Karis again declined to promulgate it on July 3, saying it remained unconstitutional.

Parliament passed the law unchanged on September 17 and sent it to the president for promulgation on September 22. On October 3, Karis asked the Supreme Court to rule that the law was unconstitutional. The court found it constitutional on June 8, 2026, and Karis promulgated it that day.

Constitutional law expert Paloma Krõõt Tupay told ERR that the number of laws Karis declined to promulgate showed he was willing to defend the constitution. She said he had not been afraid to criticise parliament and the government when he considered it justified.

Tupay said the public debate prompted by a president’s refusal to promulgate a law was important. It allows the president, parliament and, where necessary, the Supreme Court to assess how the constitution and laws should be understood, she said.

For comparison, former president Kersti Kaljulaid promulgated 498 laws and declined to promulgate six during her term. Toomas Hendrik Ilves promulgated 1,253 and declined to promulgate nine over two terms; Arnold Rüütel promulgated 850 and declined to promulgate 12 during one term; and Lennart Meri promulgated 1,489 and declined to promulgate 42 over two terms.