Nõgene will lead Madis’s presidential office and sees two-term potential

Paavo Nõgene will lead Estonia’s President’s Office as Ülle Madis takes office on Monday, and believes she could serve two terms, ERR reported.

Nõgene, a former Tallink chief executive and long-time official and cultural-sector executive, said Madis had the potential to remain president for two terms. He also said former president Alar Karis had that potential and regretted that Karis chose not to seek re-election.

Nõgene said accepting the offer to lead the team at Kadriorg, the presidential seat, meant postponing his plan to take time off and sail the world’s seas. He described the job as a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and said he had accepted it gladly. He expects the trip to wait a few years, adding that he would still have time for a sea cruise in ten years.

Taking the post also means he will not run to become chair of the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) board. Nõgene said he had considered the possibility but had not been certain he would stand. He expects a public competition to attract many candidates and said he would take part in the decision as a member of the broadcaster’s council.

Nõgene said he had not yet reviewed the President’s Office budget but did not expect a financial crisis, adding that he believed it had enough funding for planned work.