The betrothed President plans to get married while still in office

Photo: Eero Vabamägi

Increasingly interested in acquiring the Estonian language, Latvian defence ministry cyber security head Ieva Kupce has won the heart and respect of Estonia's President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and might become his wife before the presidential term runs out in autumn next year. 

On January 2nd last year, President Ilves travelled to Rūjiena, Latvia to buy ice-cream for euros as to celebrate Latvian entry into eurozone and be near his new love Ieva Kupce. «Yes, the President is happy,» they say from the Castle in Kadriorg.

Having betrothed in mid-November, the couple creates a question of what will the TV screens show the nation at the Reception on February 24th. Will it feature the President Ilves alone, or will he be married by then, or will he invite Ms Kupce to be at his side at an opportune moment as the handshakes happen? To the knowledge of Postimees, the official knot will be tied before the presidential term is over.

Etiquette example wanting

Kadriorg will neither confirm nor decline that the betrothed might stand by the President’s side on February 24th at Anniversary of the Republic. Understandably, Estonia has no set traditions regarding that and thus the Office of the President is looking into these in other nations.

At least in recent history, there are no instances of heads of states getting divorced and betrothed while in office. Things would be easier with getting married.

A persona eyed is the German President Joachim Gauck – married till this day to Gerhild Gauck and mother of his four children, while not living together since the beginning of 1990ies. Starting 2000, Joachim Gauck lives with journalist Daniela Schadt and attends public events as accompanied by the latter. Thus, Ms Schadt was with President Gauck in May as President Ilves was on state visit to Germany and asked his German colleague to Arvo Pärt concert.

For the most part, however, European heads of state, whose marriages have made shipwrecks to be followed by a new relationship, have married their new partner as they become heads of state or before that. For instance, the Finnish President Sauli Niinistö whose wife and mother of his children perished in a traffic accident in 1995 remarried in 2009. So Mr was again officially married while successfully running for president the second time in 2012.

Traditionally, getting betrothed and the woman accepting the betrothal ring from the man means agreement regarding soon-coming wedding. In these recent times, being betrothed may go on for years and be essentially cohabitation. The latter now accepted in society – as practiced, among others, by Estonia’s Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas –, it shouldn’t basically be a problem if at the most festive of occasions President Ilves would invite his fresh betrothed to his side.

Unveiled in September

Mid-September, this year, President Ilves made his initial public appearance with Ms Kupce as they attended an Arvo Pärt jubilee concert in Tallinn. The communication between the two was perceived to be more than just attending a concert – as confirmed by the recent ring presented.

As assured to Postimees by several diplomats and state officials asking for anonymity, the special something between had been detected between Mr Ilves and Ms Kupce at least two years ago while Ms Kupce was working as adviser to MEP Artis Pabriks then Latvian defence minister. Namely, the woman accompanied the minister at Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn.

«Mr Ilves entered the hall to warmly greet not Mr Pabriks, who stepped behind the back of his adviser as if he (Mr Pabriks – edit) were her escort, but the very adviser who was the dame in question,» a source said. Those present were under the impression this wasn’t the first time the two met. The source said Mr Ilves and Ms Kupce have met at other work-related events and that the delicate and deep something between them remained not hidden.  

«She is very very keen in all things security,» says an Estonian politician present at said meetings, awed at the professionalism in Ms Kupce.

Latvian media says Mr Ilves and Ms Kupce know each other ever since working in the European Parliament.

Toomas Hendrik Ilves (61) and Evelin Ilves (47) divorced their marriage of 11 years this April. The  motive was assumed to a public kissing between Evelin Ilves and a dancing partner in a Tallinn cafe as a sign the relations of the presidential couple were far from close emotionally.

Ieva Kupce (38)

-Cyber security coordination section head at Latvian defence ministry.

-Launched diplomatic career at Latvian foreign ministry in 1997.

-Involved in preparations of 2006 NATO summit in Riga, formerly employed by Latvian representation at NATO and as EU special representative in Baku.

-Involved with Latvian cyber defence since 2012.

-Honoured by multiple decorations by Latvian state.

-Never married, mother of a son by Latvian Ambassador to Greece  Ivars Pundurs.