Team sets sights

Photo: Liis Treimann / Postimees

The new chief of the Office of the President, Tiit Riisalo, says that the republic of the anniversary concert will he held in Tallinn, and the president will make her first domestic visit to Virumaa.

What has filled your first days? Have you marked all the calendars for the next three years?

No, it does not happen quite that quickly. We have divided our work into two stages: first we will look at the time we have until the end of the year, or roughly 100 days. That is the window in which we need to make our initial marks. During that time we also need to outline our plan for the next five years – the general framework of Kersti Kaljulaid's presidency, its priorities and how to achieve them.

Content advisers have been largely found, and the framework will be born out of cooperation with them.

Have all the advisers been found?

Not all. We have Kyllike Sillaste-Elling and Merle Maigre on foreign affairs and security. Heido Vitsur is in charge of economic affairs that are among the most important for the president. We have Urmo Kübar on civil society. We are very glad these people agreed to be on board.

How soon do you plan to fill all advisory positions?

We have not set ourselves a deadline; however, we've been meeting with people regularly. I believe we will have the team assembled in October.

Describe the situation when you agreed to become the president's office chief at such short notice. Were you swept up by a tornado – straight to work and ready to react?

That is how it is. To describe the structure of the president's office, it is made up of two parts. One side includes the president's closest advisers who serve as long as the president does. On the other you have the chancellery that ensures functionality in everything from the secretariat, operating 24 hours a day, to housekeeping. The protocol department ensures all domestic and foreign visits are carried out properly. We won't be given a hundred days to settle in so we could start working in January.

How well do you know what it is you will have to do in your office?

I believe I have a good overview by now. On the one hand, the fact that I was involved with the presidential election in summer helped somewhat. I inevitably gave the matter some thought when I helped shape Allar Jõks' thoughts into a political program and later during the campaign. We traveled quite a lot and communicated it all.

The other side is practical. I will have to learn that offhand; however, I came here feeling confident as my predecessor Alo Heinsalu is one of the most diligent and celebrated state officials in Estonia. I do not have to worry about surprises.

Let us get to the bottom of the matter of you and the Pro Patria Res Publica Union (IRL). You served as the party's secretary general for three years. We know of unethical, so as not to say criminal, scandals surrounding secretary generals of other parties. Can we be sure nothing like that will come to mar you?

You cannot; however, I can be sure there will not be anything of the sort.

This is the place where you can place your hand on your heart and swear nothing like that has happened.

You hinted at troubled history. How to put this – time goes on. Looking back at tax discipline among Estonian entrepreneurs in the first half of he 1990s, it probably differed quite a lot from what it is today, even though the people are the same. The era dictates its culture, and in Estonia's case the trend has been positive. Everything is much more transparent and legible.

A former secretary general of a party has told me that every time someone approached them with an offer that might be characterized as illegal, the simplest way to react was to vocally tell them to stuff it that would let any potential eavesdroppers know no deals were cut. Have you experienced similar situations?

No, I have had no such meetings. Of course I've met with dozens, if not hundreds of entrepreneurs, with many of them several times. That was part of the work done at IRL. We had a group of people who participated in the party's work, and to share the workload, everyone had their own acquaintances they talked to.

These meetings always followed two topics: what is the situation, and what could be done to be improve it, or in other words political input. Secondly we were asked whether it would be possible to support the party so it could pursue some campaign.

That was my work as part of the whole fundraising process. All parties and people active in politics do it, and there is nothing wrong with it. If you monitor the US presidential election campaign, or if you're on the candidates' mailing lists, every other email you receive asks you for money.

It is no accident several of Toomas Hendrik Ilves' former assistants have decided to take a time-out until New Year and set about looking for new challenges next year. You do not fear you'll be forced to pull the plug and rest after some time so to speak?

No, I have no such fears. It definitely depends on the president. We will get to know each other over time; however, I hope I will be lucky enough to work here energetically for the next five years.

Good physical form is always an advantage in terms of mental work – I've tried to stay in good enough shape for it not to become an obstacle.

I've heard you've even competed in tough military competitions?

That is ancient history, but there was a time when we won the Erna Trek, that was the toughest military competition in the world at the time, twice with the Estonian reserve officers' team. We also won the Swiss Raid Commando that was considered the world championship for special units or long-range reconnaissance teams. We remain the only non-Swiss team to have won it. It happened in 2009.

So being on call 24/7 is no problem for you?

No.

The president's initial foreign visits will take her to Finland and Latvia. Are these merely introductory visits or will topical matters be discussed?

They're called work visits. On the one hand they afford the opportunity to meet; however, some specific things will be discussed. The president's first Estonia visit will take her to Virumaa in two days' time.

More experienced people are saying that preparations for the February 24 event should already be underway. Has that process been launched?

Yes, it has been launched. For example we reviewed the last president's Christmas and New Year's greetings today (yesterday – J. V.) (Riisalo opens a folder with samples – J. V.). It might seem like a simple thing; however, there are a lot of recipients, and efforts have been made so the greetings would carry an important message at a specific moment in time. It seems we've set our sights, and things are taking shape. The same concerns preparations for the anniversary of the republic.

The party will be held in Tallinn?

Yes, the venue was decided during the previous president's term. It is the Estonia Concert Hall. The idea was that it would be easier to change presidents in Tallinn. We will see about where it will be held in coming years.

Are you prepared for a situation where you will probably have to make superhuman efforts to pull off the concert and all aspects of hosting so many guests successfully only to have the lion's share of the press concentrate solely on people's appearance? Will you be able to ward off bitterness should your contribution be overlooked?

That will definitely not be a problem, and I will not be alone. We have a good team. I think everyone has their own aspect that interests them: some will look to the concert, some will want to hear the president's speech, while others will look to matters of fashion. That's life.

Have you discussed doing something differently?

We have ideas; however, it is too soon to comment on them. Fundamentally we find that rituals, traditions, and customs are important for a country. We will not be making any radical changes, while we are working on some ideas to introduce a measure of freshness.

You need to be the connection between advisers and a decision-maker in your work. Can you describe yourself as a team player and a decision-maker if need be?

It is difficult to evaluate these things in oneself; however, people I've worked with have left me the impression they liked working with me. No one has left bitterly or bearing a grudge. I love working with smart people as that is what makes us better.

In the end it is important every day gives you something to take with you and learn. If we have to look for the meaning of life, it's that simple – to live every day so that you're a tiny bit wiser by nightfall. I hope I am a good team player. There have been no signs to the contrary so far.