Estonian president: A city's decisions, just like those of a state, must be understandable

TALLINN – Estonian President Alar Karis, who met with Tallinn Mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski on Tuesday morning, said that the decisions of a city, just like those of a state, must be understandable.

"Tallinn has brought together a third of Estonia, which is not a reproach to our capital, but it formulates a complex task of ensuring that no one disappears or is left out here, that the city is comfortable and safe, just as we expect from even the smallest municipality and actually from the whole country," Karis said.

Karis and Ossinovski talked about the availability of healthcare and the possible merging of Tallinn's hospitals under a single management, the transition to Estonian-language education and the construction of new schools, entrepreneurship and cooperation with neighboring municipalities in the organization of public transport, new tram and trolleybus routes and the future of the Linnahall arena.

"The decisions of a city, just like those of a state, must be understandable, whether the person moves around on foot or with an aid, whether they take public transport, drive a car or even a cargo bike," Karis said.

The head of state and the mayor said that it is in the interest of every city or municipality and the whole of Estonia that the relationship between the state and local government is characterized by cooperation, not confrontation or neglect, and this must be remembered in big matters, but also, for example, when considering the expansion of the Estonia opera house, where the Riigikogu made its decision without discussing it with Tallinn.

On Tuesday, Karis visited the Tallinn Industrial Education Center and Tech Group, a company with an international scope engaged in the design of production automation equipment and production lines. Together with his wife, Sirje Karis, the president will visit the Tallinn Children's Home and Kalamaja Museum, where they will meet with Andro Mänd, city architect of Tallinn.