Kaarel Tarand is the editor-in-chief of Sirbi. He told ERR that President Alar Karis's New Year's speech was simple. The president did not make his speech too complicated. This is correct in Tarand's opinion.
Tarand said that it is difficult for the president to get attention during the New Year's transition. People are at parties and are already thinking about the new year. For example, the leaders of Germany and France spoke about the war in Ukraine in their speeches. The Estonian president spoke in a lighter tone.
Tarand said that it is difficult to evaluate the president's speech. The president did what he thought was right. Can something important be said with this format? This is a very difficult task. Listeners have little attention during the New Year's transition.
The president chose a simple format. This is correct in Tarand's opinion. Deep analyses cannot be done with a short speech. The president wished for a better communication culture in Estonia.
The president did not offer specific topics. Tarand said that society should choose topics itself. Not all topics can be discussed at once. Attention is scattered and nothing is resolved.
Tarand believes that the president's message will not reach people immediately. The holiday mood continues. People turn to everyday life only in mid-January. Then they start thinking about the future.
Parliamentary elections are a year away. A new president will be elected later. Before the elections, more general topics could be discussed.
Tarand does not think that the president's speech is necessary every year. There are already many wishes shared in the media. Does the president need to say something special? Or is it just a nice greeting?