Kirsti Aalu-Mäkina

**Kirsti Aalu-Mäkina** (née **Aalu**; born 1 September 1976) is an Estian politician who has served as prime minister of Estland since 2020. She is the second woman to serve in this office. Aalu-Mäkina is additionally the cofounder and leader of the Future Forwards political party.

Aalu-Mäkina was born in Otesalu. After graduating from secondary school in 1995, Aalu-Mäkina enrolled in Jõgeküla University, receiving a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1998, and a master's degree in political philosophy in 2000. After completing her education, Aalu-Mäkina returned to Otesalu, where she was hired as a junior advisor in the office of the deputy mayor of Otesalu. In 2005, Aalu-Mäkina was hired as a staffer in the communications department of the office of the president of Estland, later becoming deputy director of communications to the president in 2009. In 2014, Aalu-Mäkina left the position to enter the private sector.

In 2018, Aalu-Mäkina returned to politics after cofounding the Future Forwards political party. Soon after the party's foundation, Aalu-Mäkina was elected as its inaugural leader. Following numerous appearances in the Estian media, Aalu-Mäkina led the party into the 2020 parliamentary election, which saw great success as the party won a plurality of seats. She negotiated a coalition agreement with the Reform Party and took office as the prime minister of Estland on 24 February 2020, with her cabinet taking office that day.

## Early life and education

Aalu-Mäkina was born on 1 September 1976 in Otesalu to parents Siim Aalu (born 1948) and Triinu Valviõli (born 1950). Her father worked for the government, while her mother was a homemaker. Aalu-Mäkina is the eldest of four daughters; her younger sisters include Eliisa (born 1979), Onne (born 1981), and Birgit (born 1984).

Aalu-Mäkina began her education in 1982, attending public schooling in Otesalu. After graduating from primary school in 1992, Aalu-Mäkina enrolled in the prestigious Otesalu Gymnasium I, where she studied an academic program in classical studies. After graduating from the school in 1995, Aalu-Mäkina enrolled in the Faculty of Humanities at the Jõgeküla University to study philosophy. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in 1998, and later reenrolled in the school to study a graduate program in political philosophy, receiving her master's degree in 2000.

## Political career

### Early politics

Aalu-Mäkina began her career in politics after graduating with her master's degree in 2000, being hired as a junior advisor at the office of the deputy mayor of Otesalu. In 2003, she was promoted to communications advisor, and remained in the position until 2005. That year, Aalu-Mäkina left the office and was hired in the communications department in the office of the president of Estland, working out of the Presidential Palace.

In 2009, Aalu-Mäkina was promoted to deputy director of communications in the office of the president, where she was responsible for assisting in the organization and publication of press releases, press conferences, and public appearances. Aalu-Mäkina resigned from the position in 2014, in order to enter the private sector. After resigning, Aalu-Mäkina worked in technology as a communications executive until 2018.

### Future Forwards leader

In 2018, Aalu-Mäkina was one of eight cofounders of the Future Forwards political party. The party, founded by former political operatives and private sector technology executives, positioned itself as a centrist and liberal political party focused primarily on progressivism and further developing Estland into a technological center of the world. During the party's first conference, Aalu-Mäkina was elected as its inaugural leader.

After being elected as party leader, Aalu-Mäkina made several news appearances in the Estian media, where she criticized the governing of Siimon Liipamaa and the Social Democratic Party. With her frequent media appearances, polling for the party began to dramatically increase. She led the party into the 2020 parliamentary election, where they saw immense success and won a plurality of seats in the Saadikutemaja.

### Premiership

Following the results of the 2020 parliamentary election, Aalu-Mäkina confirmed that she would be opening coalition negotiations with the Reform Party in order to form a governing majority. After two weeks of negotiations, the media reported that the discussions were going positively, and were close to an agreement. The coalition agreement was later signed the following week, and discussion of ministerial appointments began. The two parties came to an agreement on 23 February 2020, and Aalu-Mäkina's proposed government was submitted to Jarel Köt the following day. That day, Aalu-Mäkina was sworn in as prime minister of Estland by Köt, in addition to her cabinet. After taking office, she became the second woman to serve as prime minister in Estland.

Upon assuming the position of prime minister, Aalu-Mäkina sought to lower the corporate tax rate imposed by the Social Democratic Party, which she deemed as "excessive." She additionally laid out plans to further strengthen the Estian technology industry, and to promote Estland as a "center of e-democracy." In addition to these reforms, Aalu-Mäkina's government were also instrumental in passing several social reforms, including the legalization of same-sex marriage and adoption rights.

## Personal life

Aalu-Mäkina married Estian economist and stockbroker Ahti Mäkina in 1999. They met when they were 16 years old, and had been dating since. Aalu-Mäkina and Mäkina have three children together: Taavo (born 2002), Miina (born 2006), and Tiia (born 2010). Since 2020, the family has resided in Eckton House in Otesalu.

In addition to her native Estian, Aalu-Mäkina is additionally fluent in Ditrovian, Medish, and Rann, and is also conversational in Pescan.