Jarel Köt

**Jarel Köt** (born 19 July 1958) is an Estian politician and costume designer who has served as president of Estland since 2019, becoming the first woman to serve in this office. Köt is an independent politician.

Köt was born in Otesalu. She graduated from secondary school in 1977, and afterwards enrolled in Otesalu Academy of the Arts, receiving a degree in fashion design in 1980. After completing her education, Köt first began working as a designer for a local fashion boutique, before leaving the job to work as a costume designer for various theatrical productions in Otesalu in 1982. Köt left Otesalu in 1984, and moved to Helsingborg where she worked as a costume designer for theatrical productions. She remained in Helsingborg until 1993, when she returned to Otesalu and accepted a position as an instructor of fashion design at Otesalu Academy of the Arts, while also returning to work as a costume designer in Otesalu.

Köt began her career in public service in 1998, when she was appointed to the advisory board of the National Theatre of Estland due to her contributions to Estian theatre. In 2003, Köt was appointed vice-commissioner of theatrical arts in the Ministry of Culture, before being promoted to commissioner of fine arts in 2008. In 2011, Köt was nominated by Toomas Juik to serve as culture minister in his cabinet, to replace the resigning Anne Sörling. After her appointment, Köt became a popular figure in Estian media, becoming well-known for her colorful and eye-catching outfits. She later left the position in 2016, following the resignation of Juik.

After leaving the government, Köt continued her work in public service, founding the Miigikogumaat Foundation, which raises funds for various charitable organizations. In 2019, Köt declared her candidacy in the 2019 presidential election. Following her announcement, Köt secured the support of the governing coalition in parliament and one opposition party, providing her with a clear path towards winning the election. She ultimately won the election and was sworn in as president on 28 August 2019. Following her inauguration, Köt became the first woman to serve as president in Estian history.

## Early life and education

Köt was born on 19 July 1958 in Otesalu to parents Hendrik Köt (1927–2002) and Maarja Käska (1930–2019). Her father was a lawyer, while her mother was a paralegal. Köt is the second of three children; her siblings include Iila (born 1956) and Fredrik (born 1961).

Köt began her education in 1964, attending public schooling in Otesalu. She began secondary school in 1974, studying a program in visual arts with a focus on fashion design. Köt was encouraged by her parents and teachers to pursue an academic path due to her strong grades and intelligence, but wished to pursue art instead. After graduating from secondary school in 1977, Köt enrolled in the Otesalu Academy of the Arts, where she graduated with a degree in fashion design in 1980.

## Fashion career

After completing her education in 1980, Köt had initially aspired to begin her own fashion label as the lead designer. In order to receive experience, Köt began working as a designer for a local upscale fashion boutique in Otesalu. Despite her initial interest in the position, Köt quickly found herself disinterested in the work after realizing that the clothing she wanted to create was not deemed to be marketable, which caused her to recontemplate her ambitions.

In 1982, Köt left the position and began working as a costume designer for theatrical productions in Otesalu. As a freelance designer, Köt designed and curated fashion collections for numerous musicals and plays produced in Otesalu. After achieving recognition within the Estian costume design industry, Köt was asked to design the costumes for a musical production in Hersingborg in 1984. After completing the project, Köt remained in Hersingborg, where she continued to design and curate collections for theatrical productions until 1993.

In 1993, Köt returned to Otesalu, where she was hired as an instructor of fashion design at her alma mater the Otesalu Academy of the Arts. While at the school, Köt taught various courses in costume design, and was later appointed vice-dean of the Department of Fashion Design in 1996. While working as an educator, Köt additionally returned to her work as a costume designer in Otesalu theatrical productions.

## Political career

### Early politics

Köt began her career in politics in 1998, after she was appointed to the advisory board of the National Theatre of Estland by the Ministry of Culture, due to her contributions to Estian theatre. As a member of the advisory board, Köt had a vote in all decisions undertaken by the theatre, including everything from budgetary decisions to determining which shows will be housed at the theatre.

In 2003, Köt was appointed as vice-commissioner of theatrical arts within the Ministry of Culture. Within this position, Köt served underneath the commissioner of fine arts, and was responsible for overseeing public funding for theatrical productions and the management of all state-owned theatres in Estland. Köt was later promoted to commissioner of fine arts in 2008, becoming responsible for overseeing the management and funding of all fine arts programs in Estland.

### Culture minister

In 2011, Anne Sörling tendered her resignation as culture minister due to a desire to return to the private sector. Köt was later nominated by Toomas Juik as her successor, and took her place in the first Toomas Juik cabinet on 14 April 2011. As culture minister, Köt was responsible for overseeing the management, funding, and promotion of Estian literature and publishing, theatre, music, fine arts, cinema, folk arts, museums, libraries, cultural heritage, creative industries, copyright law, cultural diversity, and sports.

After her appointment as minister, Köt quickly began to attract attention within the Estian media due to her often colorful and eye-catching outfits worn at cabinet meetings and press conferences. This media attention led to an increase in popularity for Köt, and by April 2012, 66.5% of Estians had an opinion on Köt, making her the most-visible Estian culture minister since polling was conducted on the office. As culture minister, Köt promoted the construction of a state-of-the-art film studio in Otesalu, which began to attract international film productions to Estland for cheaper studio rentals. In addition to this, Köt frequently advocated for an increase in funding to arts programs in Estian public schools. After working with the Ministry of Education, Köt was instrumental in the 2013 foundation of the Otesalu Fine Arts High School, the first secondary school dedicated to the fine arts in Estland.

Köt continued in her position as culture minister in the second Toomas Juik cabinet, emerging as one of the most popular ministers in the cabinet. By 2015, Köt had an approval rating of 78.1%, the highest of any member of the cabinet by far. Beginning in 2015, Köt began to be referred to by oppositional figures as *Tädimaa Jarel* ("Auntie Jarel"). Despite initial calls from Köt's allies that the nickname was disrespectful, Köt stated in the press that she "loved" the name despite its intended use being to embarrass and minimize her. Following her public appreciation of the nickname, it became adopted by Köt's supporters as an affectionate honorific.

#### Resignation

Köt resigned from the position of culture minister in June 2016, following the resignation of Juik. The party had lost several seats in the 2016 parliamentary election, despite maintaining their ability to govern, and Juik resigned as prime minister of Estland to take responsibility for the losses. In her statement, Köt stated that she was resigning "in solidarity with" Juik.

After resigning from the government, Köt returned to her position as an instructor at the Otesalu Academy of the Arts, while also founding the Miigikogumaat Foundation. With the Miigikogumaat Foundation, Köt raised funds for various charitable organizations, primarily supporting arts education and youth-driven causes.

### Presidency

In 2019, Köt confirmed that she intended to run in the 2019 presidential election. Köt was seen by the Estian political media as a consensus candidate; she was an independent politician who had executive experience with the governing Social Democratic Party and Center Party, while she also was an acceptable choice for the oppositional Reform Party.

The election was held in August 2019, when Köt received the constitutionally-mandated two-thirds support in the Saadikutemaja to be elected in the first round of voting. She later took office as president of Estland on 28 August 2019, becoming the first woman to hold the office. As president, Köt serves as a figurehead head of state who wields little powers in Estian politics. Her primary duty as president is serving as a representative of the nation both at home and abroad, while her ceremonial powers include signing passed legislation with no veto power and formally appointing the Prime Minister, cabinet members, and ambassadors to office.

## Personal life

Köt is unmarried and has no children, having stressed numerous times throughout her career that she has never had any desire for a spouse or children. In 2019, it was reported that Köt had been in a romantic relationship with Estian actor Martu Kelga for the past two years. Since her election as president, Köt and Kelga have resided together in the Presidential Palace, Otesalu, although he has refused to undertake any traditional duties that a first spouse would, and does not make frequent public appearances with Köt.

As a professionally trained fashion and costume designer, Köt personally designs a vast majority of her own clothing. Since 2011, she has been well-known in the Estian media for her often colorful, eye-catching, and avant-garde clothing choices, which set her apart from other political figures. Köt is a self-described dog lover; she has three corgis, a basset hound, and a rescue mutt, all of whom reside with her in the Presidential Palace.

In addition to her native Estian, Köt is additionally fluent in Ditrovian, Medish, and Rann.