Estonian parliament meets to elect president; Justice Minister Ule Madise sole candidate
The Riigikogu meets to choose a largely ceremonial president; Madise was nominated by 75 MPs and needs 68 of 101 votes.
The Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, meets today to elect a new head of state. The sole candidate in the ballot is Justice Minister Ule Madise, who was presented to MPs as the only contender for the largely ceremonial presidency.
To be elected, a candidate must secure a two‑thirds majority — 68 out of 101 members of the Riigikogu.
Incumbent president Alar Karis has announced he will not stand for re‑election.
Support, background and nominations
Madise was nominated by 75 members of parliament from both governing parties, Reform Party and Eesti 200, as well as by the opposition Social Democrats and the conservative party Isamaa (Fatherland).
The 51‑year‑old lawyer has served in her current post since 2015 as an independent ombudsperson, overseeing constitutional and legal compliance of legislation and government actions.
If Madise fails to obtain the required majority in today's secret ballot, another round of voting is scheduled for tomorrow when new candidates may be proposed. If no candidate wins in that second round, a third round will be held as a runoff between the two candidates with the most votes. Should that also fail to produce a president, a special electoral college dominated by local politicians must be convened within one month.
Photo: press material from the event
