Eesti 200 leader: We support Ülle Madise presidential bid
The Estonian coalition party Eesti 200 backs Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise for president, but Madise has not consented to run.
The coalition party Eesti 200 is willing to back Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise as its candidate for president in this fall's election, party leader Kristina Kallas said. Kallas, who is also education minister, told ERR that her party had discussed this extensively and that while she hasn't spoken directly with Madise, they have been in contact with various political parties through intermediaries. She expressed confidence that Madise would be a very good president under the current circumstances.
The opposition Social Democrats (SDE) proposed Madise on Wednesday, but Madise herself later stated she has not given her consent to be nominated. She emphasized her impartiality as Chancellor of Justice and said she will continue her work based on that principle.
Kallas believes Madise enjoys broad support among politicians and could secure enough votes to be elected at the Riigikogu. However, the first step is to determine whether Madise is willing to run.
Current President Alar Karis has indicated he will not seek a second term. The Riigikogu is set to elect Estonia's next president starting September 2, 2026. Candidate nomination will take place from August 21 to 24. To run, a candidate needs support from at least one-fifth of the Riigikogu (21 MPs). If the Riigikogu fails to elect a president after three ballots, the process moves to an electoral college.
