Estonia's parliament elects Chancellor of Justice Alar Karis' successor
Estonia's parliament on Wednesday elected Chancellor of Justice Ille Madise as the country's next president, running unopposed. She will replace outgoing President Alar Karis in October.
Estonia's parliament on Wednesday elected a new head of state, choosing Chancellor of Justice Ille Madise for the presidency. Madise ran as the sole candidate and received 71 votes out of 101 lawmakers, well above the two-thirds threshold of 68 votes required for election.
She will take over from Alar Karis in October, after he chose not to seek a second five-year term.
Who is Ille Madise
The 51-year-old lawyer has served as Chancellor of Justice since 2015. The role involves overseeing whether legislation at all levels complies with the constitution, alongside acting as an ombudsperson.
Earlier in her career, Madise headed the public law department at Estonia's Ministry of Justice from 1998 to 2002, and later served as legal adviser to the president from 2009 to 2015.
She studied at the University of Tartu, earning both bachelor's and master's degrees in law, and later obtained a doctorate in public administration from Tallinn University of Technology. She has also held professorships at both institutions.
A largely ceremonial role
In Estonia, the presidency carries mainly representative functions. Under Estonian law, no individual may serve more than two consecutive terms in the office.
