Estonian parties consider backing nonpartisan presidential candidate
Estonian parliamentary parties will discuss a joint presidential candidate this week, with some suggesting an apolitical figure like Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise could be a consensus choice.
Parliamentary parties in Estonia will spend this week discussing ways to agree on a joint candidate to elect the president in the Riigikogu. Members of the European Parliament elected from Estonia believe reaching a consensus is possible.
Jüri Ratas of Isamaa said Estonia is not short of suitable presidential candidates. In his view, the ideal candidate would preferably be nonpartisan. "Politicians who have become president — Lennart Meri, Arnold Rüütel and Toomas Hendrik Ilves — have all been good presidents. There is someone in society who could win the support of a majority in the Riigikogu. I think that person is not a politician and works within the state system," Ratas said.
In recent days, politicians have also spoken about a nonpartisan candidate who could emerge as a consensus choice. Jana Toom of the Center Party noted that people are talking about Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise, whose major interview happened to be published at the same time President Alar Karis announced his decision not to seek another term. "As for making it through the selection process, that depends on the size of the holes in the sieve. We don't know how fine the sieve will be or who will fall through it," Toom said.
Ratas added that Madise is a good and credible candidate who knows the state system, but finding someone with broad public support is important. Urmas Paet of the Reform Party said there is no need to insist on a nonpartisan candidate. "The office of head of state is clearly a political one because their counterparts internationally are all politicians with many years of experience. To be effective as Estonia's head of state, you have to understand your own society," Paet said.
Social Democrat Sven Mikser also said the presidency is a political office and that the president must be familiar with both foreign and domestic policy. "I wouldn't rush to look for someone with no political background. At the same time, it's understandable that the parliamentary parties want to find someone who is not currently very closely associated with any particular party," Mikser said.
Media reports have also mentioned members of the European Parliament as possible presidential candidates. Paet declined to speculate, Ratas answered "no" when asked whether he could be a candidate, and Mikser said it's unlikely the next president will come from the European Parliament.
