Estonian President Karis will not seek a second term

Estonian President Alar Karis has announced that he will not seek a second five-year term in office. According to his statement, the decision was made long ago and is based on personal reasons, including a promise to his family not to run for a second term.

Karis, who took office in October 2021, made the announcement in an official statement. He emphasized that the decision is not related to political or health considerations but is purely personal. He also expressed gratitude to the people of Estonia for their trust and support during his presidency.

Currently, Estonia awaits the start of a new presidential election campaign. According to the Estonian constitution, the president is elected by the parliament. The new presidential election will take place in the autumn of 2026, when Karis's current term ends.

Alar Karis was the first Estonian president to come from an academic background – he is a former rector of the University of Tartu. During his presidency, special attention was paid to education, digital transformation, and security policy.