Who Wants to Be Estonia's Next President?
Estonia's presidential election takes place in September, with incumbent Alar Karis not seeking re-election. Several potential candidates have been publicly mentioned, but formal nomination opens on August 21.
Estonia's president is elected by members of the Riigikogu, not the public, requiring a two-thirds majority of 68 out of 101 votes. Parties must cooperate to find a joint candidate, which has historically proven challenging.
The current two-party coalition lacks enough votes to elect a president alone, so it must work with opposition parties. Potential candidates are often floated in the media before any party has formally backed them or even before the candidate has agreed to run.
Incumbent President Alar Karis announced during his Victory Day speech on June 23 that he would not seek a second term, citing family reasons.
Publicly announced candidates:
- Riho Ühtegi, 62: a retired major general and former commander of the Defense League. His candidacy was proposed by five public figures. He describes himself as a conservative emphasizing national unity and constitutional oversight.
- Mart Helme, 76: founder and vice-chair of the opposition EKRE party and a former interior minister. He has publicly declared his willingness to run and is his party's official candidate.
Publicly proposed but not given consent:
- Ülle Madise, 51: long-serving Chancellor of Justice. The Reform Party and Social Democrats (SDE) would support her if she agrees to run, but she has not yet consented.
- Indrek Laul, 58: CEO of the Estonia Piano Factory. Nominated by 30 public figures including artists and academics. Isamaa has met with him. This is the third time his name has been mentioned in connection with the presidency.
Name floated, may be interested:
- Jonatan Vseviov, 44: Foreign Ministry Secretary General and former ambassador to the US. He says he is fully focused on his current role and not pursuing "side adventures."
- Kersti Kaljulaid, 56: former president (2016–2021). Her name was suggested by Reform's Prime Minister Kristen Michal and MP Eerik-Niiles Kross, but sources say no politicians have directly approached her.
Other names mentioned in the media: Riina Kionka, Jüri Luik, Matti Maasikas, and Maive Rute.
Key dates: Candidate registration opens August 21 and closes August 24. The first Riigikogu vote is on September 2, with second and third rounds on September 3. If the Riigikogu fails to elect a president, the process moves to a regional electoral college in Tallinn. If that also fails, the final decision goes to the Riigikogu Council of Elders, which was last used in 2016 to elect Kersti Kaljulaid.
