President Alar Karis will not run for second presidential term
Estonian President Alar Karis announced he will not stand as a candidate in the autumn election, ending months of speculation.
President Alar Karis said during his Victory Day parade on Tuesday that he will not stand as a candidate in this autumn's election, putting an end to months of speculation.
In his speech in Rapla, Karis said: "Dear people of Estonia, as head of state, I wish you a happy Victory Day and a joyful Midsummer Eve for the last time." The president's term ends this autumn, and Karis had promised to confirm around Midsummer whether he intended to run again.
Estonia's head of state is elected by the parliament, not directly by the people, and it has been widely discussed that Karis would not have enough support to win another term. The Riigikogu will convene to elect the president on September 2.
It is not yet known who the candidates will be; only EKRE's Mart Helme, a former minister of the interior, has put himself forward for the role.
