Reinsalu: Karis's decision not to run is a defeat for all Estonian society

Chairman of the Isamaa party Urmas Reinsalu has sharply criticized the ruling coalition, accusing it of deliberately pressuring President Alar Karis, which led to his decision not to run for a second term in the presidential election. Reinsalu wrote on social media that Karis announced his decision in his Victory Day speech and thanked Isamaa for supporting his candidacy. According to the party leader, the president had seriously considered running for a long time, but the search for a candidate among political forces reached a dead end.

Reinsalu noted that as recently as February 26, no party had ruled out Karis's candidacy, but it is now clear that for the ruling parties, these discussions were merely a way to buy time. "The constant pressure on President Karis over the past six months has led to today's outcome. At first it was hidden, then it became open: Eesti 200 declared its disagreement, and the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Reform Party, publicly withdrew support. At the same time, behind-the-scenes influence was exerted on independent deputies," the politician emphasized.

Isamaa believes that the reason for this treatment was Alar Karis's independence. "In a crisis of trust, the ruling parties did not want to support a president who enjoys public support simply because Alar Karis was too independent. It seems that ahead of the parliamentary elections, they are primarily driven by the desire to use the current number of votes to appoint a president who would reflect their views," added the Isamaa leader.

"The way President Karis was treated is unacceptable, and the trust crisis has unfortunately only deepened. Today the ruling parties may be satisfied, but Estonian society has suffered a defeat today," Reinsalu concluded, adding that Isamaa will discuss further steps soon. The party called on Estonian citizens to express their position more actively and emphasized that in the current situation it is crucial to find a candidate capable of honestly assessing the country's problems and impartially performing their duties.