Pillak says Madise is ready to run for president

Õnne Pillak, chair of the Reform Party parliamentary faction in Estonia’s Riigikogu, told ERR that Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise has expressed her willingness to run for president if she receives broad support.

“The Reform Party faction has consistently said that we support Ülle Madise’s candidacy for president. I have also spoken with Ülle Madise, and she has expressed her readiness to run for president if there is broad support,” Pillak said.

Pillak said the issue could be discussed by the Riigikogu’s council of elders, which is due to meet next week. She urged lawmakers who have not yet stated their position to say whether they are prepared to support Madise before the meeting.

“I hope that at least two factions, if not three, will be ready to support Ülle Madise, as will other members of the Riigikogu,” Pillak said.

The leaders of the opposition parties Centre and Isamaa, Mihhail Kõlvart and Urmas Reinsalu, told ERR on Monday that they want Madise to make a clear decision before deciding whether to support her as a presidential candidate. They also called for a public discussion involving other potential candidates.

Riigikogu Speaker Lauri Hussar of Estonia 200 announced on Monday that he had convened the council of elders for August 11 to discuss the upcoming presidential election and the procedure for electing Estonia’s next president in parliament.

Nominations for president will open on August 21, with the first round of voting scheduled for September 2.