Kõlvart backs Tiit Land for Estonia’s presidency

Estonian Centre Party chairman Mihhail Kõlvart has endorsed Tallinn University of Technology rector Tiit Land as a strong candidate for president, calling Land’s decision to consider running good news for Estonia, ERR reported.

Kõlvart said Land’s academic background and political neutrality were among his main strengths. He added that a scientific approach, as seen with President Alar Karis, could help provide a substantive and constructive understanding of events in the world.

According to Kõlvart, Land has generally expressed practical solutions rather than ideological positions on social issues. He said Land could bring together people with different views and had gained valuable international communication experience through work outside Estonia.

Kõlvart also pointed to Land’s long tenure as rector of TLÜ and TalTech as evidence of strong leadership. He said Land’s background at TalTech could help him lead discussions on innovation during a period of rapid technological development.

Kõlvart said he hoped Land’s participation in debates among presidential contenders would make the election process more meaningful and dignified.

Land is not yet an official presidential candidate, but a prospective candidate. A candidate must receive the support of at least 21 members of the Riigikogu, Estonia’s parliament, to be formally nominated.

Land was invited to run by the rectors of Estonian higher education institutions, Hanna Kanep, secretary general of the Council of Rectors, and Mart Saarma, president of the Estonian Academy of Sciences.