Ülle Madise announces bid for Estonia’s presidency

Estonia’s Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise announced on Monday that she would run for president, ERR reported.

“I am running for president of the Republic of Estonia. I feel great respect and awe as I write this,” Madise said in a statement published by ERR. “The role of president carries the greatest responsibility I could undertake before the Estonian state and people.”

Madise said Estonia’s purpose was to remain Estonia and use its independence to become the best place to live, raise children, invent, write poetry and conduct business. She said the country must protect its language, culture and values while remaining brave, dreaming big and turning those dreams into reality.

“The constitutional task of the president is to protect what makes Estonia Estonia: our people, language, culture, nature, freedom and peace,” Madise said. She described people as the country’s most valuable asset and said everything possible should be done to ensure children are born, receive a good education, find fulfilling work and fair pay, and build their lives, homes and families in Estonia.

Madise said Estonia needed clean nature, culture and vibrancy, freedom and responsibility, and a caring and developing state.

“Thirty-five years ago, people who dared more restored our freedom. Yes, the generations are small at present. But may they become generations filled with strength,” she said, adding that faith, hope, initiative, education, wellbeing and joy among young people would help build a stronger Estonia through cooperation between generations.

Madise said Estonia must carry more weight in the world and that the president should work unwaveringly to open doors and build bridges. She said Estonia had much to offer through works, services and products created by its people.

The president will be chosen in a secret ballot by parliament or the electoral college, Madise said. “The Estonian state belongs to the Estonian people. The president belongs to their people,” she said.

Madise said she was ready to communicate openly as a presidential candidate. She plans to meet members of parliament in the coming days to present her views on the role of the president and said she was ready to answer other questions.

“If I am elected president of the Republic of Estonia, I will accept with honour and awe the task of serving the Estonian people and the Estonian state as head of state,” Madise said.