Izmailova will not sign for any presidential candidate

Independent Estonian MP Züleyxa Izmailova said she would not give her nomination signature to any presidential candidate, ERR reported. She said Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise already had more than enough signatures to be nominated.

“Ülle Madise already has more than enough signatures needed for her nomination, so I do not currently see how my signature would be important,” Izmailova said.

Madise’s candidacy is supported by the coalition parties, the Social Democrats and Isamaa, which announced its backing on Tuesday. Izmailova said she also did not plan to nominate anyone else, meaning she would not give a nomination signature at all.

Izmailova has previously criticised Madise for attending a book launch for Peeter Helme, who was convicted of a sex crime involving a child. She said Madise would therefore not receive her vote in Parliament. Reform Party Secretary General Kristo Enn Vaga said last week that Izmailova had told him she would nevertheless be willing to vote for Madise.

Izmailova said the presidential election process had not been managed particularly well. She blamed the prime minister, the prime minister’s party and the speaker of Parliament for failing to lead the process adequately.

A meeting between Izmailova and Madise planned for Monday was cancelled because Madise had to give lengthy interviews. Izmailova said they planned to meet next week.

At that meeting, Izmailova said she wanted to ask Madise about women’s and children’s rights, young people’s mental health, and environmental and climate issues. She declined to say publicly how she would vote in the presidential election.