Reinsalu says Madise would nominate new legal chancellor

Isamaa leader Urmas Reinsalu told ERR that if Legal Chancellor Ülle Madise becomes Estonia’s president, she would nominate a candidate for a new legal chancellor.

Madise’s term as legal chancellor would end when she took office as president, leaving her responsible for proposing a replacement to Estonia’s parliament, Reinsalu said.

“In the event of an extraordinary vacancy in the office of legal chancellor, the president is required to submit a candidate to parliament within four months,” Reinsalu said. Until a new legal chancellor is appointed, the duties would be carried out by an acting official.

At a meeting with Isamaa on Monday, Madise said that, if elected president, she would consider it important to find a competent and professional lawyer for the position, Reinsalu said.

Centre Party leader Mihhail Kõlvart wrote on social media that if Madise became president, the Reform Party would appoint the new legal chancellor.

Reinsalu rejected that view, saying Madise did not consider herself a coalition candidate and that the coalition’s support for her had been expressed independently of her positions as legal chancellor.

“I hope the search develops on these principles,” Reinsalu said.

Madise formally announced her presidential candidacy on Monday morning. “The constitutional task of the president is to preserve what makes Estonia Estonia,” she said.