EKRE demands direct presidential elections at Tallinn picket

The Estonian Conservative People’s Party, or EKRE, held a picket outside the parliament building on Wednesday before an extraordinary sitting, calling for the introduction of direct presidential elections, ERR reported.

EKRE says Estonia’s current presidential election system has nothing to do with elections and instead reflects agreements made behind closed doors by political parties, which are then formalised by a vote in parliament.

The party argues that a head of state appointed in this way is inevitably politically dependent and lacks the public’s trust. EKRE wants the Constitution changed so that people can elect the president themselves.

EKRE’s parliamentary group will not take part in Wednesday’s sitting, where parliament is due to elect the president, because the party supports its own candidate, Mart Helme.

If parliament fails to elect a head of state, EKRE will continue Helme’s presidential campaign and is prepared to nominate him in the electoral college.