Isamaa and Centre Party open to supporting Ülle Madise for president

Estonia’s opposition parties Isamaa and the Centre Party do not have their own candidate for the presidential election and have not ruled out supporting former Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise, ERR reports.

Coalition parties Reform Party and Estonia 200 want Madise to become president, but she has not announced whether she will run.

Isamaa chairman Urmas Reinsalu said the party had not ruled anyone out.

“I think she is certainly a weighty potential candidate. As several politicians from the coalition parties have indicated, Madise must make that decision. As I understand it, she has at least not declared her possible candidacy,” Reinsalu said.

Centre Party deputy chairman Lauri Laats said his party also had not ruled out Madise becoming president, but she must first decide whether she wants to run.

“Madise could be a very worthy candidate. I think Madise could make the decision as to whether she wants to run or not. All the parties are waiting for that signal. The Centre Party is also waiting for it in order to form its position,” Laats said.

The Centre Party said it would make its decision either next week or the week after. The opposition Estonian Conservative People’s Party has nominated Mart Helme as its presidential candidate. The Social Democratic Party was the first to put forward Madise’s name.

“It would be fair to Madise as well as to other potential candidates if the Centre Party and Isamaa also formed their positions. It is not possible to simultaneously express support for five or six candidates and say that they are all sympathetic people. In the end, every member of parliament has one vote,” Social Democratic Party deputy chairman Tanel Kiik said.

Former Chancellor of Justice Allar Jõks said the search for a presidential candidate with broad support was being hindered by a lack of political leadership.

“One or two parties, whether government or opposition parties, must take the lead and begin directing this process. Otherwise, we will see the process ridicule both the institution of the presidency and the dignity of the state,” Jõks said.

Jõks said it was difficult for Madise to respond while serving as Chancellor of Justice, because the office does not allow her to engage in political manoeuvring. Jõks himself was a presidential candidate in 2016, when politicians asked him what they could receive in return for their support.

He said the Riigikogu’s council of elders could first establish whether Madise had sufficient support in parliament.

“If the parties represented in the Riigikogu have such support, Madise should then be asked whether she is ready to run for president if she has such strong backing,” Jõks added.

Riigikogu Speaker Lauri Hussar has said that the council of elders will meet at the beginning of August to discuss the presidential election.