Kiili says Estonia has no presidential election
Monday 10th August 2026 on 08:15 in
Estonia
Meelis Kiili, who has announced his departure from the Reform Party, told ERR that Estonia currently has no presidential election but a competition for a top official.
Kiili said he respected Ülle Madise as the chancellor of justice, but could not support her as a possible presidential candidate before hearing her positions on foreign policy, national defence, social policy and other issues.
“We do not have a presidential election; we have a competition for a top official. Elections require at least two candidates and a debate, but that is not the case at present,” Kiili told ERR.
He said his respect for Madise as a person and legal expert did not mean he would vote for her on that basis alone. He added that he did not know her views on the president’s role as the supreme leader of national defence, or on foreign policy, social policy and other areas.
Kiili said he made the decision to leave the Reform Party a week and a half ago because he no longer saw points of contact with the party.
“I still support a liberal economy, but we have disagreements over the nation-state and, especially, national defence,” he said.
Kiili said he could not yet say whether he planned to join another party or stand in the next parliamentary elections.
“One issue at a time. So far, I have tried to work across party lines. If I can continue in national defence and security, I may continue in politics. If not, I do not have to,” he said.
Asked what would happen to the parliamentary national defence committee after both he and its chair, Kalev Stoicescu, left parties in the governing coalition, Kiili said the matter would have to wait until the committee meets.
He said the committee was distinctive because its votes were not divided along coalition and opposition lines.
“Decisions there were made through expertise and stronger arguments,” Kiili said.
Kiili announced on Monday that he would leave the Reform Party and continue working in the parliament as an unaffiliated member. He joined the party on November 2, 2022, before the previous parliamentary elections, ran in Ida-Viru County, received 1,289 votes and was elected.