Hussar says Madise seeks cross-party backing for presidency

Estonia’s Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise is seeking broad support from both the coalition and opposition to become a presidential candidate, rather than the 68 votes required to win the election, Parliament Speaker Lauri Hussar said Wednesday, according to ERR.

Hussar said Madise’s reference to a “sufficient majority” in a letter meant that her nomination should have support across political groups. At least 21 signatures are required to nominate a candidate, while 68 votes are needed to elect the president in Parliament.

“Ülle meant only that the nomination should cross political divides and be broad-based, involving both the coalition and the opposition,” Hussar said on the Vikerhommik programme. “Today we will start collecting signatures to nominate Ülle Madise.”

Hussar said Madise had indicated through the media that she would accept the nomination if members of Parliament put her forward with the required 21 signatures.

He said the broad support would allow Madise, as an impartial and independent Chancellor of Justice, to stand as a serious candidate without having to seek backing from political parties herself.

Madise would also not have to resign or suspend her duties as Chancellor of Justice in order to stand for president, Hussar said. He added that Madise could meet parliamentary factions before the nomination period begins if she receives a clear proposal to do so.

The nomination period runs from August 21 to 24.

According to Hussar, the Constitution and the Chancellor of Justice Act impose no restrictions preventing the Chancellor of Justice from running for president. The Constitution states that, upon being elected president, the president’s duties in other offices end.

Hussar described Madise as a strong candidate because she is impartial and has performed much of the work as Chancellor of Justice that also falls within the president’s sphere of responsibility. He said she had served the Estonian state for around 20 years and was a respected and capable lawyer.

Hussar said Parliament still had three weeks before the first round of the presidential election, which he described as a long period in comparison with previous presidential elections.