Madise to meet Isamaa, Social Democrats and Centre Party

Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise has secured the support needed to be nominated as a presidential candidate and will meet representatives of Isamaa, the Social Democratic Party and the Centre Party on Monday, ERR reported.

“The 21 signatures are the minimum,” said Toomas Kivimägi, deputy speaker of the Riigikogu, Estonia’s parliament. He said the collection of signatures for Madise’s candidacy began at 12:45 p.m. and had exceeded 30 by 2:30 p.m.

The signatories include members of the parliamentary groups of the Reform Party, Estonia 200 and the Social Democratic Party. Kivimägi said Isamaa was not expected to sign at this stage because the party wanted to meet Madise first.

Representatives of the Centre Party and the Social Democratic Party confirmed that they had scheduled meetings with Madise for Monday. Isamaa will also meet with her.

Kivimägi said Isamaa and the Centre Party had until August 21 to submit signatures supporting Madise’s candidacy. His goal was to secure more than 51 signatures by the evening.

“I admit that this is not the number needed to be elected in parliament, but more than 51 signatures in a little over 24 hours would, in my view, be quite a powerful statement,” Kivimägi said.

He added that he was not certain whether Isamaa was ready to support one presidential candidate or another in parliament, but said that could change.