Meeting with unaffiliated MPs boosts Land’s presidential bid

A meeting with unaffiliated members of Estonia’s parliament has increased the likelihood that rector Tiit Land will be nominated as a presidential candidate, ERR reported.

Land said former EKRE faction member Leo Kunnas promised to sign in support of his nomination. Kalev Stoicescu, who recently left the Eesti 200 party, said Land could secure the 21 signatures needed to stand as a candidate.

“In my view, it is entirely welcome that we do not have to choose one candidate, but can choose between two,” Stoicescu said. He considers Land and Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise to be equally qualified candidates.

Stoicescu said he plans to meet Madise on Monday and ask her questions similar to those put to Land. “I wish both candidates success,” he said.

During the meeting, Land was asked what he would discuss in a year-end speech as president, how he viewed a Scandinavian orientation and how he would act if war came to Estonia. Stoicescu also asked how young people could be encouraged to study more science and technical subjects from an early age.

Stoicescu praised Land’s view that more young men should be encouraged to study these subjects, saying the future was linked to those fields. He added that education issues ultimately also affected family policy.

In Stoicescu’s assessment, Land could flourish in the role of president. He said Land currently needed time to adjust to media attention.

Unaffiliated lawmaker Tõnis Mölder said the meeting was substantive and that Land presented a vision of how he would address social problems as president. “Personal and difficult questions were also answered,” he said, referring to questions about Land’s previous activities.

The participants also analysed the work of previous presidents. Mölder said Land would need high-quality advice on security and legal policy.

Mölder, too, said he would first listen to Madise before deciding whose nomination to support.

Land described the meeting as interesting because, unlike meetings with parliamentary factions, fewer people took part. “When there are fewer people, it is easier to make contact,” he said.

Unaffiliated lawmaker Enn Eesmaa asked Land about his “skeletons in the closet”. Land said such questions were natural for anyone taking up the presidency.

Land said domestic and foreign policy were currently equally important, but he felt Estonians expected the president to be present. “I feel confident myself,” he said.