Reform Party lawmakers back Ülle Madise presidential bid

Estonia’s Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise met Reform Party lawmakers in the Riigikogu, Estonia’s parliament, on Tuesday, with 37 of the party’s 38 MPs signing their support for her presidential candidacy, ERR reported.

Reform Party lawmakers had already pledged to support Madise in the presidential election. Mart Võrklaev was the only party MP who did not sign, saying he wanted more time to consider the decision.

Madise officially announced her candidacy on Monday morning. “The constitutional task of the president is to preserve what makes Estonia Estonia,” she said.

The Riigikogu will meet to elect the president on September 2. Candidates can be nominated from August 21 to 24, with nominations requiring the support of at least 21 MPs, or one-fifth of the parliament.

A second and third round of voting may take place in the Riigikogu on September 3. If parliament fails to elect a president, the electoral college will vote. If the electoral college also fails to choose a president, the process will return to the Riigikogu.