Võrklaev backs Madise in Estonia’s presidential election

Reform Party MP Mart Võrklaev has decided to support Ülle Madise’s nomination for president and vote for her in the Riigikogu on September 2, ERR reported.

Võrklaev had initially taken time to consider whether to sign in support of Madise’s nomination. After meeting with her and his parliamentary faction, he said he had gained confidence that supporting her would be the right choice for Estonia and its people.

“The president is ultimately chosen by each member of the Riigikogu individually, according to their conscience and in a secret ballot, not by one faction or another,” Võrklaev told ERR.

He had previously said that he also considered Tiit Land a worthy candidate.

With Võrklaev joining Madise’s nominators, she now has 63 support signatures.

ERR was unable to obtain a comment on Tuesday from Züleyxa Izmailov of the Social Democratic Party, who had also not signed in support of Madise the previous week. Izmailov had said that she would consider the matter after Madise met with her faction.