Isamaa backs Ülle Madise in Estonia’s presidential election

Isamaa supports Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise’s candidacy in Estonia’s presidential election, party leader Urmas Reinsalu said, ERR reported.

Reinsalu said the Isamaa parliamentary group held a serious discussion with Madise on Monday and that she made a favourable impression. He said the party had also considered what signal Estonian society currently expects.

The Centre Party announced several hours earlier that it supports Tiit Land’s candidacy. Together with defectors, Isamaa and the Centre Party have 19 members in the Riigikogu, Estonia’s parliament.

Meelis Kiili, Leo Kunnas and Kalev Stoicescu have signed their support for Land’s candidacy. Reinsalu thanked reserve major Riho Ühtegi, Maive Rute and Indrek Laul, and praised the rectors who nominated Land after Isamaa representatives met with him last week.

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

The Riigikogu will convene to elect the president on September 2. A candidate must be nominated by at least one-fifth of the parliament, or at least 21 members.

Candidates can be nominated from August 21 to 24. The first round of voting will take place in the Riigikogu on September 2, with second and third rounds scheduled for September 3 if necessary.

If the Riigikogu fails to elect a president, the election will pass to an electoral college. If the electoral college also fails to choose a president, the election will return to the Riigikogu.