Tiit Land says he lacks votes for presidential nomination

Tiit Land, the rector of Tallinn University of Technology who has announced his readiness to run for president, said he is unlikely to secure enough support to be nominated in parliament, ERR reported.

“Today’s calculation in the parliament shows that only one worthy candidate will be put forward for the vote there. I wish Ülle Madise success and endurance,” Land wrote.

A presidential candidate needs the support of at least 21 members of the Riigikogu to be nominated. Land currently has the firm backing of only the Centre Party, which has eight seats. Some unaffiliated MPs, including Kalev Stoicescu and Meelis Kiili, have also supported him, but that is not enough to secure his nomination.

Land said he remains ready to take part in substantive discussions about Estonia’s future and present his vision of the president’s role. He said his meetings with members of parliament had been valuable and that topics requiring debate included the method of electing the president, including whether the head of state should continue to be elected by parliament across party lines or whether Estonia should introduce direct elections.

Land thanked everyone who supported his nomination, particularly fellow university rectors and the president of the Estonian Academy of Sciences.

The Riigikogu will convene to elect the president on September 2.