"No, nobody has spoken with the Social Democrats about Kersti Kaljulaid. We haven't discussed any specific names recently, with either coalition or opposition parties. I would like to hope that the Reform Party is genuinely considering Kersti Kaljulaid seriously. Plus that this is not yet another move where someone's name is floated via the media, indirectly. Usually, good people get dragged through the mud that way," Läänemets told ERR.

The SDE leader said hints coming from the coalition Reform Party into the media, first and foremost via social media, might also be connected to next spring's Riigikogu elections, as well as the autumn's presidential election.

However, if the Reform Party truly wants to discuss Kaljulaid in the context of the presidential election, then, Läänemets said, it should do so by making an official proposal.

"Be it in a larger or smaller circle, that has not been done today. And nobody has contacted me to suggest that this topic should even be talked about. I also have no information about what Kersti Kaljulaid herself thinks about all of this," Läänemets continued. "I hope this is not simply using a dignified person to boost themselves, taking advantage of these Estonian Olympic Committee issues and everything else."

Kaljulaid did not even run for a second term as president when her first term ended in 2021, simply because the Reform Party did not want that, proposing current incumbent Alar Karis instead, Läänemets added.

"At that time, the Social Democrats were the only ones backing Kersti. Secondly, all these EOK 'Uncle Heinos' Michal talks about — one of them was nevertheless the Reform Party's mayoral candidate and top candidate in Haabersti just half a year ago," he said, referring to Kaljulaid's predecessor as EOK president, businessman Urmas Sõõrumaa.

At the same time, SDE would still talk about a serious Kaljulaid presidential candidate proposal from Reform, Läänemets said.

"But the Reform Party must first explain how they see all of this and how seriously they actually take their own ideas," he added.

At least 68 votes are needed to get a two-thirds majority to elect a head of state through the Riigikogu, and avoid the matter going to the regional electoral college.

Reform has 39 votes it can count on; Läänemets said that would make the addition of SDE votes crucial.

Kaljulaid spokesperson: No politician has approached about potential candidacy

At the time of writing ERR had not been able to reach Kaljulaid herself for comment, but Taavi Linnamäe, CEO of the Kersti Kaljulaid Foundation told ERR she had not been approached by politicians from any party on the matter. "Politicians have not discussed this with her," said Linnamäe, who was an advisor to Kaljulaid when she was head of state.

While Prime Minister Kristen Michal appeared indirectly to back Kaljulaid for a presidential bid in his social media post Wednesday, Reform Party MP Eerik-Niiles Kross had earlier done so more directly, saying that "she handled both the 'old boys' and foreign policy in Kadriorg considerably better.

"Unlike Karis, she could get the votes [needed] at the Riigikogu," Kross added at the time.

Michal's social media post Wednesday evening, a week and a half after Kaljulaid was ousted as EOK president, the prime minister praised Kaljulaid for standing up for the right causes in Estonia, adding he backed her even if their views did not always align. Michal contrasted this with the "bullying" EOK members who initiated, and voted through, the no-confidence motion in Kaljulaid. The prime minister characterized them as "mentally bitter old men" and as "Uncle Heinos" (Onud Heinod), a stereotype of a rather unreconstructed male of a certain age.

Delfi interpreted Michal's remarks (link in Estonian) as supporting a potential presidential candidacy for Kaljulaid, who was head of state 2016–2021.

The presidential election process starts in September.

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