75 MPs nominate justice chancellor as presidential candidate
Seventy-five members of the Riigikogu registered Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise as an official presidential candidate on Monday as the nomination period draws to a close.
Estonia's president is elected by the Riigikogu, and a candidate must be put forward by MPs. At least 68 votes of a potential 101 are needed to elect the next head of state.
Madise is in the middle of her second seven-year term as chancellor of justice and has the support of coalition parties Reform and Eesti 200, as well as opposition parties Isamaa and SDE.
On Monday morning, MPs from the four party factions handed in 75 signatures in support of Madise and registered her as an official candidate at 11 a.m.
It was initially reported that Madise had the support of 74 candidates, but Isamaa's Andres Metsoja later added his signature to the list.
MPs from EKRE and Center did not support Madise's nomination, and neither did SDE's Züleyxa Izmailova not Isamaa's Priit Sibul, or Helir-Valdor Seeder.
Members of the Riigikogu who signed the nomination of Madise are listed below:
Jaak Aab, Annely Akkermann, Yoko Alender, Anti Allas, Lea Danilson-Järg, Enn Eesmaa, Ants Frosch, Andre Hanimägi, Andres Metsoja, Anti Haugas, Lauri Hussar, Diana Ingerainen, Jüri Jaanson, Toomas Järveoja, Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski, Mario Kadastik, Raimond Kaljulaid, Madis Kallas, Jaanus Karilaid, Ester Karuse, Liina Kersna, Helmen Kütt, Tanel Kiik, Signe Kivi, Ando Kiviberg, Toomas Kivimägi, Mait Klaassen, Aivar Kokk, Eerik-Niiles Kross, Urmas Kruuse, Katrin Kuusemäe, Kalle Laanet, Hanah Lahe, Alar Laneman, Maris Lauri, Mihkel Lees, Irja Lutsar, Tõnis Lukas, Lauri Läänemets, Mart Maastik, Tiit Maran, Eero Merilind, Marko Mihkelson, Tõnis Mölder, Heljo Pikhof, Õnne Pillak, Henn Põlluaas, Mati Raidma, Juku-Kalle Raid, Reili Rand, Valdo Randpere, Marek Reinaas, Urmas Reinsalu, Signe Riisalo, Maido Ruusmann, Stig Rästa, Kersti Sarapuu, Andrus Seeme, Pipi-Liis Siemann, Riina Sikkut, Timo Suslov, Margit Sutrop, Aivar Sõerd, Kadri Tali, Peeter Tali, Tarmo Tamm, Tanel Tein, Urve Tiidus, Madis Timpson, Vilja Toomast, Toomas Uibo, Kristo Enn Vaga, Luisa Värk, Mart Võrklaev, Kristina Šmigun-Vähi.
The Riigikogu will meet to elect the president on September 2 to replace incumbent President Alar Karis, who is not running for a second term.
This article was updated to add the gallery and update the number of MPs supporting Ülle Madise.
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Editor: Helen Wright, Urmet Kook
