Julle Madise is willing to consider running for president of Estonia
Estonian Chancellor of Justice Julle Madise stated that she is not running for president, but will seriously consider the possibility if there are enough votes in the Riigikogu to support her. This was reported by ERR News.
The President of Estonia is elected by the parliament—the Riigikogu—rather than by citizens in a direct election. To win, a candidate must secure at least 68 votes in the 101-member parliament. Members of parliament must also officially nominate candidates.
Madise is currently serving her second seven-year term as Chancellor of Justice. The coalition parties Reform and Eesti 200 have discussed her as a potential candidate, but together they do not have enough votes to reach the required threshold.
For more breaking news, follow the UA.News Telegram channel.
In response to an inquiry on Thursday, Madise noted that she is not looking for a new job or position and hopes to devote herself fully to her work as Chancellor of Justice until the end of her term. According to her, members of the Riigikogu have not approached her to seek her consent for a nomination.
She emphasized that, as the head of an independent constitutional institution, she cannot independently put herself forward as a candidate, make promises, enter into agreements, or issue party-political statements. At the same time, Madise stated that she would seriously consider the proposal to run if a significant majority of lawmakers from the coalition, the opposition, and various ideological camps deemed her a suitable candidate for the office of head of state.
The first round of the presidential election in Estonia is scheduled for September 2.
