Kaljulaid nominated for president with 90 signatures, no opportunity left for additional candidates
The chairmen of five of the six parliamentary groups in the Riigikogu submitted the signatures of 90 MPs to Estonia's National Electoral Committee officially nominating Kersti Kaljulaid for president.
Signatures were given by every parliamentary group excepting the 7-member parliamentary group of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE).
Every member of the Reform Party, Social Democratic Party (SDE), Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) and Free Party parliamentary groups submitted their signatures in support of Kaljulaid. Of the 27 Center Party MPs, 23 submitted their signatures as well; those of MPs Mihhail Korb, Heimar Lenk, Oudekki Loone and Rein Ratas were not among them.
As a minimum of 21 signatures is needed to officially nominate a candidate for president in the Riigikogu, this means that there will be no opportunity to submit any other candidates for the elections.
A candidate needs to earn at least a two-thirds majority, or a minimum of 68 votes, in the Riigikogu in order to be elected.
Following the failure of both the Riigikogu and the electoral college, which consisted of all 101 MPs and an additional 234 representatives of Estonia's local governments, in turn to elect the next president in the Aug. 29 and Sept. 24 elections respectively, the Riigikogu has been called to convene for another extraordinary session on Monday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. in order to elect the next President of Estonia to a five-year term.
Editor: Editor: Aili Vahtla