Reps formally nominated for president as Simson delivers signatures to electoral committee
The Center Party's Parliamentary Group Chairman Kadri Simson presented the electoral committee with the documents and signatures needed to formally nominate Mailis Reps for president on Thursday. Reps currently has the support of 27 MPs.
Reps' candidacy was therefore the first candidate of the 2016 presidential elections in Estonia to be formally submitted to the electoral committee.
Reps was nominated by all 27 members of the Center Party Parliamentary Group: Dmitri Dmitrijev, Enn Eesmaa, Peeter Ernits, Olga Ivanva, Jaanus Karilaid, Mihhail Korb, Valeri Korb, Siret Kotka, Heimar Lenk, Oudekki Loone, Aadu Must, Andre Novikov, Anneli Ott, Jüri Ratas, Rein Ratas, Martin Repinski, Mailis Reps, Kersti Sarapuu, Erki Savisaar, Kadri Simson, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Märt Sults, Tarmo Tamm, Marika Tuus-Laul, Viktor Vassiljev, Vladimir Velman and Tomas Vistut.
Mailis Reps was born on Jan. 13, 1975, is an Estonian citizen by birth and has confirmed her consent to run for president.
In order to be formally nominated for president, an individual must have the support of at least one fifth of the Riigikogu, or 21 MPs. Each MP can only nominate one candidate for president.
The Reform Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDE) recently reached an agreement that they would back current President of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor in the first round of voting, while the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) will join the Free Party in supporting joint candidate Allar Jõks. Neither of the latter two candidates' signatures of support have yet been submitted to the electoral committee.
Candidates can be nominated until 6 p.m. on Saturday. The electoral committee will convene for a meeting on Sunday at 3 p.m. in order to register candidates preceding the first round of voting, which will take place on Monday, Aug. 29 at 1:00 p.m.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik