Nestor, Reps, Jõks officially registered for Monday, Kallas to enter race on Tuesday
Estonia's National Electoral Committee registered Mailis Reps, Allar Jõks, and Eiki Nestor as candidates for the first ballot round of the presidential election in the Riigikogu on Sunday. Siim Kallas won’t stand for election in the first round on Monday, but is expected to join on Tuesday.
“All three candidates are citizens of Estonia by birth, they have confirmed their consent to running for president of the republic, and they meet the requirement to have the support of at least 21 members of the Riigikogu as specified by law,” committee chairman Meelis Erik said.
Reps was nominated by 27, Joks by 21, and Nestor by 43 members of the Riigikogu.
The first round of the presidential election will take place in the Riigikogu at 1:00 p.m. today Monday, Aug. 29. To be elected, a candidate needs a two-thirds majority, or the support of 68 members of parliament.
If no candidate makes the required two-thirds majority, a second round of voting will be held at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow Tuesday, Aug. 30, for which candidates can be nominated between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.
The electoral committee will hold a meeting to register the candidates at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday. If the president is not elected in the second round, a third round will take place at 4:00 p.m. on the same day, its candidates being the two who received the largest number of votes in the second round.
If neither candidate receives the required 68 votes in the third round, the President of the Riigikogu will call for the assembly of the electoral college, which will meet in September and which will consist of all 101 members of the Riigikogu as well as 234 representatives of local government councils.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn
Source: BNS/ERR