EKRE chairman: I believe Jüri Ratas would be suitable next president
Chairman of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) Martin Helme, whose party is in the opposition after the Jüri Ratas' (Center) government collapsed, told Kroonika magazine (link in Estonian) that in his opinion, Jüri Ratas would be well-suited to be president.
If Ratas' candidacy to become the next president should be on the table by autumn, when the presidential elections are set to take place, then it can be considered, Helme said.
"I believe Jüri would be a great president. He is a real man of the people, but he is also a conciliator that is needed in society at the moment," Helme said.
To elect the president, 68 votes are required at the 101-seat Riigikogu. If Ratas supported by the current Reform-Center coalition, then he already has 59 votes. EKRE has 19 MPs.
Ratas himself hasn't decided yet, he says. It is also not clear whether anything was agreed on when the new coalition was formed.
EKRE has never before expressed support towards Ratas becoming the next president.
ERR has already written that the Center Party is likely to submit Jüri Ratas as the President of the Riigikogu, though Reform and Social Democratic Party (SDE) MPs, totalling 44, are more likely to support Kersti Kaljulaid in a second term.
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Editor: Roberta Vaino
