Estonia’s incumbent president, Alar Karis, does not have sufficient support in the parliament, the Riigikogu, to be elected for a second term, according to Kristina Kallas, chairwoman of the liberal coalition party, Estonia 200 (E200), ERR reports. Kallas said that a majority of E200 MPs did not support Karis, and she called for considering other suitable candidates who could win a majority in parliament. Kallas stated that the next president should clearly share the values that anchor Estonian foreign policy. Karis has come under heavy criticism recently for his various statements on major foreign policy issues.
Earlier, Prime Minister Kristen Michal, chairman of the ruling Estonian Reform Party, said also that Karis lacked support in parliament, suggesting that former president Kersti Kaljulaid be nominated instead. Meanwhile, Reform’s former chairman, former prime minister Andrus Ansip, insisted that Karis was “a worthy candidate” who had earned the public’s trust, ERR reported. He noted that there was no consensus within Reform on whether to support Karis. Another former Reform leader and former Estonian prime minister, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, ruled out running for president, ERR reported.