Estonia’s Chancellor of Justice, Ülle Madise, said that she would “seriously consider” running for president if there was sufficient support for her candidacy in parliament, ERR reports. Madise noted that as head of an independent constitutional institution, she cannot put herself forward as a candidate. The chancellor of justice “does not and cannot associate herself with any party, coalition, or opposition,” she stressed. However, if “a large majority” of MPs from both coalition and opposition parties would support her candidacy, she would consider it “very seriously,” Madise stated. So far, MPs have not asked for her consent to run for president. Madise is currently serving in her second seven-year term as chancellor of justice.
Meanwhile, Martin Helme, chairman of the opposition Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE), said that Madise’s latest statement created “a very serious conflict of interest,” ERR reported. Madise was seeking the support of parliamentary parties while serving as chancellor of justice, which oversees the work of parliament, Helme noted. If Madise was elected president, this conflict of interest could result in her election being challenged in court, Helme warned. He accused Madise of “playing a game” to avoid debate and public scrutiny, while at the same time signalling her interest in becoming president. He pointed out that EKRE’s founder and former chairman, Mart Helme, was the only official presidential candidate, BNS reported.
Representatives of the ruling Estonian Reform Party, as well as the opposition Social Democratic Party and Fatherland, rejected the EKRE leader’s suggestion that Madise’s candidacy would pose a constitutional challenge, ERR reported. At the same time, Fatherland leader Urmas Reinsalu accused the ruling coalition of deepening the crisis of confidence and undermining the authority of outgoing President Alar Karis, ERR reported. He said that the coalition was trying to “appoint, not elect the president” and suggested that the coalition was more interested in the post of chancellor of justice, which had more power than the president. Former justice chancellor Allar Jõks stressed that Madise would need broad support for her candidacy.