The council of elders of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, agreed that the next presidential election could be held on 2-3 September 2026, ERR reports. The council will meet again on 26 February 2026 to discuss a possible candidate to the post. Õnne Pillak, chairwoman of the parliamentary group of the ruling Estonian Reform Party, said that her group would not oppose discussing the re-election of incumbent president Alar Karis for a second term. However, political experts suggested that the government was, in fact, unlikely to endorse Karis, ERR reported. Karis himself suggested the same and has signalled that he may not seek another term, ERR reported. Nevertheless, the opposition Estonian Centre Party (Keskerakond) and Fatherland (Isamaa) have voiced support for Karis, ERR reports. The parliament’s deputy speaker, Arvo Aller of the opposition Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE), said that parties were likely to field their own presidential candidates. If the parliament fails to elect a new president, the election will then move to the electoral college.
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