A group of prominent Estonians has proposed retired major general Riho Ühtegi, former commander of the Estonian Defence League (Kaitseliit), for president, ERR reported. Ühtegi confirmed that he was ready to stand as a candidate, Estonian World reported. He said that businessman Raivo Vare could be called his “campaign manager,” ERR reported. Earlier, the ruling Estonian Reform Party and its junior coalition partner, Estonia 200 (E200), expressed support for the Social Democratic Party’s (SDE) proposal to elect the current Chancellor of Justice, Ülle Madise, as president. Estonian World noted that Madise had “constitutional authority, public visibility, and a reputation for independence.” Meanwhile, the speaker and deputy speaker of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, said that there was no need to rush the process, ERR reported. Parliamentary speaker Lauri Hussar of E200 said that “July is for screening, August for formalising candidates, and September for electing the president.” Deputy speaker Toomas Kivimägi of Reform suggested that the parliament’s council of elders could convene in August 2026 to assess possible candidates.
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