Estonia’s opposition Social Democratic Party (SDE) has proposed the country’s Chancellor of Justice, Ülle Madise, as a candidate for president, ERR reports. SDE’s deputy chairman, Tanel Kiik, argued that Madise had the potential to secure a two-thirds majority needed to be elected in the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu. He said that SDE had discussed Madise’s possible candidacy with all other parliamentary parties except the opposition Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE). However, Madise said that she had not given her consent to be a candidate, ERR reported. She has served as Chancellor of Justice since 2015.
Prime Minister Kristen Michal, chairman of the ruling Estonian Reform Party, said that his party was ready to support Madise’s candidacy, ERR reported. Õnne Pillak, chairwoman of Reform’s parliamentary group, also confirmed that many Reform MPs would support Madise, ERR reported. Kristina Kallas, chairwoman of the Reform’s coalition partner, Estonia 200, said that her party would support Madise as well, ERR reported. Meanwhile, opposition leaders Urmas Reinsalu of Fatherland and Mihhail Kõlvart of the Estonian Centre Party criticised SDE for proposing Madise’s candidacy before having her consent, ERR reported.