Presidential election in Estonia 1996

Lennart Meri was re-elected for a second term in 1996

The 1996 presidential election in Estonia took place from August 26th to September 20th. The previous incumbent, President Lennart Meri , was confirmed in his office.

background

In August 1991, Estonia declared its separation from the Soviet Union and the restoration of its state independence. In October 1992, Lennart Meri (1929-2006) was elected as the first state president after regaining sovereignty .

The 1996 presidential election took place between the incumbent President Lennart Meri and his challenger, the former chairman of the Supreme Soviet, Arnold Rüütel .

houses of Parliament

According to Section 79 of the Estonian Constitution of 1992 , the parliament ( Riigikogu ) is initially responsible for electing the head of state. A candidate needs 68 votes in favor of the 101 parliamentarians to be elected. Three ballots are possible. In 1996 none of the applicants succeeded in gaining the necessary majority in parliament.

candidate	1st ballot	2nd ballot	3rd ballot
Lennart Meri	45	49	52
Arnold Rüütel	34	34	32

Electoral assembly

Therefore, according to the Estonian constitution, a special electoral assembly (valimiskogu ) was held on September 20, 1996 in the Estonia Concert Hall in Tallinn . It consisted of the members of the Estonian Parliament and 273 electorates who were sent by the local authorities (towns and cities).

In the electoral assembly, the president is elected who can unite more than half of the votes cast of the 374 members of the electoral assembly.

First ballot

In the first ballot, five candidates competed against each other. None of them could achieve the majority necessary for the election.

candidate	Yes votes
Tunne Kelam	76
Lennart Meri	139
Siiri Oviir	25th
Arnold Rüütel	85
Enn Tõugu	47

Second ballot

The two best placed, Lennart Meri and Arnold Rüütel, faced each other in a second ballot on the same day. Lennart Meri was able to prevail with 196 yes votes against his challenger Arnold Rüütel (126 yes votes).

2001

Lennart Meri's second term ended in 2001. In the upcoming presidential election , Arnold Rüütel was able to prevail and succeeded Meris in the office of President.

Web links

• Estonian Electoral Commission website