Presidential election in Estonia in 2021

On August 31, 2021, the parliament elected Alar Karis (here 2019) as the 6th President of the Republic of Estonia

The presidential election in Estonia 2021 took place in Parliament on August 30th and 31st. In the second ballot, the only candidate, the scientist Alar Karis , was elected 6th President of the Republic of Estonia .

choice

The five-year term of office of the current Estonian President , Kersti Kaljulaid , ends on October 11, 2021. Her subsequent re-election for a second term would have been permissible under the constitution.

The non-party Kaljulaid, who had given up her ambitions for the office of OECD Secretary General in January 2021 , announced on August 16 that she would be available for another term. The Estonian Social Democrats , who are represented by eleven members in parliament, signaled their support for the re-election of the president at an early stage.

The current governing coalition of the Estonian Reform Party and the Estonian Center Party has 59 out of 101 members in parliament. The question of the presidential election was excluded from the coalition agreement of January 2021. After controversial deliberations on August 22, both parties agreed to support the former President of the Audit Office, Alar Karis, who was not party to the party, for the election of the new president.

The right-wing populist party EKRE (19 MPs) wanted to send the former parliamentary president Henn Põlluaas into the race; However, she lacked the necessary number of 21 MPs to be able to nominate a candidate herself. The two other parties in parliament had lifted group discipline for the vote.

First ballot in Parliament (August 30)

In the first ballot, Alar Karis, nominated by the two governing parties, was the only candidate to run. He received 63 out of 101 possible votes in a secret ballot. With that he missed the necessary majority of 68 votes.

79 MPs took part in the vote. The EKRE boycotted the vote, two MPs were absent due to illness. This resulted in a second ballot in parliament on August 31.

Second ballot in Parliament (August 31)

In the second ballot, Alar Karis was the only candidate to be elected with 72 votes.

Electoral process

The electoral procedure for the office of President is regulated in Section 79 of the Estonian Constitution and in the Law on the Election of the President ( Vabariigi Presidendi valimise seadus ).

houses of Parliament

The chairman of the Estonian Parliament ( Riigikogu ) convenes the 101 MPs for a meeting. Nominations for the first ballot could be submitted on August 26th, 27th and 28th; a nomination requires the support of at least 21 MPs. The candidate is elected who has a majority of at least two thirds of the votes of the statutory number of members (68 votes in favor).

If no candidate reaches the required majority in the first ballot, a second ballot will take place on August 31. New candidates can be set up for this; Nominations again require 21 supporters. If no candidate achieves a two-thirds majority in the second ballot either, a third ballot will take place on the same day. The top two of the second ballot will compete.

If no candidate achieves the required two-thirds majority in the third ballot, the right to vote is transferred to the electoral assembly ( valimiskogu ). It consists of 101 members of parliament and currently 107 representatives of local authorities (a total of 208 electors). They have to be determined by September 18, that is, before the upcoming local elections (October 17). The President of the Estonian Parliament presides over the electoral assembly.

Electoral assembly

In the first ballot of the electoral assembly (September 25), the two candidates from the third ballot in parliament, as well as other candidates supported by at least 21 members of the electoral assembly, will take part. The candidate who can collect at least half of the votes cast is elected.

If there is no required majority in the first ballot, a second ballot will take place on the same day. The top two of the first ballot will compete in it. Whoever can collect at least half of the votes cast is elected.

If no candidate is elected in the second ballot either, the right to vote goes back to parliament. The election process begins again. New candidates can also be nominated.

Survey

Institute	Survey period	Respondents	Andrus Ansip	Mart helmets	Kersti Kaljulaid	Marina Kaljurand	Oll Madise	Jüri Ratas	Tarmo Soomere	Other
			Estonian Reform Party	Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond	Non-party	Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond	Non-party	Estonian Center Party	Non-party
Cantar Emor	11-17 August 2021	1,152	-	-	24%	13%	-	-	-	63%
Turu-uuringute AS	15-21 April 2021	-	5%	6%	18%	16%	-	15%	8th %	-
Cantar Emor	8-14 April 2021	1,232	-	10%	21%	-	9%	23%	11%	-

Web links

• Election of the President on the website of the State Electoral Commission (English)
• Wording of Section 79 of the Estonian Constitution (English translation)
• Law on the Election of the President of the Republic (English translation)
• Official website of the Estonian President

Individual evidence

1. ↑ https://news.err.ee/1608186580/survey-pollsters-split-on-most-popular-presidential-candidate .
2. ↑ https://news.err.ee/1608086893/kersti-kaljulaid-withdraws-oecd-candidacy .
3. ↑ https://www.err.ee/1608308303/kersti-kaljulaid-ma-olen-valmis-teiseks-ametiajaks .
4. ↑ https://news.err.ee/1608080995/sde-would-support-kaljulaid-for-second-presidential-term .
5. ↑ https://news.err.ee/1608314117/center-joins-reform-in-support-for-alar-karis-presidential-candidacy .
6. ↑ https://news.err.ee/1608321989/alar-karis-fails-to-get-elected-at-riigikogu-first-ballot
7. ↑ https://www.err.ee/1608308834/riigikogus-voib-presidenti-valida-ka-ainsagi-kandidaadita .