Key facts
- Ulle Madise has been elected as Estonia's next president by the country's parliament.
- Madise, a constitutional lawyer and human rights ombudsman, ran unopposed.
- She will serve a five-year term in the largely ceremonial role.
- Madise's candidacy was supported by 62 members of the 101-seat parliament.
- She succeeds Alar Karis, who did not seek a second term.
Estonia's parliament has elected Ulle Madise, a constitutional lawyer and the country's human rights ombudsman, as its next president. Madise, 51, secured the largely ceremonial post unopposed after no rival candidate garnered sufficient parliamentary backing. She will serve a five-year term, succeeding Alar Karis, who chose not to seek re-election.
Madise, who has been the human rights ombudsman since 2015, announced her presidential bid with the backing of 62 members of the 101-seat Estonian parliament. She has pledged to safeguard Estonia's identity, independence, and democratic values, emphasizing the importance of preserving the nation's language, culture, and freedom. Her platform also focuses on families, education, and the country's demographic future.
A poll conducted by Norstat indicated that 43% of respondents supported Madise's election, with 36% opposing it. Among specific party voters, support was highest among Reform Party supporters (83%), while EKRE party supporters largely opposed her candidacy (79%). When asked about preferred candidates, Madise led with 29% of the vote, followed by Mart Helme at 12%. The poll also revealed that 70% of participants favor direct presidential elections.
Estonia, a nation of 1.4 million people bordering Russia, is a strong supporter of Ukraine and a vocal critic of Moscow within NATO and the European Union, budgeting 5.4% of its GDP for defense this year.