2016 Estonian presidential election

none 2016 Estonian presidential election Estonia presidential no 2011 Estonian presidential election 2011 2021 Estonian presidential election 2021 29 August - 3 October 2016 150x150px|Kersti Kaljulaid Kersti Kaljulaid Independent DDDDDD First round 0 Second round 0 Third round 0 First electoral round 0 Second electoral round 0 Final round 81 Nominators Centre, Reform, Social Democratic, Free, Isamaa 150x150px|Siim Kallas Siim Kallas Reform FFE200 0 45 42 81 138 0 Reform Allar Jõks Independent DDDDDD 25 21 0 83 134 0 Free, Isamaa 150x150px|Eiki Nestor Eiki Nestor Social Democratic E10600 40 0 0 0 0 0 Reform, Social Democratic 150x150px|Mailis Reps Mailis Reps Centre 007557 26 32 26 79 0 0 Centre 150x150px|Marina Kaljurand Marina Kaljurand Independent DDDDDD 0 0 0 75 0 0 Social Democratic President Toomas Hendrik Ilves Social Democratic Kersti Kaljulaid Independent An indirect election took place in Estonia in 2016 to elect the president of Estonia, who is the country's head of state. The Riigikogu — the Parliament of Estonia — elected Kersti Kaljulaid to be the next head of state of Estonia to succeed Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who had served his second and final term as president (as he was term-limited). Kaljulaid is the first female head of state of Estonia. Somewhat unusually, Kaljulaid was elected president only after other candidates could not be elected in three rounds of parliamentary voting and two rounds of voting by an electoral college consisting of members of Parliament and representatives of local governments of Estonia. Process By law, the president of Estonia is indirectly elected. The Riigikogu (Parliament) has the task of electing the president in the first instance. If no candidate received the required supermajority of two-thirds (68 votes out of 101), the president is selected by an electoral college consisting of MPs and representatives of local (municipal) governments. Failing that, the process is to return to the parliament yet again.Köker Philipp 2019 The effects of majority requirements, selectorate composition and uncertainty in indirect presidential elections: the case of Estonia East European Politics en 35 2 238–258 10.1080/21599165.2019.1604339 159312855 2159-9165 http://create.canterbury.ac.uk/18107/1/18107%20Ko%CC%88ker_2019_Estonia_final%20author%20version.pdfSeptember 2026 InternetArchiveBot The first three rounds of the election took place in the Riigikogu on 29 August 2016 (first round) and 30 August 2016 (second and third rounds). Since no candidate received the required supermajority in three balloting rounds, an electoral college convened on 24 September consisting of members of Riigikogu and representatives of Estonia's local governments.New President to be elected in August or September ERR http://news.err.ee/v/politics/c6994be3-949b-4eff-8217-5e9b89321a32/new-president-to-be-elected-in-august-or-september 5 January 2016 The electoral college voted twice, but no candidate managed to reach an absolute majority of 168 votes.Postimehe otsesaade Estoniast: president jäi jälle valimata! Estonian Postimees live from "Estonia" (the concert house): The President was not elected again! Postimees http://www.postimees.ee/3845369/postimehe-otsesaade-estoniast-president-jai-jalle-valimata 24 September 2016 Thus, the next round of the election returned to Riigikogu on 3 October. The parliament elected Kersti Kaljulaid, then the country's representative to the European Court of Auditors, as the next President of Estonia. The incumbent, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, having served the maximum two terms, was not eligible to run for re-election. In the Parliament Candidates Candidates Allar JõksIRL and Estonian Free PartyFormer Chancellor of Justice http://news.err.ee/v/news/aed7498f-407a-4e46-85db-aef3697cd2f9/allar-joks-confirms-intention-to-run-for-president-in-the-riigikogu Allar Jõks confirms intention to run for president in the Riigikogu ERR 8 August 2016 8 August 2016 100pxSiim KallasReform PartyFormer Prime Minister and European Commissioner http://news.err.ee/v/news/10f2f8ec-da16-4d66-a5b6-28d44a34b103/reform-party-board-of-directors-confirms-siim-kallas-as-partys-presidential-candidate Reform Party Board of Directors confirms Siim Kallas as party's presidential candidate ERR 3 August 2016 3 August 2016 100pxEiki NestorSocial Democratic Party, Reform PartySpeaker of the Riigikogu http://news.err.ee/v/news/8ea966f2-bb2b-446b-975d-6a674ec6077b/reform-sde-to-support-nestor-for-president-in-first-balloting-round-kallas-in-following-rounds Reform, SDE to support Nestor for president in first balloting round, Kallas in following rounds ERR 23 August 2016 23 August 2016 100pxMailis RepsCentre PartyMember of Parliament, former Minister of EducationKeskerakonna presidendikandidaadiks valiti Mailis Reps Estonian Mailis Reps chosen as the Center Party's presidential candidate Postimees 11 June 2016 http://www.postimees.ee/3729083/keskerakonna-presidendikandidaadiks-valiti-mailis-reps 11 June 2016 Candidates could be nominated by one-fifth of the members of Riigikogu (21 MPs).President of the Republic of Estonia Elections http://www.vvk.ee/past-elections/president-of-state-elections/ Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon 25 April 2016 On 30 May 2016, Social Democratic Party endorsed Eiki Nestor as the party's candidate, but lacked MPs to officially support the bid. Same day the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union's Parliamentary Group endorsed Allar Jõks.Nestor endorsed by SDE, Jõks by IRL board and parliamentary group for president http://news.err.ee/v/news/268e52d9-12cb-490e-bd09-6d14ed2e93ff/nestor-endorsed-by-sde-joks-by-irl-board-and-parliamentary-group-for-president ERR 30 May 2016 31 May 2016 On 8 August, Jõks was also endorsed by the Estonian Free Party, after which he had enough backing for official candidacy. On 11 June 2016, with 53% of the votes the Centre Party elected Mailis Reps as their presidential candidate, in preference to Edgar Savisaar. On 12 June 2016, the Conservative People's Party of Estonia decided to nominate Mart Helme for president.Mart Helme confirmed EKRE's presidential candidate http://news.err.ee/v/news/780ebf2f-a3ac-43b9-8dba-fc9f8d44b2c6/mart-helme-confirmed-ekres-presidential-candidate ERR 13 June 2016 14 June 2016 As none of the other parties supported Helme's candidacy, he was left out of the election. Ambassador and former Minister of Defence Jaak Jõerüüt also prepared to run for president, but did not gain support from any party.Jaak Jõerüüt also prepared to run for president http://news.err.ee/v/news/215cbaf8-aced-448d-b7a2-26ddda528273/jaak-joeruut-also-prepared-to-run-for-president ERR 23 April 2016 23 April 2016 On 3 August 2016, the Reform Party nominated Siim Kallas as the party's official candidate. Marina Kaljurand and Urmas Paet had also announced interest in running, although Kaljurand stated that she was interested in doing so only if the electoral college was convened.Kaljurand: Make Kallas the party's candidate in the Riigikogu http://news.err.ee/v/be3d5f02-cb49-4ace-a356-a34798aa2dda ERR 21 July 2016 20 August 2016MEP Urmas Paet ready to run for president in Estonia http://news.err.ee/v/news/e4834589-c1a9-4696-893e-cabf03a3421f/mep-urmas-paet-ready-to-run-for-president-in-estonia ERR 26 April 2016 26 April 2016 On 23 August, Reform Party and Social Democratic Party made a pact to support Nestor's nomination and to vote for him in the first round of voting and, if this is unsuccessful, to support Kallas in the second and third rounds. Election results at the parliament CandidateFirst roundSecond roundThird roundVotes%Votes%Votes%Allar Jõks2524.75 21 20.79 ––Siim Kallas–– 4544.55 4241.58Eiki Nestor4039.60 –– ––Mailis Reps2625.74 3231.68 2625.74Invalid/blank votes87.92 10.99 3029.70Abstentions21.98 21.98 32.97Total101100101100101100Source: Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon In the Electoral College Candidates Candidates 100pxMart HelmeChairman of EKRE Allar JõksFormer Chancellor of Justice 110pxMarina KaljurandFormer Minister of Foreign Affairs 100pxSiim KallasFormer Prime Minister and European Commissioner 100pxMailis RepsMember of Parliament, former Minister of Education After the members of Riigikogu failed to elect the president, the electoral college was called to convene and the nomination procedure started over. Each candidate needed 21 members of the electoral college to nominate them. As Kallas and Reps were in the last voting round in the Riigikogu, they automatically qualified as candidates. http://news.err.ee/v/news/413f708e-50a4-429c-81b3-3fe1b3b16633/presidential-election-moves-on-to-electoral-college Presidential election moves on to electoral college ERR 30 August 2016 30 August 2016 On 30 August 2016, the Reform Party decided to support Siim Kallas in the electoral college, whilst Marina Kaljurand was also interested in running. After the decision, Kaljurand announced that she would step down from her position as Minister of Foreign Affairs and would run for presidency without the support from the Reform Party. http://news.err.ee/v/news/e0ccb896-b868-452b-abb2-bdea86d61e55/marina-kaljurand-steps-down-as-foreign-minister-announces-presidential-candidacy Marina Kaljurand steps down as foreign minister, announces presidential candidacy ERR 9 September 2016 9 September 2016 Her presidential bid was then supported by the Social Democratic Party. http://news.err.ee/v/news/d0c45385-ae0a-4542-a974-c34fb92790f0/social-democrats-back-marina-kaljurand-for-president Social Democrats back Marina Kaljurand for president ERR 20 September 2016 20 September 2016 Both the Free Party and Pro Patria and Res Publica Union decided to keep backing Allar Jõks in the electoral college and gathered enough signatures for nomination. http://news.err.ee/v/news/eec0941a-0b66-4646-b405-dd8db6cdbaf3/presidential-nominations-kallas-reps-and-joks-safe-helme-19-others-not-yet-clear Presidential nominations: Kallas, Reps, and Jõks safe, Helme 19, others not yet clear ERR 16 September 2016 16 September 2016 On 20 September, the chairman of Conservative People's Party of Estonia Mart Helme announced that he had gathered enough signatures for nomination. http://news.err.ee/v/news/65155f5e-8540-4fac-af25-9e208bdd90f6/mart-helme-to-submit-21-signatures-of-support-to-national-electoral-committee Mart Helme to submit 21 signatures of support to National Electoral Committee ERR 20 September 2016 20 September 2016 Results at the electoral college CandidateFourth roundFifth roundVotes%Votes%Mart Helme 16 4.78 – –Allar Jõks 83 24.78 134 40.00Marina Kaljurand 75 22.39 – –Siim Kallas 81 24.18 138 41.19Mailis Reps 79 23.58 – –Invalid/blank votes 0 0 60 17.91Abstentions 1 0.30 3 0.90Total335100335100Source: Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon Back to the Parliament Candidates Candidate 100pxKersti KaljulaidReform Party, Centre Party, Social Democratic Party, IRL, Free PartyEstonian representative to the European Court of Auditors After the electoral college failed to elect the president, the election returned to the Parliament and the nomination procedure started over. After the results of the electoral college were announced, Jõks stated that he would not run again. http://news.err.ee/v/news/518ed6e6-b479-4fd9-9182-6f26abbd6adf/electoral-college-fails-to-elect-next-head-of-state Electoral college fails to elect next head of state ERR 24 September 2016 24 September 2016 Helme also announced that he wouldn't run again and argued that all other previous candidates should do the same, as "new candidates were needed". Later, Kaljurand also announced that she wouldn't run again. http://news.err.ee/v/news/8adcf664-0f14-401a-8407-7120fa190693/kaljurand-uninterested-in-nominating-herself-again Kaljurand uninterested in nominating herself again ERR 27 September 2016 27 September 2016 On 27 September, a "council of elders" of Riigikogu (consisting of the speaker, vice-speakers, and leaders of all party factions) met in order to find a common candidate for all parties. They decided to propose Kersti Kaljulaid, the Estonian auditor in the European Court of Auditors. http://news.postimees.ee/3852419/parlt-party-leaders-see-kersti-kaljulaid-as-presidential-candidate Parlt party leaders see Kersti Kaljulaid as presidential candidate Postimees 27 September 2016 27 September 2016 The proposal was received positively by the parliamentary parties, most of the MPs supporting Kaljulaid's election. http://news.err.ee/v/news/c879aaba-b611-44a8-b2e2-9a68b4e7db4a/kaljulaid-has-enough-support-for-both-nomination-and-election Kaljulaid has enough support for both nomination and election ERR 28 September 2016 28 September 2016 On 30 September 2016, Kaljulaid was officially nominated by 90 MPs. As there were not enough uncommitted MPs left to nominate another candidate, Kaljulaid was the sole candidate in the election. http://news.err.ee/v/news/9ab68934-ab6e-48ff-b0f5-402da6747ee2/kaljulaid-nominated-for-president-with-90-signatures-no-opportunity-left-for-additional-candidates Kaljulaid nominated for president with 90 signatures, no opportunity left for additional candidates ERR 30 September 2016 30 September 2016 Results CandidateSixth roundVotes%Kersti Kaljulaid 81 80%Invalid/blank votes 17 17%Abstentions 3 3%Total101100Source: Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon Opinion polls Even though the president was not elected by popular vote, there were numerous public opinion polls studying candidates' popularity.Poll: Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand would be most popular presidential candidate http://news.err.ee/v/politics/e87f11da-8747-4964-9be5-152166b54220/poll-foreign-minister-marina-kaljurand-would-be-most-popular-presidential-candidate ERR 8 January 2016 Poll source Surveydates Sample size 70x90px 70x90px 60x90px 60x90px 60x90px 60x90px 60x90px 60x90px 70x90px 60x90px KaljurandInd. SavisaarKesk TarandInd. KallasRef RüütelEKRE ErgmaIRL PaetRef HelmeEKRE JõksInd. NestorSDE RepsKesk TNS Emor Sep 2016 1009 40% – – 18% – – – 6% 5% 7% 8% Turu-uuringute AS Aug 2016 1003 22% 15% 6% 17% – – 2% 5% 8% 3% 3% TNS Emor Aug 2016 1505 30.4% – – 22.3% – – – 6% 6.9% 4.9% 7.8% Turu-uuringute AS Jun 2016 – 29% 14% 6% 9% – – 2% 4% 8% 2% 1% TNS Emor Jun 2016 1375 25% 14% 6% 11% – – 4% 5% 11% 2% 2% TNS Emor Apr 2016 1293 30% 14% 10% 12% – – – 5% 3% 2% – Turu-uuringute AS Jan 2016 1001 23% 14% 9% 8% 5% 4% 3% – – 3% – TNS Emor Dec 2015 – 20.3% 12.6% 9.5% 10.6% 3.2% 4% 2.9% – – 1.4% – TNS Emor Aug 2015 1203 14.3% 13.2% 10.1% 11.2% 3.4% 5.4% 4.8% – – 2.3% – TNS Emor Mar 2015 1251 10.4% 13% 9.6% 13% 3.6% 6.7% – – – 1.3% – References Category:Presidential elections in Estonia Estonia Category:2016 in Estonia