2026 Estonian presidential election
30 August 2026
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101 members of the Riigikogu 68 votes needed to win | |||
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An indirect election is expected to take place in Estonia in 2026 to elect the president of Estonia, who will be the country's head of state.
Process
By law, the president of Estonia is indirectly elected. The Riigikogu has the task of electing the president in the first instance. If no candidate receives 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. If the electoral college fails to achieve a supermajority as well, the process is to return to the parliament yet again.[1]
The incumbent Alar Karis has served one term and is eligible to be elected to a second consecutive term in office.
Candidates
Individuals must be nominated by one-fifth of the members of Riigikogu (21 MPs) in order to officially stand as candidates.[2]
Unlikely to run
The following individual is eligible, and has not outright declined his nomination, but considers it unlikely.
- Alar Karis, incumbent President of Estonia (since 2021)[3]
Notes
References
- ^ Köker, Philipp (2019). "The effects of majority requirements, selectorate composition and uncertainty in indirect presidential elections: the case of Estonia" (PDF). East European Politics. 35 (2): 238–258. doi:10.1080/21599165.2019.1604339. ISSN 2159-9165. S2CID 159312855.
- ^ "President of the Republic of Estonia Elections". Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ^ ERR, ERR | (2025-11-07). "President: It would take a small miracle to convince me to run for a second term". ERR. Retrieved 2025-11-07.