ESTONIA | The Chancellor of Justice will become President of the Republic

On 2 September, the Riigikogu elected Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise as President of the Republic of Estonia in the first round of the presidential election. Madise received the support of 71 members of the Riigikogu in a secret ballot. At least 68 votes were needed to be elected, meaning that becoming president required support from both coalition and opposition parties.

The President of the Republic of Estonia is the head of state, whose duties are primarily representative and involve maintaining constitutional balance. The office of president requires independence from party politics and impartial conduct. The president’s powers include, among other things, representing Estonia in international relations, proclaiming laws and elections, nominating a candidate for prime minister and appointing the government to office, as well as making proposals for the appointment of several high-ranking state officials. The president may refuse to proclaim a law and return it to the Riigikogu for further debate, and, where necessary, apply to the Supreme Court for a review of the constitutionality of the law.

Ülle Madise has served as Chancellor of Justice since 2015, and her second term began in 2022. Her previous experience as an independent guardian of the Constitution and as a defender of the principles of the rule of law and fundamental rights will also serve her well in the office of president, where she will likewise be required to act impartially, follow the Constitution, and maintain the balance between state institutions.

Madise will continue as Chancellor of Justice until she takes the oath of office as President of the Republic on 12 October.

From then until the appointment of the next Chancellor of Justice, the duties of the Chancellor of Justice will be performed by the Deputy Chancellor of Justice-Adviser and Director of the Office, Mr Olari Koppel.

The new Chancellor of Justice will be appointed to office by the Riigikogu on the proposal of the President of the Republic for a term of seven years.

Source: The Office of the Chancellor of Justice of the Republic of Estonia