Ülle Madise elected President of Estonia

Ülle Madise has been elected as the next President of Estonia. During an extraordinary session of the Riigikogu, Madise received 71 votes in a secret ballot, surpassing the required two-thirds majority of at least 68 votes.

Madise, a legal scholar and former Chancellor of Justice, is scheduled to take office on October 12 following the handover of duties from the current president, Alar Karis. In her address to the Riigikogu, Madise emphasized themes of independence, freedom, responsibility, and the importance of trust. She highlighted Estonia's role as a frontline for Western security and expressed a desire to represent all Estonian people.

The election process saw Madise as the sole candidate, with her candidacy proposed by 75 members of parliament. Her background as Chancellor of Justice is noted for her perceived independence and her history of defending fundamental rights and criticizing bureaucratic or rushed legislation.