Fact Sheet September 2006 Today PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

The current President of the Republic of Estonia, Mr. Arnold Rüütel, was elected by the electoral body on September 21, 2001, and assumed office on October 8, 2001. His expires on October 8, 2006. The election of the next President of the Republic must be held between August 9 and September 28, 2006. The new President of the Republic will assume office on October 9, 2006 by taking an oath of office before the .

ELECTORAL SYSTEM government units is changing due to the administrative-territorial reform, the number of Presidential elections are carried out on the basis of members of the electoral body changes: in 1996, the the Constitution and the President of the Republic electoral body consisted of 374 people (101 Election Act. members of the Riigikogu and 273 representatives from the local government councils), in 2001 of 367 Election of President by the parliament, people (members of the Riigikogu and 266 local the Riigikogu government representatives) and in 2006 of 347 people (members of the Riigikogu and 246 local government representatives). An Estonian citizen by birth who has attained forty years of age may be nominated as a candidate for The right to nominate a candidate rests with not less President of the Republic. The President will be than 21 members of the electoral body. elected for a term of five years. The same person may be elected for up to two consecutive terms. For the first round of voting, the names of

candidates who participated in the third round of The right to nominate a candidate for President rests voting in the Riigikogu and new candidates with not less than one-fifth (21) of the membership of presented for registration in the electoral body will the Riigikogu (101 members). The candidate for be entered on the ballot. The candidate voted for by whom a two-thirds majority (68) of the membership a majority of the members of the electoral body of the Riigikogu votes will be considered elected. participating in the voting will be considered elected.

If no candidate receives the required majority, a If no candidate receives the required majority, a second round of voting will be held. For the second second round of voting will take place on the same round of voting new presentation for registration and day. For the second round of voting, the names of registration of candidates will take place. the two candidates who received the greatest

number of votes in the first round of voting will be If no candidate receives the required two-thirds entered on the ballot. The candidate voted for by a majority, a third round of voting will be held on the majority of the members of the electoral body same day. For the third round, the names of the two participating in the voting will be considered elected. candidates who receive the greatest number of votes in the second round will be entered on the If no candidate receives the required majority, an ballot. extraordinary election of the President (starting with

voting in the Riigikogu) will be held within fourteen days. If no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority, the chairman of the Riigikogu will convene an electoral body for the election of the President. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

Election of President by Electoral Body According to the Constitution, the President is the of Estonia. The President represents The electoral body is comprised of the members of Estonia in international relations. The President the Riigikogu and the representatives of the local confers diplomatic ranks, appoints and recalls government councils. As the number of local diplomatic representatives of the Republic of

Press and Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Islandi väljak 1, , 15049, Estonia. Tel. +372 637 7600, Fax +372 637 7617, E-mail: [email protected] http://www.vm.ee.

Fact Sheet September 2006

Estonia, accepts letters of credence from foreign On September 20, 1996 Mr. was diplomatic representatives accredited to Estonia, elected the President. Meri received 196 votes out of signs instruments of ratification, and performs other 374 in the second round of voting by the electoral functions. body.

The President proclaims laws or returns them to the parliament for a new debate. He has the right to initiate amendment of the Constitution. President Lennart Meri took the oath of office for his second term on October 7, 1996. The President is the Supreme Commander of Estonia's national defence. The President convenes and presides over the National Defence Council and THE 1992 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS confers military ranks. The 1992 presidential elections were the first after THE 2006 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Estonia regained independence in August 1991 and approved the new Constitution in June 1992. They were held under an exceptional arrangement in Three rounds of voting took place in the Riigikogu accordance with the Constitution Implementation (parliament) on 28 and 29 August. Since no Act. candidate received the required two-thirds majority, the Chairman of the Riigikogu convened the The first President was to be elected in a general, electoral body for the election of the President. The uniform and direct election, by a simple majority and election of the President by electoral body took exceptionally for a term of four years. As no place on 23 September 2006. candidate received the necessary majority (over 50% of votes), the President was to be elected by For the first round of voting in the electoral body, the the Riigikogu, as stated in the Constitution name of the candidate who participated in the third Implementation Act. round of voting in the Riigikogu, which was (www.thilves.ee), and new candidate The voting took place in the newly elected Riigikogu presented for registration on September 22th, which on October 5, 1992. Mr. Lennart Meri was elected was Arnold Rüütel (www.president.ee), were the President with 59 votes out of 101. entered on the ballot. President Lennart Meri took the oath of office on Toomas Hendrik Ilves was elected as he received October 6, 1992. 174 votes out of 345 participating members. 8 ballots were blanc and 1 was invalid. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRESIDENT The term of office of the previous President Arnold AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: Rüütel will expire on 8 October 2006 and Toomas Hendrik Ilves will swear the oath of office in the Home page of the Riigikogu on 9 October 2006. http://www.president.ee/

THE 2001 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Constitution of the Republic of Estonia http://www.president.ee/eng/ametitegevus/Ametiteg Three rounds of voting took place in the Riigikogu evus.asp (parliament) on 27 and 28 August, but no candidate received the required two-thirds majority. President of the Republic Election Act http://www.legaltext.ee/et/andmebaas/tekst.asp?dok On 21 September 2001, Mr. Arnold Rüütel was =X0013&keel=en elected President, receiving 186 votes from the 366 participating members (1 absentee) in the second Estonian National Election Committee round of voting in the electoral body. http://www.vvk.ee/engindex.html

The term of office of the previous President Lennart Office of the President of Estonia Meri expired on 7 October 2001 and President http://www.president.ee/eng/kantselei/Kantselei.asp Arnold Rüütel took the oath of office in the Riigikogu on 8 October 2001. Powers of the President of Estonia http://www.president.ee/eng/ametitegevus/Padevus. asp THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Heads of State of the Republic of Estonia Three rounds of voting took place in the Riigikogu http://www.president.ee/eng/riigipead/Riigipead.asp on August 26-27. Since no candidate received the required majority, the President was elected by electoral body.