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For the 63-year-old Karis, who was the only candidate, 72 legislators voted and eight blank ballots were counted.
To be elected head of state, a candidate in 101 local parliaments must have the support of at least two-thirds (68) of the deputies.
“I thank everyone who voted for me, as well as those who did not vote. I promise to be a good partner for Rygikog. Thank you very much, “said Karis, former Estonian Auditor General.
The vote count was interrupted by a protest by a Conservative deputy over possible procedural irregularities.
Kalle Grunthal, a delegate from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party (EKRE), said that a member of the Center Party, Marika Tuus-Laul, was too close to her in the vote to influence her decision.
Ms. Tuus-Laul was allowed to vote from a car in the courtyard of the parliamentary complex for health reasons.
Rygikogo President Yuri Rat asked the EKRE delegate to file a written protest and announced a 30-minute break.
A. Karis was nominated by 59 deputies from the Reforma and Centro parties. During Monday’s first round of voting, parliament did not elect a president: A. Karis received 63 votes from lawmakers at the time.
Born on March 26, 1958, Karis studied molecular genetics and developmental biology and served as rector of the Estonian University of Life Sciences from 2003 to 2007, and from 2007 to 2012 he directed the University of Tartu. He has been Auditor General since 2013 and in 2017 he became Director of the National Museum.
A. Karis’s wife, Sirje Karis, works as the director of the Tartu City Museum. The couple have two grown sons and one grown daughter.
In a previous interview with the public broadcaster ERR, Karis said that the internal political situation in Estonia was “very good”.
Speaking about the tense relations with Russia, he emphasized that “there are many issues in the air, from the issue of borders to Czech citizens who look at Moscow more than Estonia, as well as their situation. Questions on which [reikėtų] talk a lot with the Russians. “
