From the public statements of politicians in the Riigikogu, it is clear that no serious process has been initiated to ensure the success of the presidential election in parliament. Therefore, there is no reason to expect President Alar Karis to rush a decision on whether to consent to running for a second term, writes Imre Kaas.
The question of whether President Alar Karis will continue in office — often portrayed as a major mystery — seems simpler than we imagine. Already in the fall of 2025, in an interview with Mirko Ojakivi, he said that “it would take a small miracle to persuade me to run,” but as we know, a similar miracle also occurred in August 2021.
Karis has not hidden the fact that all his previous candidacies have been successful, which requires not only strong personal conviction but also firm assurances from those on whom the success of his candidacy depends. So far, he has not been given such assurances, and the slight smile on his face suggests that while he could give his consent, continuing in office is not a matter of vital importance to him.
When the Riigikogu’s Council of Elders sent Speaker Lauri Hussar (Eesti 200) to meet Karis to inquire about a possible second term, the public was left with vague explanations. But nothing clear could have been said, because evidently nothing was said in Kadriorg that would warrant headlines.
Everyone understands that this was merely diplomacy, because the Riigikogu has no intention of re-electing Karis. As Hussar himself admitted in an interview with ERR, only two parties have so far expressed support for Karis, meaning he could not be elected in parliament. Hussar himself surely understands that there is no point in expecting a definitive “yes” from Karis at this stage. It is therefore unclear why any answer is expected at all from the incumbent president.
Author: Imre Kaas, communications expert
Read more: ERR.EE
