On Wednesday, Riigikogu elected Ülle Madise as president. Madise received 71 votes in a secret ballot.
There were seven unmarked ballots. There were no invalid ballots. 78 members of parliament participated in the vote.
Madise said: "I will do my best to deserve this trust. I hope we can achieve much in understanding each other. So that Estonia will be happy, good, and safe."
There were 89 members of parliament at the extraordinary session of Riigikogu. 12 members were absent.
Vilja Toomast did not participate in the vote. She was in France for her daughter's wedding. Jaak Aab also did not participate. His flight plan changed and he did not arrive in time.
Additionally, Arvo Aller, Rain Epler, Mart Helme, Martin Helme, Helle-Moonika Helme, Siim Pohlak, Evelin Poolamets, Anti Poolamets, Jaak Valge, and Varro Vooglaid were not present in the hall.
On Wednesday morning, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, a member of the Center Party faction, said that seven members of the Center Party would not take out their ballots.
The presidential candidate needed at least 68 votes. Madise received 71 votes.
The 51-year-old Ülle Madise is a legal scholar. She has worked in the Ministry of Justice, the Constitutional Committee of Riigikogu, and the National Audit Office. She has been the Chancellor of Justice since 2015.
75 members of Riigikogu nominated Madise as a presidential candidate. The documents were submitted by the Reform Party, Eesti 200, Isamaa, and the Social Democrats.
Madise will assume the presidency on October 12. She will take the oath of office in front of Riigikogu for the Estonian people.