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In mid 19th century, the reformist Russian Czar Alexsander II tried to impose upon the nation and Anglo-American type of grand jury. Back then, this was considered an ideal organisation of court in many countries.
Editorial: the not-too-maverick «grand jury»
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In Russia, they did give up on it after the maverick jury vindicated a woman who shot dead the governor of St Petersburg who was cruel towards political prisoners. While obviously guilty, the jury judged otherwise thinking it served the brute right.
With the above in mind... during these Estonian Presidential elections, the electoral body has repeatedly treated in media as something unpredictable.
To this, the 2001 elections seem to provide proof. While president of the Riigikogu Toomas Savi was the definite forerunner, Arnold Rüütel got elected due to diligent lobbying.
As seen in local leaders interviewed in Postimees today, a surprise of that calibre is not too likely. Still, the maverick element is there – not bad, come to think of it.
Not totally treading the party line, many are not supportive of the names prescribed by headquarters. Thus, seeing the electoral body tends to be honest and going by personal convictions, the idea of powerful political strings attacked may be wrong.