Heads of parties met to discuss potential candidates immediately after the Council of Elders meeting. They will convene again at 1 p.m. today.
Nestor said parties hope to find a person whom at least 68 delegates would be willing to support before making them the proposal to run. «I believe it will be sensible to talk about names once a person realistically has the support; that the vast majority of the Riigikogu would go to that person with a proposal to run,» he said.
Could the next presidential candidate be decided today? «It is possible, while it does not have to happen today; I will not make predictions,» Nestor said. He added, however, that the parliament will have to present the candidate to the Electoral Committee on Saturday, while he or she will have to meet with all factions before that.
Chairman of the Reform Party, PM Taavi Rõivas emphasized the responsibility of all factions and MPs to make sure the president is elected next Monday.
«We are not electing a president for the Reform Party or the coalition but thew whole of Estonia, and we know that all six parties must now be constructive,» Rõivas explained. «That is why heads of parties communicate with one another, while the leading role lies with the Riigikogu chairman who, while a member of a party, is definitely more neutral than I am as head of one.»