Parlt parties affirm support to Kaljulaid's candidacy

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Leaders of Estonian parliament's party groups on Wednesday afternoon once again affirmed their support to the presidential candidacy of Kersti Kaljulaid and only the Conservative People's Party (EKRE) group said that they have substantial differences in opinion with Kaljulaid regarding some issues.

According to chairman of the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) group Priit Sibul they said already on Tuesday that they are ready to set up the candidacy of Kaljulaid and on Wednesday after their meeting with Kaljulaid their decision remained the same.

Head of the Center Party group Kadri Simson said that their party group did not make a binding decision and every member will decide if they support Kaljulaid or not. At the same time she affirmed that most members of the group support the candidacy. "We understand that a compromise is a situation where it is not possible to focus on one's candidate," Simson said, adding that Kaljulaid seemed likeable.

According to chairman of the Free Party Andres Herkel his party said already on Tuesday that Kaljulaid has their support. «Today it solidified even more. Answers to a wide spectrum of questions were good, exhaustive and erudite,» Herkel said, adding that Estonia is to get a very good president.

Head of the Reform Party group Urve Tiidus confirmed that the party's wish is to elect a head of state on Oct. 3. «We are ready to unanimously support the candidacy of Kaljulaid. This morning's meeting was very necessary for us. There were a lot of questions, and answers were informative and good,» Tiidus said.

According to head of the Social Democratic Party's (SDE) parliamentary group Andres Anvelt, the party group did not need to make a decision because all members already supported Kaljulaid. «It is great to see that we are moving toward a consensual candidate and exiting the political dead end,» Anvelt said.

According to leader of the EKRE group Martin Helme, the meeting with Kaljulaid went by in a nice and constructive atmosphere. «Today we asked a bunch of questions, answers to some of which were very nice, but there are some issues concerning world-views which form a wide gap between EKRE and the candidate,» Helme said.

He added that therefore he cannot say whether EKRE's members would be among the MPs who will set up Kaljulaid's candidacy, but that does not mean that EKRE would block the election. «We need time to think if we will give our votes to Kaljulaid on Monday,» Helme said.

Chairman of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor said that Kaljulaid definitely has the necessary 68 votes from the 101-member parliament, but it will become clear on Thursday or Friday how big the number exactly is.

The extraordinary sitting of the parliament to elect a president is to start on Monday at 1 p.m.

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