The Estonian parliament on Tuesday elected the head of the National Museum as head of the country, who will become the fifth president since the return to independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Alar Karis, a biologist by training who previously worked as an auditor, was the only candidate for the election.
It was proposed by the Reform Party and the Center Party, members of the ruling coalition.
The far-right opposition party EKRE, which previously promoted another candidate, ultimately refused to participate in the vote.
To be elected, a candidate for the Estonian presidency must obtain a minimum of 68 votes, or a two-thirds majority of the 101 seats in Parliament.
In the first round of the ballot on Monday, Mr. Karis obtained the support of 63 deputies and, in the second round on Tuesday, 72.
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In his speech to Parliament, the new head of state promised to be a “good partner of all factions and political forces”.
Born in 1958, Mr. Karis is a geneticist and developmental biologist.
He studied in Great Britain, Estonia, Germany and the Netherlands.
He teaches at the University of Tartu.
He had held the post of Auditor General of Estonia between 2013 and 2018. Since 2017 he has been Director of the Estonian National Museum.
He will succeed President Kersti Kaljulaid as of October 11.
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