Former EU commissioner enters Estonian presidential contest

Published August 30, 2016

Former prime minister and EU commissioner Siim Kallas has entered Estonia's presidential race for the second round of voting in the Baltic country's Parliament.

Kallas is running against former Education Minister Mailis Reps and former Chancellor of Justice Allar Joks in Tuesday's secret ballot.

Parliamentary Speaker Eiki Nestor withdrew his candidacy after the first round Monday, when none of the contenders got the 68 votes needed to win in the 101-seat assembly. If no winner emerges Tuesday, an electoral college will pick the new head of state in late September.

The winner will replace President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who is stepping down in October after serving two five-year terms.

Estonia's ruling three-party coalition has been divided over who should become the next president, a mostly ceremonial post.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/world/former-eu-commissioner-enters-estonian-presidential-contest