Estonia Elects Its Second Woman President in History

Ülle Madise, Estonia’s longtime ombudsman and a lawyer, has been elected the country’s next president, making her the second woman in Estonian history to hold the office.

Parliament chose the 51-year-old Madise without an opposing candidate. She has served as Estonia’s ombudsman for human rights since 2015 and will succeed Alar Karis. The president serves a five-year term.

Estonia’s presidency is largely ceremonial because political power rests with the prime minister and government. The office still plays a formal role in the country’s lawmaking process. New laws must be signed by the president before they take effect, and the president can veto legislation.

After parliamentary elections, the president nominates the person with the strongest support in parliament to become prime minister. The president also appoints and dismisses ministers on the prime minister’s recommendation.

Estonia has 1.4 million inhabitants and borders Russia to the east. The Baltic country is one of Russia’s strongest critics and among Ukraine’s leading supporters in the European Union and NATO. Estonia plans to spend 5.4% of gross domestic product on defense this year, compared with Denmark’s expected 3.5%.