TALLINN — Estonia's parliament on Tuesday elected the
head of the national museum as the country's new president — the fifth since
the restoration of independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
اضافة اعلان
Alar Karis, a biologist by training who also previously
worked as state auditor, was the only candidate in the election and was put
forward by the ruling Reform and Center coalition.
To win, a presidential candidate has to get a minimum of 68
votes — a two-thirds majority in the 101-seat parliament.
In the first round of voting on Monday, Karis got the
support of 63 MPs and in the second round on Tuesday, 72.
In a speech to parliament, Karis promised to be a "good
partner to all the factions and political forces" as president, a largely
ceremonial role.
Karis, born in 1958, is a molecular geneticist and
developmental biologist who studied in Britain, Estonia, Germany, and the
Netherlands and is a professor at Tartu University.
He served as national auditor of Estonia between 2013 and
2018 and, since 2017, he is director of the Estonian National Museum.
He will take over from President Kersti Kaljulaid on October
11.
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