Estonian president to meet with chairs of elected parties

TALLINN - Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid is to meet with chairs of the parties elected to the Riigikogu at the Kadriorg office on Wednesday, public broadcaster ERR reports.

The president is to meet with chair of the election-winning Reform Party Kaja Kallas at 8:30 a.m, with chairman of the Estonian Conservative People Party (EKRE) Mart Helme at 10 a.m. and with chairman of Isamaa Helir-Valdor Seeder at 11 a.m. At noon, the president is scheduled to meet with chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDE) Jevgeni Ossinovski and and 3 p.m. with chairman of the Center Party Juri Ratas, spokespeople for the president said.

Pursuant to the Constitution, the president appoints a candidate for prime minister, whom they authorize to form the new government. It is customary in Estonia for the president to appoint the chair of the party with the highest number of votes collected in the general elections as the prime minister candidate.

The second vote recount should be concluded by Tuesday evening; however, it may take several more weeks before the results of the elections are declared officially.