Estonia's President-elect Toomas Ilves wants to unite nation
Narrow vote in Electoral College
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Social Democratic Euro-Parliamentarian Toomas Hendrik Ilves, 52, was chosen President of Estonia on Saturday. Before the final vote at the Estonia theatre in Tallinn, crowds of his supporters had gathered in the park outside.
Inside the theatre, Estonia's Electoral College gave Ilves 174 votes out of 345. Incumbent President Arnold Rüütel got 162 votes. "Estonian society is not interested in which politicians are friends, and which are enemies. Let us concentrate on the future: that is all that is expected of us", Ilves said, addressing the electors after the vote.
The office of the Presidency has a powerful symbolic significance in Estonia, and the President is a key figure in moulding public opinion. He has practical power primarily in questions of appointments. One task of the next president will be to put forward a new commander for the Estonian armed forces, to replace Tarmo Kõuts, who is moving into politics.
Ilves said at a press conference on Saturday that he would use the power of his office to work on behalf of the people. He also said that he would serve as a national unifier, as polls indicate that more than 60 percent of the people supported him.
Prime Minister Andrus Asnip of the Reform Party, who also supported Ilves, saw the election as an important phase in bringing the division of the nation to an end.
Backing Ilves were his own Social Democratic Party as well as the right-wing liberal Reform Party, and an alliance of the conservative Pro Patria and Res Publica.
While the powers of the Estonian President are largely ceremonial, the Presidential race has nevertheless ignited the passions of the nation, and has sharply divided the Estonian people.
Thousands of supporters of Ilves gathered in the Tammsaare Park next to the venue of the meeting of the Electoral College.
Rüütel's supporters mustered up a much smaller group.
"It is a question of principle. The people have expressed their opinions in opinion polls. Now we will see if the message gets through or not. Otherwise the same thing that happened in Hungary could happen here", said IT professional Marten Vill, who predicted that Ilves would win.
Rüütel supporter, Centre Party Chairman Edgar Savisaar, said before the vote that Rüütel's election would have a positive impact on development in Estonia. He fears that with Ilves, the impact would be negative.
"Ilves is unpredictable in domestic politics", Savisaar said.
Casting a shadow over Saturday's vote was a court appeal lodged over the choice of two electors.
The cities of Loksa and Sauen had first sent supporters of Ilves to the Electoral College, and some of the representatives of the local councils had later tried to replace them with supporters of Rüütel.
If both appeals are successful, Ilves would be deprived of the margin required for being elected President.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 25.9.2006 - TODAY |
 Estonia's President-elect Toomas Ilves wants to unite nation |
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