Marina Kaljurand
Ten percent of people polled supported Siim Kallas, who on March 28 became the first to announce his intention to run for president in this year’s elections.
The most popular potential presidential candidate was Marina Kaljurand, who had the support of 31 percent of respondents to the poll, which was conducted this month by the Estonian daily “Eesti Päevaleht” and market research company Turu-uuringute AS.
15 percent of the poll respondents supported Edgar Savisaar for president, while ten percent would like to see Indrek Tarand in office.
According to Juhan Kivirähk, research manager at Turu-uuringute AS, one contributing factor in Kaljurand’s popularity among the public was media coverage, as Kaljurand thus far had the most mentions in the media in the context of the Estonian presidency.
In Kivirähk’s opinion, the scoreboard could well change after Kallas’ announcement yesterday that he intends to run for president in this year’s elections.
Popular favorite Kaljurand acknowledges public support
“I respect Estonia’s constitutional order and am aware that I cannot nominate myself for president,” Kaljurand commented on ETV’s nightly news broadcast “Aktuaalne kaamera”, wishing Kallas luck.
Regarding the possibility of a presidential bid of her own, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs continued, “I can sense the public’s support, which I have, which is in a sense very positive, and is an assessment of my work thus far, but [being president] is also a very big responsibility, so if someone were to approach me with such a proposition, then I would think about it very long and carefully, and then give my response.”
Kaljurand stated that she felt she had support among some members of the Riigikogu, but perceived greater support specifically “on the street, among regular people — on the ferry to Hiiumaa and elsewhere.”
The minister added that she has not discussed the matter with members of the Riigikogu.
ERR News
