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Estonia again fails to elect new president; will try again

TALLINN, Estonia – Estonia’s presidential election has been delayed yet again, as special electoral body failed to pick a new head of state, sending the process back to parliament.

In Saturday’s vote between two remaining candidates — former Prime Minister Siim Kallas and former Chancellor of Justice Allar Joks — neither secured a majority in the 335-member electoral college of lawmakers and municipal representatives.

In August, Parliament didn’t elect a successor to Toomas Hendrik Ilves, hence prompting the gathering of the special electoral body.

But its failure Saturday means an extraordinary presidential election will again be held in the 101-seat Riigikogu parliament on Oct. 3 — a first since Estonia’s independence in 1991.

The winner takes over the mostly ceremonial job on Oct. 10, when Ilves leaves after a decade.

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