TALLINN (Sputnik) — Out of 101 lawmakers, 81 cast their ballot in favor of Kaljulaid, with 17 blank ballots and three absences.
The latest elections were held after two failed attempts in which neither the parliament, nor the electoral college later, succeeded in electing the head of state in Estonia's indirect presidential election system.
Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the incumbent president, is due to step down in November. He is serving his second consecutive term and the country's constitution forbids running for a third time.
"I pass my position to Kersti Kaljulaid with a calm heart and in a good mood. I call upon all compatriots to support her as the new head of the republic," the ex-president said in a statement on Monday.
Ilves congratulated Kaljulaid and is expected to meet her in the residence later in the day.
