The Riigikogu — the Parliament of Estonia — elected Alar Karis to serve in the office and he was sworn in as the 6th president on 11 October 2021.

The incumbent, Kersti Kaljulaid, was eligible to seek reelection to a second, and final, term but failed to gain the endorsement of at least 21 MPs, which is required in order for a candidate to register, as she was outspoken against some of the policies of the government, who thus denied her support.

[1] The election, being one of an unopposed candidate (a first under the 1992 constitution[2]), caused an outcry as it was compared with those held under the Soviet occupation of the country.

If no candidate receives the required supermajority of two-thirds (68 votes out of 101), the president is selected by an electoral college consisting of MPs and representatives of local (municipal) governments.

In June 2021, Jüri Ratas announced a special session of the Riigikogu on 30 August, in order to begin the process of electing the president.