Estonia has seemed to have had quite an unusual election this time around. With only one contender, a situation unprecedented since the Baltic nation regained its independence 30 years ago, Estonian’s have had quite a few eventful days.

The current President Kersti Kaljulaid’s five-year term expires soon and lawmakers in the 101-seat Riigikogu parliament had been scrambling to elect a new head of state to replace her in the largely ceremonial post.

The candidate Alar Karis, the director of the Estonian National Museum, a former state auditor has now been declared as the next president of Estonia.

Alar Karis was not elected president during the first vote on Monday but has been announced as the next head of the state after the second vote.