For all other candidates, election depends whether or not his party passes the five percent electoral threshold on a national level. A proportional distribution of seats is made following the order of the national list drawn up for the elections by the party. About two third of the candidates enter parliament through the national list. This makes the election system favourable for larger parties. The president is elected in a secret ballot by a two third majority in the Riigikogu , or by a simple majority in the electoral college which consists of the members of the Riigikogu and 273 representatives of local councils.
Local elections take place every three years.
The next local and parliamentary elections are scheduled for 1999. Feel free to copy this text, but please acknowledge the source.