Kandideerime

Kandideerime is the first-person plural present tense form of the Estonian verb kandideerima, meaning to run for office or to bid as a candidate. It is used in political contexts to indicate that a group including the speaker seeks candidacy in an upcoming election. The infinitive kandideerima provides the base of the form.

In grammar, kandideerima is a regular verb, and the present tense forms are kandideerin, kandideerid, kandideerib, kandideerime, kandideerite, and kandideerivad. Kandideerime specifically marks the “we” subject. Typical sentences include “Me kandideerime järgmistel valimistel” and “Me kandideerime kohalikele volikogudele.” Beyond elections, kandideerima can be used metaphorically for seeking any post or position, such as a board or committee, for which phrases like kandideerima ametikohale are common. The noun kandideerimine denotes candidacy, and kandideerija refers to a candidate.

The term is part of standard Estonian and is commonly found in political reporting and public statements. Related terms include kandidaat (candidate) and kandideerimine (the act of candidating). While primarily associated with elections, kandideerime and its related forms may appear in discussions about organizational or institutional leadership where individuals or groups seek a particular role.