The Riigikogu voted on Wednesday to give Taavi Roivas, chairman of the Reform Party, powers to form the next Estonian government.
Estonian parlt gives Roivas powers to form govt
8th April 2015, 16:55
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The decision was passed in the 101-seat chamber with votes 58 to 40, with two abstentions and one deputy not present.
After getting powers from the Riigikogu the prime minister designate and ministerial candidates from the Reform-led coalition will proceed to the office of the president where Roivas will present the government lineup to the head of state.
The Reform Party, the Social Democratic Party (SDE) and Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) signed an agreement to form a coalition government to govern Estonia during the four years until next elections shortly after midday on Wednesday.
The coalition building negotiations that started in a four-party format on March 6 switched to a three-party format on March 21 when Roivas as the leader of the election winning party announced that Reform was dropping Free Party as a potential government partner because of differences over taxes.
The three parties command 59 seats in the 101-seat Riigikogu. According to the result of the March 1 general elections, Reform has 30 seats, Center Party 27, SDE 15, IRL 14, the Free Party eight and the Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE) seven seats in the new parliament.