Estonia parties seal coalition deal supporting NATO, EU ties
The three parties set to form Estonia's next coalition government pledged on Thursday to keep the small Baltic state firmly rooted in the European Union and NATO.
The centrist Centre party, leftist Social Democrat SDE, and conservative IRL began formal coalition talks on Wednesday after embattled Prime Minister Taavi Roivas, leader of the centre-right Reform party, lost a confidence vote in parliament.
The three parties that will command a comfortable 56-seat majority in Estonia's 101-seat parliament moved quickly to ensure stability as the country gears up to assume the EU's rotating presidency in the second half of 2017.
"We will adhere unconditionally to the current principles of security and foreign policy; our membership in NATO and the EU is the paramount guarantee for our security," the parties said in the joint statement confirming their cooperation.
They also vowed to spend the NATO recommended amount of at least 2.0 percent of GDP on defence, a point that US president-elect Donald Trump insisted he would press with NATO allies while on the campaign trail.
"Our parties are responsible for establishing a government which has to put an end to the economic stagnation in Estonia, guard our security, increase social well-being and boost up population numbers," they added.
President Kersti Kaljulaid must designate a prime minister within two weeks, after which the new leader will face a confidence vote.
Centre party leader Juri Ratas, 38, is tipped for the job.
The respected deputy speaker of parliament became the party's new leader last weekend replacing Edgar Savisaar, 66, whose perceived ties to Russia had scared off potential coalition partners amid heightened tensions with Moscow.
The party is popular among the sizeable ethnic Russian minority who account for a quarter of the 1.3 million population.