Estonia’s two largest political parties reached an agreement on Sunday to form a government after the previous cabinet collapsed due to a corruption scandal.
This was reported by ERR.
The center-right Reform Party and the Center Party “will form a government that will continue to effectively address the COVID-19 crisis, keep Estonia progressive and develop all sectors and regions of our country,” the parties said in a joint statement.
Both parties are to have seven ministerial portfolios each in the 14-member government. Reform Party leader and former MEP Kaja Kallas will become prime minister, the first woman to hold the post.
The parties are expected to sign a coalition agreement on Monday.
The coalition agreement does not call into question Estonia’s membership in international organizations and proposes increased cooperation with the European Union, the new U.S. administration, and NATO allies.
The new government must now be voted on by parliament before it is approved by President Kersti Kaljulaid.
The Reform Party won the parliamentary elections of 2019, but failed to form a coalition in time and had to go into opposition.
Recall that on the night of January 13, the previous Prime Minister Juri Ratas decided to resign amid corruption allegations involving a key official of his party, who was suspected of receiving donations in exchange for political favors.
