Juri Ratas elected new prime minister of Estonia

Riga (dpa) - Opposition politician Juri Ratas became the new prime minister of EU and NATO member Estonia on Monday, days after his predecessor Taavi Roivas was ousted in a vote of confidence.The leader of the centre-left Centre Party and previously vice president of parliament received 53 votes in favour out of the country‘s 101-member parliament, with 33 against and 7 abstaining of the members present.In his acceptance speech before parliament in the capital Tallinn, Ratas listed the country‘s demographic development, stagnating economy, growing inequality and the security situation as the Estonia‘s biggest challenges, Estonia radio reported.Ratas, whose party has strong support from Estonia‘s Russian minority, said he had no intention of changing the Baltic country‘s foreign and defence polices. Estonia‘s memberships in the European Union and the NATO defence alliance were the best guarantees for the country‘s security, he said.Ratas‘ coalition is composed of his own party plus the Social Democrats and the conservative IRL voting alliance, which were the two junior partners of the failed Roivas government.On November 8, the two parties pulled out of the government in a row over putting party veterans on the boards of state-run enterprises. Parliament voted against the government in a vote of confidence 63 to 28 the next day.The 38-year-old Ratas was given a mandate to form a government by President Kersti Kaljulaid on Sunday. Ratas is currently presenting his suggestions for a cabinet, with the president having up to three days to review the list.According to media reports, Kaljulaid is expected to meet with the minister candidates on Tuesday, with a new government possibly sworn in as early as Wednesday.