Estonian Center Party Chairman and Prime Minister Juri Ratas delivers a speech in the Estonian Parliament in Tallinn, Estonia, on April 17, 2019. Juri Ratas Wednesday won parliamentary support to form a new coalition government with the Conservative People's Party and Isamaa. (Xinhua/Estonian Parliament/Erik Peinar)
TALLINN, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Estonian Center Party Chairman and Prime Minister Juri Ratas Wednesday won parliamentary support to form a new coalition government with the Conservative People's Party and Isamaa.
Ratas won 55 votes in favor of granting him the authority to form the coalition government, which surpassed the majority of at least 51 out of the 101 parliamentary seats in total.
Delivering a speech before the question time and voting in parliament, Ratas promised to work for the country's comprehensive development, the welfare and best future of everyone in Estonia.
During a state visit to Portugal on Tuesday, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid digitally signed an order tasking Ratas with forming a government as the prime minister candidate.
As the first prime minister candidate, Kaja Kallas, chairwoman of the Estonian Reform Party winning the parliamentary election in March with 34 seats, on Monday failed to secure the parliamentary support to form a coalition with the Social Democratic Party.
The Estonian Center Party, the Conservative People's Party and Isamaa signed the coalition agreement on April 8, after the announcement on April 6 of the lineup of the 15 ministerial posts (including the prime minister) with five ministerial appointments for each party.
Five political parties won seats in the 14th Estonian parliamentary elections held on March 3 for a four-year term. The Reform Party has 34 seats, the Center Party 26 (currently 25 with another one converted to independent), the Conservative People's Party 19, the Isamaa Party 12 and the Social Democratic Party 10.
Ratas took office in November 2016 after a no-confidence vote in parliament against then Prime Minister Taavi Roivas from the Reform Party.
