Ansip Defends Choice of Rõivas
Outgoing Prime Minister Andrus Ansip has defended his party's selection of prime ministerial candidate, saying in response to a question that Taavi Rõivas had more popular support than some of IRL's politicians.
Ansip said at the Cabinet's press conference that he was "surprised" by political scientists and journalists who perpetuated the view of Taavi Rõivas as a youthful unknown.
"Taavi Rõivas has been active for years and years. He is among the few who single-handedly gained enough votes for a seat in Parliament. He got 6,710 votes. Kallas was accused of lacking popular support, but Rõivas has, hands down, among the strongest mandates given at the elections."
Of IRL members cited by the reporter, only Mart Laar had more votes. "Juhan Parts (economy minister) received less and IRL leader Urmas Reinsalu was far back," said Ansip. It wasn't immediately clear why Rõivas, a Reform Party member, was being compared to IRL politicians.
Ansip also downplayed the age factor, saying that the Cabinet had many ministers in their mid to late 30s.