Rõivas Receives Parliament Approval to Form Government
Taavi Rõivas has passed the second-to-last hurdle to become the nation's new prime minister today, receiving the backing of the Parliament, 55 votes to 36.
Rõivas will now have to submit the line-up for the Reform Party-Social Democrat government to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who will have three days to approve or send back the proposed cabinet.
Speaking in front of Parliament today, the 34-year-old Rõivas said the nation now seems to be unready for a generation change in politics, having championed the change earlier.
“Seems as the generation who grew up in an independent Estonia, my generation, our aims, concerns and hopes for Estonia are for many who have led Estonia up to now, an unknown territory,” Rõivas said, adding that it is his mission to reveal the vision of the younger generation.
Speaking about the new coalition's promises, Rõivas said the 172 million euros that will be spent of increasing child support and other agreed measures, has been found and the budget will not be unbalanced.
The Reform Party is only now starting to reveal the seven ministers, besides Rõivas, who will make up their part of the new government. The six Social Democrat minister-candidates have already been named: Sven Mikser (defense), Jevgeni Ossinovski (education), Andres Anvelt (justice), Urve Palo (economy), Ivari Padar (agriculture) and Helmen Kütt (social welfare).