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Estonia's ruling Reform Party wins election victory | Estonia's ruling Reform Party wins election victory |
(less than a minute earlier) | |
Estonia's governing Reform Party won a national election overshadowed by security concerns sparked by Russia's role in Ukraine. | Estonia's governing Reform Party won a national election overshadowed by security concerns sparked by Russia's role in Ukraine. |
Prime Minister Taavi Roivas, whose party has 30 seats, is set to form a coalition in the 101-member parliament. | Prime Minister Taavi Roivas, whose party has 30 seats, is set to form a coalition in the 101-member parliament. |
The results are a blow to the Centre Party, which has ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who were expected to do well in the poll. | The results are a blow to the Centre Party, which has ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who were expected to do well in the poll. |
Estonia was once part of the former Soviet Union but is now a Nato member. | Estonia was once part of the former Soviet Union but is now a Nato member. |
"The Reform Party is the 2015 winner of the parliamentary elections," Mr Roivas declared on the ETV public television station. | "The Reform Party is the 2015 winner of the parliamentary elections," Mr Roivas declared on the ETV public television station. |
'No Centre coalition' | 'No Centre coalition' |
Mr Roivas' party claimed 27.7% with most of the votes counted, down from 28.6% at the last parliamentary elections in 2011. | Mr Roivas' party claimed 27.7% with most of the votes counted, down from 28.6% at the last parliamentary elections in 2011. |
The Centre Party took 24.8% of the votes, winning one more seat to take them to 27 in total. | The Centre Party took 24.8% of the votes, winning one more seat to take them to 27 in total. |
The Social Democrats, who have been Reform's coalition partner, now hold 15 seats after losing four while the IRL party lost nine seats to take them to 14. | The Social Democrats, who have been Reform's coalition partner, now hold 15 seats after losing four while the IRL party lost nine seats to take them to 14. |
Analysts said Reform could face some difficulty in forming a new coalition, with parliament now split between six parties rather than the previous four. | Analysts said Reform could face some difficulty in forming a new coalition, with parliament now split between six parties rather than the previous four. |
The two newcomers - a free-market liberal party and an anti-immigration conservative party - won 15 seats between them. | The two newcomers - a free-market liberal party and an anti-immigration conservative party - won 15 seats between them. |
Asked whether he would contemplate forming a coalition with the Centre Party, Mr Roivas said "definitely not". | Asked whether he would contemplate forming a coalition with the Centre Party, Mr Roivas said "definitely not". |
'Estonian-minded' | 'Estonian-minded' |
In the run up to the election, Mr Roivas had called for an "Estonian-minded government". At 35, he is the youngest prime minister in Europe. | In the run up to the election, Mr Roivas had called for an "Estonian-minded government". At 35, he is the youngest prime minister in Europe. |
The country's political debate has been dominated by economic issues and fears over defence due to Russia's actions in Ukraine. | The country's political debate has been dominated by economic issues and fears over defence due to Russia's actions in Ukraine. |
One voter in the capital, Tallinn, told the AFP news agency: "If [the Russians] come in here, Estonia can't do anything." | One voter in the capital, Tallinn, told the AFP news agency: "If [the Russians] come in here, Estonia can't do anything." |
"I'm not sure Nato will help us out, Let's hope that it will not go that far," he added. | "I'm not sure Nato will help us out, Let's hope that it will not go that far," he added. |
Estonia has seen a number of airspace violations by Russia, and last year a security official was detained by Russia and accused of spying. | Estonia has seen a number of airspace violations by Russia, and last year a security official was detained by Russia and accused of spying. |
Mr Roivas has voiced concerns that Russia could seek to destabilise other former Soviet states following the conflict in Ukraine - a view echoed last month by UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon. | Mr Roivas has voiced concerns that Russia could seek to destabilise other former Soviet states following the conflict in Ukraine - a view echoed last month by UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon. |
The Centre Party leader, Edgar Saavisar, favours a friendlier approach to Moscow, and has previously suggested that Russia's annexation of Crimea could be legitimate. | The Centre Party leader, Edgar Saavisar, favours a friendlier approach to Moscow, and has previously suggested that Russia's annexation of Crimea could be legitimate. |
About a quarter of Estonia's 1.3m population are ethnic Russians, many of whom are Centre Party supporters. | About a quarter of Estonia's 1.3m population are ethnic Russians, many of whom are Centre Party supporters. |
The country is a pioneer of electronic voting, with a reported one in five casting their vote online. | The country is a pioneer of electronic voting, with a reported one in five casting their vote online. |