Estonian president asks Kallas to form new govt

TALLINN. April 10 (Interfax) - Estonian President Alar Karis has asked Reform Party leader Kaja Kallas to form a new government.

At their meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Kallas informed the head of state about the resignation of the current government following the March 5 parliamentary election.

"Taking into consideration the consent of the Reform, Estonia 200 and Social Democratic parties to form a new coalition, the president proposed that Kallas, being head of the Reform Party which won the election, should form a new government," the president's press service said.

Karis said the month-long talks to form a coalition had demonstrated the three parties' common will to govern jointly.

"All sides I have spoken with confirmed this to me. The three parties have a strong majority in parliament, 60 seats. So, I do not need the two weeks [allotted by the constitution] to make a decision. Besides, I think the new government should get down to work as soon as possible because a great deal has yet to be done," Karis said.

"I nominate Reform Party leader Kaja Kallas, who won the elections to parliament, as a candidate for prime minister and ask her to report on principles of forming the future government. I hope the parliament will give Kaja Kallas the power to form a new government," Karis said.

On Tuesday, Karis is due to meet with ministerial candidates put forward by the three parties.