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Former Estonian PM Roivas to quit as Reform Party chairman

Xinhua, December 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

Former Estonian prime minister Taavi Roivas Monday announced his decision to step down as chairman of the Reform Party by the end of the year, local media reported.

Roivas announced his intent in a letter to fellow party members, saying he had suggested that the leadership call a party assembly at the beginning of the next year to elect a new chairman, the online Estonian Public Broadcasting reported.

The new leadership needed to be a team that could win the local elections in 2017, Roivas said in the letter. "I'm convinced that there are strong candidates, and that the Reform Party is going to win the next elections already in less than 300 days," he said.

Roivas, who has been chairman of the Reform Party since spring 2014, lost a no-confidence vote by the Estonian parliament on Nov. 9.

The Estonian new coalition government of Prime Minister Juri Ratas's Center Party, Pro Patria and Res Publica Union, and the Social Democratic Party took office on Nov. 23 at the Estonian parliament. Enditem