Estonian PM Faces Confidence Vote After Coalition Collapses

TALLINN, Nov 8, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 08th Nov, 2016 ) - Estonia's Prime Minister Taavi Roivas on Tuesday refused to step down a day after his three-party coalition collapsed, opting instead to face a confidence vote in parliament, reports said.

The small Baltic eurozone and NATO member that is due to assume the EU's rotating presidency in the second half of 2017 plunged into political chaos on Monday. Two junior coalition partners, the centre-left Social Democrats SDE and conservative IRL party, demanded Roivas resign, ending cooperation with his centre-right Reform party amid disputes over his leadership.

Both also began coalition talks with an opposition party. The confidence vote is set for Wednesday, according to public broadcaster ERR. ERR quoted Roivas, 37, Tuesday as saying he would not step down "quietly", but admitted the coalition was "finished".

Roivas added that he wanted to "look members of the Riigikogu (parliament) in the eye when they vote in favour of moving to the left".