Ilves to be sworn in as Estonia’s president

October 10th, 2011 - 11:28 am ICT by IANS  

Tallinn, Oct 10 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who was re-elected for a second term as Estonian president in late August, will be sworn in Monday, Estonian Parliament said.

In line with Estonian law, the president is elected by parliament. A total of 72 out of 101 lawmakers supported Ilves’ candidacy in the Aug 29 vote, with a required minimum of 68 votes.

Ilves, 57, has led the country since October 2006. Estonia’s president is elected for a maximum of two consecutive five-year terms.

Prime Minister Andrus Ansip’s liberal Reform Party, the liberal-conservative IRL party and the opposition Social Democratic Party have supported Ilves’ candidacy in the election, whereas his only competitor, European Parliament member Indrek Tarand, was supported by the opposition Center Party, the second largest in parliament.

Ilves’ will pay his first state visit after taking presidential vows to Estonia’s southern neighbor, Latvia, Tuesday. Ilves will discuss economic and security issues, as well as cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, with Latvian President Andris Berzins and Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis.

–IANS/RIA Novosti
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