Estonia prez nominates new PM

TALLINN, Estonia, March 31 (UPI) -- Estonian President Arnold Ruutel has nominated Reform Party leader Andrus Ansip as his next prime minister, Interfax news agency said Thursday.

Ruutel has also asked Ansip to form a new Cabinet, the Estonian presidential press service told Interfax. The president gave the order during a meeting with Ansip, Center Party leader Edgar Savisaar and People's Union Party chief Rein Reiljan.

The Reform Party and the People's Union party are both members of Estonia's ruling coalition and the Centrists are Estonia's largest opposition party. The ruling Reform Party is pro-free market in its policies while the People's Union and Center Party are center-left parties. Together, the three parties have 52 members in the 101-seat parliament.