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Estonia's ruling center-right coalition was decisively returned to power Monday as voters rewarded it for piloting the economy through crisis and into recovery. The Reform Party of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip gained two seats to hold 33 in the 101- seat Parliament, while Pro Patria Res Publica Union, its coalition partner, advanced by four seats to 23, according to the Financial Times. The election was Estonia's first since joining the eurozone in January. In spite of having presided over a deep recession, Ansip's party won plaudits as it chose to face the pain of unemployment and slashed budgets upfront, rather than choosing to borrow money or seek a bailout. A record number of Estonians cast Internet ballots in the Baltic state's general election, still the only parliamentary poll in the world with an online option, data showed Monday. Figures from the Estonian electoral commission showed that 140,846 people had favored a mouse click over pencil and paper in a polling booth. The confidential ballots could be sent from any computer, provided the user had downloaded special software and logged onto a secure site with an encoded ID card. The nation has earned itself the nickname "E-stonia" with many public services accessible at a special state portal. Agencies |
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