TALLINN - Res Public, the Reform Party and the People's Union announced on Friday that they have reached a general consensus on the formation of a new government in the city of Tallinn.
According to reports, it appeared that former Mayor Tonis Palts of Res Publica was set to resume his former post, as the Reform Party would grab three deputy mayor seats (out of six) and four offices of borough governors (out of eight). The junior partner, the People's Union, would likely get a deputy mayor seat.
If pulled off, the three party coalition in Estonia's capital will reflect the make-up of the coalition on the federal level.
They were set to finalize negotiations on Sunday, which would include a timeframe for ousting Mayor Edgar Savisaar, who head the Centrist Party.
The ouster of Savisaar become possible after the Reform Party announced on Friday it had decided to start talks on a new municipal coalition with Res Publica and People's Union since they had offered a better deal for the city's 2005 budget.
"The accord with the Center Party wasn't bad. But what was agreed at the negotiations with the People's Union and Res Publica is significantly better for Tallinn residents," Keit Pentus, head of the Reform Party's Tallinn chapter, said.
The announcement came as a shock, since Pentus had just hours earlier reached an agreement with Savisaar.
"They had the reputation of being a traitor before, and now it is sticking to them even stronger," the mayor said of the People's Party.
The City Council is due to vote on the confidence motion on Oct. 14.
