国际英语新闻:Estonian PM survives no-confidence vote

TALLINN, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas survived a no-confidence vote at an extraordinary sitting of the Estonian parliament on Friday.

The voting result on the motion of no confidence was that 40 members of the Estonian parliament voted in favor and 55 against. The support of at least 51 parliament members was needed, said the statement from the Estonian parliament.

Speaking before the vote, Ratas, who is also the Center Party chairman, stressed the importance "to unite Estonia, to bridge the gaps in the society and to increase the bond between all of us".

Ratas denied the allegations that Estonia did not have a functioning government, and gave examples of decisions that had been passed. He also answered parliament members' questions before the no-confidence vote.

The ruling coalition government of the Center Party, the Conservative People's Party and Isamaa took office in late April after the Estonian parliamentary elections on March 3, currently securing 56 parliamentary seats out of the 101 parliamentary seats in total.

The extraordinary sitting was initiated by the opposition Reform Party for the no-confidence vote, and the motion of no confidence was submitted by 44 parliament members. The Reform Party and the Social Democratic Party respectively hold 34 and 10 parliamentary seats.

Last week, Reform Party chairwoman Kaja Kallas said that the opposition launched the no-confidence motion against the Estonian prime minister, expressing regret that Ratas had been incapable of ensuring the dignified governance of Estonia.