President Meri Wins Second Term

Estonian President Lennart Meri defeated four challengers to win a second term and promised to use the victory to push for greater integration with the rest of Europe. Meri, a 67-year-old writer and historian, defeated former Communist Arnold Ruutel, 196-126, in the voting by an electoral college of lawmakers and local government workers. Meri needed 188 votes to win. Three other candidates were eliminated earlier in a first round of voting. The vote was turned over to the electoral college after Parliament failed to break a deadlock between the incumbent and Ruutel in three votes late last month.