Estonian Center-Right Parties Ahead
Center-right parties favoring the market-oriented reforms that have made Estonia the economic success story of the former Soviet Union appeared to be leading in national elections Sunday, according to early results.
The question of how to continue the former Soviet republic’s remarkable economic progress without forgetting the people left behind was the key difference among the major parties in the campaign.
While the reforms have brought near-Western levels of wealth to some Estonians, many have been unable to live on wages of $300 a month or less.
The center-left Center Party, which has proposed implementing a graduated income tax, had received the single largest number of votes with nearly 22%, according to early results.
Other parties that could cooperate with the Center Party in forming a new government did not initially appear to have enough votes to win a combined majority in the 101-member Parliament.
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