Estonian FM steps down to run for president

Estonian Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand is stepping down from her cabinet post so as to run for the presidency of Estonia, local media reported on Saturday.

Prime Minister Taavi Roivas confirmed on Friday he had received Marina Kaljurand's letter of resignation and would forward it to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves as soon as there was a candidate for her position, which could take a week, the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) reported.

According to the Estonian law, Roivas will be given 30 days to find a successor. However, Roivas said he understood Marina wanted to leave soon and he decided to find a new foreign minister within a week.

Roivas said he and President Toomas Hendrik Ilves had agreed on the necessity to find a new foreign minister soon during a meeting on Friday evening.

Kaljurand reportedly has collected the 21 minimum elector signatures needed to enable her to be nominated as a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, which is scheduled for Sept. 24.

Source : XINHUA