New coalition government led by 34-year-old takes office in Estonia

TALLINN, Estonia – A new government has taken office in Estonia, led by the youngest prime minister in the European Union.

Taavi Roivas, 34, replaces former prime minister Andrus Ansip, who stepped down earlier this month after nearly nine years in office.

The new government was sworn in Wednesday at a ceremony in Parliament.

Roivas heads a coalition consisting of his center-right Reform Party and the center-left Social Democratic Party.

Observers say the Reform Party chose to drop its earlier coalition partner, the conservative IRL party, from the Cabinet to raise its sagging popularity among voters before elections next year.

Roivas served as the minister for social affairs in the previous Cabinet.