Arnold Ruutel Becomes Estonian President

The inauguration of the new Estonian President Arnold Ruutel is to take place on Monday. The electors' collegium elected him president of the republic on September 21. The 73-year-old Ruutel, candidate of the oppositional Popular Union, is a veteran of Estonian politics. According to the Estonian President's office, the inauguration is to take place after Ruutel swears in in the Estonian parliament building. The former Estonian President Lennart Meri whose term of office ended on October 7 and the new head of state Arnold Ruutel are supposed to deliver speeches to the parliament. The President of Estonia is elected by a parliamentary vote or by an electoral collegium for a five-year term. According to the Constitution, the president may dismiss the parliament and announce extraordinary election.