Estonia’s PM Resigns Over Corruption Scandal in His Party

Estonia’s PM Resigns Over Corruption Scandal in His Party
Estonia's Prime Minister Juri Ratas leaves from an EU summit in Brussels, on Oct. 16, 2020. Johanna Geron/Pool via AP
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HELSINKI—Estonia’s prime minister resigned Wednesday over a corruption scandal involving a key official of his Center Party suspected of accepting a private donation for the party in exchange for a political favor on a real estate deal, prompting new talks on forming a new ruling coalition.

The resignation of Prime Minister Juri Ratas, who is also the Center Party’s leader, automatically triggers the resignation of Estonia’s three-party coalition government, but doesn’t automatically mean a new election.