Parliament approved Mr. Parts, leader of the business-oriented Union for the Republic Res Publica, as prime minister a month on from elections in early March 2003. Juhan Parts Following lengthy post-election talks, Res Publica agreed to form a coalition government with the centre-right Reform Party in partnership with the centre-left People's Union. Between them the three parties hold 60 seats in the 101-seat parliament. The prime minister's main task in the first year of his premiership was to oversee Estonia's preparations for EU and Nato membership. The government has taken tough steps to encourage the development of the free market, cutting social welfare and taxes and boosting growth.  at the time of his election. He entered politics less than a year before the elections when he left his previous job as chief state auditor to lead the new Res Publica party.