The Baltic countries maintain political stability in 2011.In the parliamentary election in Estonia, the ruling coalition triumphed and will stay in power for a second term. While in an early parliamentary election in Latvia, the pro-Russian party Harmony Center failed to form a government with the other parties, although it had won most of the seats. Instead, Zatlers' Reform Party, the Unity Party and the National Alliance formed a coalition government. In Lithuania, due to the loss of majority in the parliament by the ruling coalition, it is uncertain if it was able to serve its full term. On the economic side, all the three countries maintain the momentum for economic growth after the economy began to recover in 2010. However, rising inflation and high unemployment rate still confront the Baltic countries. On the international scene, the three countries keep close relationships with the United States, engage actively in affairs of the European Union and attempt to improve relations with Russia. <<