On Monday morning, Estonia’s President, Alar Karis, accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who was appointed as a candidate for the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. President Karis will also start talks to form a new government.
The President thanked Kallas, who has led the Estonian government since early 2021. Her role in the EU’s support of Ukraine was crucial. A strong critic of neighbouring Russia, Kallas has worked in NATO and the EU to give unconditional support to Ukraine. Under her leadership, Estonia emerged as one of the biggest donors of military aid to Ukraine per capita.
“It has been a time full of crises, the milestones of which are the coronavirus, the economic recession and the war in Europe, when Russia destroyed our previous security picture with its aggression in Ukraine,” said President Karis.
The President announced that he would start talks with representatives of all political parties represented in the Riigikogu.
In the parliamentary elections of 2019 and 2023, Kallas led her liberal Reform party to victory. The Reform Party holds the largest faction in the parliament, with 37 members after the Riigikogu elections. It has nominated Climate Minister Kristen Michal as a possible candidate for the head of government. The party will soon begin negotiations with its coalition partners, the liberal Estonia 200 and the Social Democrats.
“Estonia needs a government that governs and makes decisions that will help turn the economy around, ensure our security, and thus ensure the sense of security and coping of Estonian people,” said President Karis.
According to the Estonian ERR news agency, Kallas will remain Estonia’s caretaker prime minister until the next government is confirmed by early August.
