Jump to content

Kaja Kallas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kaja Kallas
Kallas in 2024
19th Prime Minister of Estonia
In office
26 January 2021 – 23 July 2024
President
Preceded byJüri Ratas
Succeeded byKristen Michal
Leader of the Estonian Reform Party
In office
14 April 2018 – 8 September 2024
Preceded byHanno Pevkur
Succeeded byKristen Michal
Member of the Riigikogu
In office
3 March 2019 – 26 January 2021
ConstituencyHarjuRapla
In office
6 March 2011 – 1 July 2014
ConstituencyHarju–Rapla
Member of the European Parliament for Estonia
In office
1 July 2014 – 5 September 2018
Personal details
Born (1977-06-18) 18 June 1977 (age 47)
Tallinn, Estonia
Political partyEstonian Reform Party (2010–present)
Spouses
Roomet Leiger
(m. 2002; div. 2006)
Arvo Hallik
(m. 2018)
Domestic partnerTaavi Veskimägi (2011–2014)
Children1
Parent(s)Siim Kallas (father)
Kristi Kallas (mother)
RelativesEduard Alver (great-grandfather)
Education
Websitekajakallas.ee

Kaja Kallas (Estonian: [ˈkɑjɑ ˈkɑlːɑs]; born 18 June 1977)[1] is an Estonian politician and diplomat. She was the first female prime minister of Estonia, a role she held from 2021 until 2024, when she resigned in advance of her appointment as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.[2]

The leader of the Estonian Reform Party since 2018, she was a member of parliament (Riigikogu) in 2011–2014, and 2019–2021. Kallas was a member of the European Parliament in 2014–2018, representing the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. Before her election to Riigikogu, she was a lawyer specialising in European competition law.

Ancestry, early life and education

[edit]

Kaja Kallas was born in Tallinn on 18 June 1977. Her father, Siim Kallas, served as chairman of the Bank of Estonia from 1991 to 1995, as prime minister of Estonia from 2002 to 2003, and as a European Commissioner from 2004 to 2014.[3] Her mother, Kristi Kallas, née Kartus, is a physician. Kallas has an elder brother, Ülo Kallas, a financial executive.

Kallas' paternal great-grandfather, Eduard Alver (1886–1939), a lawyer, was the commander of the Estonian Defence League during the Estonian War of Independence from 1918 to 1920 and also served as the head of the country's police and the Internal Security Service.[4]

During Operation Priboi on 25-28 March 1949, Kallas' mother, Kristi, six months old at the time, was deported to Siberia with her mother and grandmother. She was allowed to return to Soviet-occupied Estonia in 1959.[5]

Apart from Estonian, Kallas patrilineally also has distant Latvian and Baltic German ancestry, as discovered by investigative journalists researching her father's ancestry shortly after his premiership.[6][7]

Kallas attended primary school at the Tallinn Lilleküla Gymnasium and secondary school at the Tallinn Secondary School No. 7 (today the Tallinn English College).[8] Kallas graduated from the University of Tartu in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in law. In 2007, Kallas began studying towards a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Estonian Business School (EBS), which she did not complete.[9] She went on to obtain a one-year Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from EBS in 2010.[10][11]

Professional career

[edit]

From 1996 to 1997, Kallas worked as an advisor to the director of the Vanemuine theatre in Tartu.[12] Kallas became a member of the Estonian Bar Association in 1999, and an attorney-at-law in 2002. While training in European law, she briefly worked as a lawyer at the corporate law firms Courtois Lebel in Paris (March-April 2001) and Hannes Snellmann in Helsinki (October 2003).[13][14] She became a partner in the law firms Tark & Co and Luiga Mody Hääl Borenius, where she headed the competition law department from 2008 to 2011.[15] Kallas also worked as an executive coach at the Estonian Business School. In 2011, she was placed on inactive status as a member of the Estonian Bar Association.[16]

Between 2003 and 2010, Kallas was a council member of several Estonian private and public limited companies: LHV-Seesam Varahaldus, Pakri Tuulepark, Viru-Nigula Tuulepark, Hiiumaa Offshore Tuulepark, Paldiski Tuulepark, Tooma Tuulepark, Roheline Ring Tuulepargid, Biofond and 4E Tehnoinvest. In 2008, Kallas was a board member of Nelja Energia.[17]

From 2009 to 2010, Kallas was a board member of the Estonian Wind Power Association.[18]

Political career

[edit]

Member of the Estonian Parliament (2011–2014)

[edit]

In 2010, Kallas joined the Estonian Reform Party. In the 2011 parliamentary elections she won a seat in the Riigikogu (for the Harju County and Rapla County constituency) receiving 7,157 votes. She was a member of the 12th Parliament of Estonia and chaired the Economic Affairs Committee from 2011 to 2014.[16]

Member of the European Parliament (2014–2018)

[edit]

In the 2014 European Parliament election in Estonia, Kallas received 21,498 votes.[16] In the European Parliament, Kallas served on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and was a substitute for the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. She was a vice-chair of the Delegation to the EU–Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee as well as a member of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and Delegation for relations with the United States.[1] In addition to her committee assignments, Kallas was a member of the European Parliament (MEP) Intergroup on the Digital Agenda,[19] and was also a vice-chair of the Youth Intergroup.[20]

During her period in Parliament, Kallas worked on the Digital Single Market strategy, energy, and consumer policies, and relations with Ukraine. In particular, she defended the rights of small and medium-sized enterprises, maintaining that borders in the digital world hinder the emergence of innovative companies. She is a proponent of innovation and frequently emphasises that regulations cannot and must not hinder the technological revolution.[1]

Kallas served as rapporteur for six reports: opinion on the ePrivacy Regulation,[21] civil law rules on robotics,[22] on the Annual report on EU Competition Policy,[23] and on Delivering a New Deal for Energy Consumers,[24] legislation on Custom infringements and sanctions,[25] and the own-initiative report on the Digital Single Market.[26] During her time in Parliament, she was also nominated as a European Young Leader (EYL40).[27] At the end of her term, she was cited by Politico as one of the 40 most influential MEPs, and one of the most powerful women in Brussels, who was highlighted for her understanding of technological issues.[28][29][30]

In November 2018, Kallas published her memoir MEP: 4 aastat Euroopa Parlamendis (MEP: Four Years in the European Parliament), in which she described her life and work in Brussels from 2014 to 2018.[31]

Return to national politics (2017–2020)

[edit]

On 13 December 2017, the Reform Party leader Hanno Pevkur announced that he would no longer run for the party leadership in January 2018, and suggested that Kallas should run instead.[32] After considering the offer, Kallas announced on 15 December 2017 that she would accept the invitation to run in the leadership election.[33] Kallas won the leadership election held on 14 April 2018 and became the first female leader of a major political party in Estonia.[34]

In the 2019 Estonian parliamentary election on 3 March, the Reform Party led by Kallas received about 29% of the vote, with the ruling Estonian Centre Party taking 23%.[35] The Centre Party managed to form Jüri Ratas' second cabinet with the conservative Isamaa party and the far-right EKRE, leaving the Reform Party out of power.[36] On 14 November 2020, Kallas was re-elected as leader of the Reform Party at a Reform Party Assembly.[37]

Prime Minister of Estonia (2021–2024)

[edit]
Kallas and Marin smiling at the camera
Kallas met with then Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin in Helsinki, 2021.

On 25 January 2021, after the fall of the Centre Party led cabinet with conservative parties, Kaja Kallas's first cabinet, a coalition with the Centre Party, was formed.[38] In doing so, she became the first female prime minister in Estonia's history.[39]

Kallas met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, 2021.

During the latter half of 2021, the global energy crisis disrupted the Estonian economy; businesses were forced to temporarily shut down, while the public requested government aid to pay for the high electricity and heating prices.[40] Kallas initially resisted calls for government aid, suggesting that the government should search for long-term solutions rather than handing out benefits, and that a free market should not require consistent government intervention to keep people afloat.[41] The energy crisis nearly caused the collapse of the coalition government.[42] Kallas observed in a speech that the high cost of natural gas coupled with the Russian invasion of Ukraine was driving the increase in energy prices, and that the green energy measures Estonia adopted limited what the government could do to handle the crisis.[43] In January 2022, Kallas announced a 245 million euro plan to reduce the cost of energy from September 2021 to March 2022.[43] The energy crisis impacted her popularity in Estonia.[44]

Kallas met with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken in Tallinn, 2022.

On the eve of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in January 2022, Kallas said that the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline was "a geopolitical project not an economic one" and urged that the pipeline be terminated. She also stated that Europe's dependence on Russian natural gas was a significant political problem.[45] In January 2022, Kallas committed Estonia to donating howitzers to Ukraine to assist in its defence against a possible Russian invasion, pending German approval as the howitzers were originally purchased from Germany.[46] When Germany delayed in giving an answer, Estonia sent American-made Javelin anti-tank missiles instead in the first weeks of February 2022.[47] Following Russia's recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, Kallas demanded that the European Union introduce sanctions on Russia.[48] Kallas was praised domestically for her leadership during the Russia-Ukraine crisis.[49] Subsequently, her approval rating soared, making her Estonia's most popular politician.[50]

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine started on 24 February 2022, Estonia along with other allies triggered Article 4 of NATO.[51] Kallas pledged to support Ukraine with political and materiel support.[52] By April 2022, 0.8% of Estonia's GDP per capita in military equipment had been handed over to Ukraine. Kallas has been praised both in Estonia and internationally as a leading pro-Ukrainian voice in the war, with the New Statesman calling her "Europe's New Iron Lady".[53] She also strongly supported the admission of Ukraine to the European Union, saying that there was "a moral duty" to do so.[54] In April 2022, she warned against "peace at any price" with Russia.[55]

Kallas met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Brussels, 2022.

On 3 June 2022, Kallas dismissed all Centre Party ministers,[56] after the Centre Party had sided with the opposition to vote down the preschool education bill, that would have made teaching Estonian language mandatory in preschool.[57] Kallas symbolically resigned on 14 July 2022, to form a new coalition[58][59] with Social Democratic Party and Isamaa.[60]

As prime minister, Kallas attracted international attention as a leader in efforts to support Ukraine during the Russian invasion, delivering more military equipment to Ukraine as a proportion of GDP per capita than any other country in the world.[61] In September 2022, in the context of a plan by three other bordering nations to restrict Russian tourists, she said: "Travel to the European Union is a privilege, not a human right." She added that it was "unacceptable that citizens of the aggressor state are able to freely travel in the EU, whilst at the same time people in Ukraine are being tortured and murdered."[62] In February 2023, Kallas was mentioned as a possible candidate to replace NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg following his expected retirement that same year.[63] She rejected any peace agreement that would cede part of Ukrainian territory to Russia.[64]

In March 2023, Kallas led the Reform Party to a decisive victory in the 2023 parliamentary election, increasing the party's seat count in the Riigikogu by three seats.[65][66][67] Following the election result, Kallas negotiated a coalition government with Estonia 200 and the Social Democratic Party, and her third cabinet was sworn in on 17 April.[68][69][70][71] In June 2023, the government passed a bill legalising same-sex marriage and adoption in Estonia. The bill came into effect on 1 January 2024, making Estonia the first Baltic state and country formerly occupied by the Soviet Union to legalise same-sex marriage and adoption.[72][73][74]

Kallas met with North Macedonia Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski in Vilnius, 2023.

Kallas is a transatlanticist[75] and was frequently named as a potential candidate to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as Secretary General of NATO, a role she has expressed interest in.[76]

Kallas condemned Hamas' actions during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war and expressed her support to Israel and its right to self-defence, but added that Israel "must do so in a way that spares innocent lives and adheres to the norms of international law." She said the conflict in the Middle East "is useful to those seeking to distract the free world from its support for Ukraine."[77]

Husband's business scandal

[edit]

In August 2023, the media reported that Kallas's husband, Arvo Hallik, had a 24.9% share in the transportation company Stark Logistics, which had continued to transport raw materials to Russia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, despite Kallas having previously called for Estonian companies to cease operations in Russia.[78][79][80][81][82][83] The company had generated approximately €1.5 million in revenue from providing a transport service to a company operating in Russia since the beginning of the invasion.[84]

Kallas later admitted to her husband's share in the company, but denied wrongdoing on the part of herself or her husband and stated that the company's business in Russia was to assist an Estonian client, identified by the Estonian media as the company Metaprint, end its production in Russia, adding that "not a single euro, dollar or ruble" was spent in Russia as part of the activity.[85][86][87] Media reported that Kallas had provided an undeclared €350,000 loan to her husband shortly after visiting Metaprint as prime minister in January 2022.[88][89] Stark Logistics seconded Kallas's claim that the company's dealings in Russia were to assist an Estonian client end their production in the country, and that their work did not contribute to the Russian economy in any way nor did it violate Estonian law, as Kallas's government had prohibited only state-owned companies from working with Russia.[85][90] The Estonian media has separately reported that Metaprint sold €17 million worth of goods to Russia between the start of the invasion in February 2022 and November 2022.[87][91][92] Hallik's business partner Martti Lemendik later admitted in the Estonian media that the company had sold over $32 million in goods on the Russian market between February 2022 and August 2023.[93] The company also collaborated with sanctioned individuals, such as Polish-sanctioned Sergei Kolesnikov.[94][95] Hallik later stated that he would sell his shares in Stark Logistics.[84]

Tanel Kiik of the opposition Centre Party noted that "the scandal has severely damaged the reputation of the Estonian state", while President of Estonia Alar Karis stated his worry for seeing "the credibility of the Estonian state called into question, in its relations with its allies" and fears that it "creates a precedent for the future and affects the reputation of Estonian democracy".[96][97] Two opinion polls conducted by Norstat and Turu-uuringute AS showed that 57% and 69% of respondents, respectively, thought Kallas should resign due to the scandal.[98][84] Kallas continued to refuse to resign in September 2023, calling the controversy a "witch-hunt" by political opponents.[99]

Russian arrest warrant

[edit]

On 13 February 2024, Russian officials stated that Kallas had been put on the Russian interior ministry's register of people wanted on criminal charges, reportedly related to the removal of Soviet World War II monuments in Estonia.[100] Kallas is the first head of government known to be added to the register by Russian authorities.[101] Kallas dismissed the warrant as a "scare tactic" by Russia.[102]

Nomination as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

[edit]

On 28 June 2024, Kallas was nominated to become High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. A confirmatory vote by the European Parliament is expected to take place in November.[103] She formally resigned as prime minister on 15 July,[104] but remained in office until the creation of a new government on 22 July.[105] She will also become Vice-President of the European Commission. In November 2024, she stated that the People's Republic of China must pay a "higher cost" for its support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[106]

Personal life

[edit]

From 2002 to 2006, Kallas was married to Roomet Leiger. She lived together with former finance minister and businessman Taavi Veskimägi. Kallas and Veskimägi have one son; they separated in 2014. [107] In 2018, she married Arvo Hallik, a banker and investor. Hallik has two children from a previous relationship.[108][109][110]

Apart from her native Estonian, Kallas is fluent in English, Finnish, Russian and French.[111][non-primary source needed]

Honours

[edit]

State decorations

[edit]

Awards and prizes

[edit]

Other activities

[edit]

Since 2020, Kallas has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of Europe.[123] Additionally, she is a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations,[124] an advisory board member of the Women Economic Forum,[125] and a patron of the Model European Union Tallinn.[126][non-primary source needed] She is also a mentor of the European Liberal Youth, a member of the European Young Leaders, a MEP ambassor of Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs, a member of the MEP Library Lovers Group, a political member of the European Internet Forum, a member of the extended board of the European Forum for Renewable Energy Sources, a member of the Global Young Leaders, a member of the Women Political Leaders, and a MEP ambassador of the European Entrepreneurship Education Network.[127]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "8th parliamentary term, European Parliament". European Parliament. 18 June 1977. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  2. ^ Tanner, Jari (15 July 2024). "Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas steps down to become EU's top diplomat". AP News. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  3. ^ Dobush, Grace (4 March 2019). "Digital Savvy Estonia Is Set to Get Its First Female Prime Minister". Fortune. Archived from the original on 8 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  4. ^ Even further from Russia: what is known about the new head of the Estonian government, Europeeska Pravda, 26 January 2021
  5. ^ "Europe's Iron Lady: Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas". The New Statesman. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  6. ^ Lääne Elu. Siim Kallas: eliidi raputamine on õige eesmärk. (in Estonian). Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  7. ^ Eesti Ekspress. Siim Kallas: "'Minu vanaema oli lätlane? Väga huvitav!"'. (in Estonian). Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Haridus". Kaja Kallas. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Haridus". Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Haridus". Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  11. ^ Deloy, Corinne (3 March 2019). "Victory for the centre-right opposition (ER) in the general elections in Estonia" (PDF). The Foundation Robert Schuman. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Karjäär". Kaja Kallas. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Karjäär". Kaja Kallas. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  14. ^ Tambur, Silver (21 May 2014). "Estonian candidates for the European Parliament: Kaja Kallas (Reform Party)". Estonian World. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Karjäär". Kaja Kallas. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  16. ^ a b c "Biography". Kaja Kallase. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016.
  17. ^ "Karjäär". Kaja Kallas. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Karjäär". Kaja Kallas. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Members – DAI". digitalagendaintergroup.eu. Archived from the original on 8 January 2016.
  20. ^ "European Youth Forum". youthforum.org. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  21. ^ Kallas, Kaja (4 October 2017). "Opinion on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the respect for private life and the protection of personal data in electronic communications and repealing Directive 2002/58/EC (Regulation on Privacy and Electronic Communications)". For the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Procedure File: 2015/2103 (INL); Legislative Observatory; European Parliament". European Parliament. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  23. ^ "Procedure File: 2014/2158 (INI); Legislative Observatory; European Parliament". European Parliament. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  24. ^ "Opinion of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energyon Delivering a New Deal for Energy Consumers". European Parliament. 12 April 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016.
  25. ^ "Procedure File: 2013/0432 (COD); Legislative Observatory; European Parliament". European Parliament. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  26. ^ "Procedure File: 2015/2147 (INI); Legislative Observatory; European Parliament". European Parliament. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  27. ^ "European Young Leaders (EYL40) programme – Call for Nominations for the Class of 2018". Erasmus Mundus Association. 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  28. ^ Hankewitz, Sten (14 April 2019). "Politico lists Estonia's Kaja Kallas as one of the most influential MEPs". Estonian World. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  29. ^ Hankewitz, Sten (10 November 2017). "Estonian MEP Kaja Kallas named as one of the most powerful women in Brussels". Estonian World. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Estland bekommt erstmals eine Regierungschefin". Tagesschau (in German). 25 January 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  31. ^ MEP. 4 aastat Euroopa Parlamendis (in Estonian). Goodreads. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  32. ^ "Pevkur not to run for Reform lead again, Kallas not announcing yet". ERR. 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  33. ^ "Kaja Kallas to run for Reform Party chair". ERR. 15 December 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  34. ^ "Estonia's struggling Reform Party picks first female leader". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  35. ^ "Estonia general election: Opposition party beats Centre rivals". BBC News. 5 March 2019. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  36. ^ Virki, Tarmo (6 April 2019). "Three Estonian parties, including far-right EKRE, agree on coalition plan". Reuters. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Kaja Kallas re-elected leader of Reform Party in Estonia". Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  38. ^ "Kaja Kallas to become Estonia's first female prime minister". Euronews. 24 January 2021. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  39. ^ Hankewitz, Sten (26 January 2021). "Estonia becomes the only country in the world led by women". Estonian World. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  40. ^ Vaino, Robert (14 December 2021). "Entrepreneurs waiting for quick aid, long-term decisions in energy crisis". ERR.ee. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  41. ^ Kallaste, Kristjan (6 January 2022). "Kallas: Energy market should operate without us needing to help people". Err. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  42. ^ Vaino, Roberta (24 January 2022). "Feature: What does the future hold for Estonia's coalition?". Err. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  43. ^ a b "Prime Minister Kaja Kallas made a political statement before the Riigikogu in connection with the situation on the electricity market". Riigikogu. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  44. ^ Wright, Helen (26 January 2022). "Support falling for Kaja Kallas as prime minister". Err. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  45. ^ Wintour, Patrick (28 January 2022). "'Putin only understands strength': Estonian PM on Ukraine tensions". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  46. ^ "Transcript: World Stage: Crisis in Ukraine with Estonia Prime Minister Kaja Kallas". The Washington Post. 1 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  47. ^ Whyte, Andrew (18 February 2022). "First batch of Estonia-donated Javelin missiles arrive in Ukraine". Err. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  48. ^ Wright, Helen (22 February 2022). "Kallas: Recognition of Ukraine's breakaway republics a 'serious escalation'". Err. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  49. ^ Whyte, Andrew (22 February 2022). "Samost ja Aaspõllu: Kallas has steered successful course in crisis so far". Err. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  50. ^ Mäekivi, Mirjam; Turovski, Marcus (8 December 2022). "PM survey: Kallas still most popular, Ratas gaining". Err. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  51. ^ Wright, Helen (23 February 2022). "Estonia, allies to trigger NATO Article 4". Err. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  52. ^ Wright, Helen (24 February 2022). "Estonian prime minister: Everything we were afraid of has come true". Err. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  53. ^ Cliffe, Jeremy (11 May 2022). "Europe's new Iron Lady: Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas". New Statesman. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  54. ^ McMahon, Meabh (9 March 2022). "The EU has a 'moral duty' to make Ukraine a member state: Estonia PM". Euronews. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  55. ^ "Interview: Estonia PM warns against "peace at any price" with Putin". Axios. 6 April 2022.
  56. ^ "Estonian prime minister dismisses junior coalition partner from government". ERR. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  57. ^ "EKRE and Center join forces to quash kindergarten reform bill". ERR. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  58. ^ Preussen, Wilhelmine (14 July 2022). "Estonian prime minister resigns, prepares to form new government". Politico.
  59. ^ "Estonia: New cabinet sworn into office". Deutsche Welle. Reuters. 18 July 2022.
  60. ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Estonia: New cabinet sworn into office | DW | 18 July 2022". Deutsche Welle.
  61. ^ Crisp, James (8 October 2022). "Europe's new 'Iron Lady' Kaja Kallas says the West mustn't negotiate with Putin". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  62. ^ Olsen, Jan M. (8 September 2022). "4 nations bordering Russia to restrict Russian tourists". AP News. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  63. ^ Vohra, Anchal (13 February 2023). "The Race Is on to Be NATO'S Next Chief". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  64. ^ "Estonian leader: Russia must be held accountable after war". CP24. 19 February 2023.
  65. ^ "Reform takes comfortable lead after e-votes counted". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 5 March 2023. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  66. ^ Tanner, Jari (5 March 2023). "PM Kaja Kallas' Reform Party set to win in Estonia vote". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  67. ^ "Valimised 2023". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  68. ^ "New coalition aims to sign agreement on April 10". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  69. ^ Ots, Mait (28 March 2023). "New government to take office likely in the second half of April". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  70. ^ "Reform, Eesti 200 and SDE sign coalition agreement". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  71. ^ "Reformierakonna, Eesti 200 ja Sotsiaaldemokraatide valitsus astus ametisse". ERR (in Estonian). 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  72. ^ "Estonian government approves draft same-sex marriage act". Err. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  73. ^ "Hääletustulemused 22.05.2023 / 23:42". Riigikogu (in Estonian). Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  74. ^ "Ajalooline otsus: Eesti seadustas samasooliste abielu". ERR News (in Estonian). 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  75. ^ "Kaja Kallas, who is the new High Representative for EU foreign policy". Italy 24 News. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  76. ^ Bazail-Eimil, Eric (14 November 2023). "Estonian PM Kaja Kallas open to being next NATO chief". POLITICO. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  77. ^ "Estonia to send humanitarian, medical aid to Israel and Palestine". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 2 November 2023.
  78. ^ Milne, Richard (24 August 2023). "Financial Times: Estonian PM Kaja Kallas urged to clarify husband's Russian business ties". Financial Times. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  79. ^ "Turmoil hits Estonian Prime Minister Kallas over husband's Russia ties". Euronews. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  80. ^ "Company part-owned by Estonian PM's husband continues deliveries to Russia". ERR. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  81. ^ "Kaja Kallas faces more heat amid probe of husband's Russia business ties". Politico. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  82. ^ Musaddique, Shafi (28 August 2023). "Estonia PM under pressure over husband's alleged Russia business links". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  83. ^ "EPL: Metaprint on sõja ajal müünud Venemaale 17 miljoni dollari eest kaupa". Eesti Päevaleht. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  84. ^ a b c Sytas, Andrius (25 August 2023). "Estonia PM Kallas under pressure to quit over husband's Russia ties". Reuters. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  85. ^ a b "Estonia Leader Has 'Nothing to Hide' on Spouse's Russia Activity". Bloomberg. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  86. ^ "Postimees and EPL: Kaja Kallas, resign". ERR. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  87. ^ a b Musaddique, Shafi (28 August 2023). "Estonia PM under pressure over husband's alleged Russia business links". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  88. ^ "Kallas: Human error behind €350,000 loan 2022 interests declaration absence". ERR. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  89. ^ "Estonian PM loaned money to husband after visiting Metaprint factory". Estonian news. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  90. ^ "Company part-owned by Estonian PM's husband continues deliveries to Russia". ERR. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  91. ^ "EPL: Metaprint on sõja ajal müünud Venemaale 17 miljoni dollari eest kaupa". Eesti Päevaleht. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  92. ^ "Gallery: Estonian PM Kaja Kallas' visit to AS Metaprint in January 2022". Eesti Päevaleht. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  93. ^ "Estonian PM Kaja Kallas faces calls to resign over husband's business ties to Russia". El Pais. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  94. ^ "Polish-sanctioned Russian cooperated with PM Kallas' husband: Estonian daily". Telewizja Polska. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  95. ^ "EPL: Metaprint's client Russian oligarch under sanctions in Ukraine, Poland". ERR. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  96. ^ "Estonie : la première ministre, Kaja Kallas, déstabilisée par les liens de son mari avec la Russie". Le Monde.fr. Le Monde. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  97. ^ "President Karis on PM Kallas' scandal: Doing business with Russia calls Estonia's credibility into question". Estonian World. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  98. ^ "Estonia's pro-Ukrainian PM faces pressure to quit over husband's indirect Russian business links". ABC News. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  99. ^ Musaddique, Shafi (13 September 2023). "'Witch-hunt': Estonian prime minister defends husband's Russian business links". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  100. ^ "Russia puts leader of NATO member Estonia on wanted list over removal of WWII monuments". AP News. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  101. ^ Sauer, Pjotr (13 February 2024). "Russia puts Estonian prime minister, Kaja Kallas, on wanted list". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  102. ^ "Kallas on Russia's Wanted List: This Is a Standard Scare Tactic". ERR. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  103. ^ "Von der Leyen gets nod for second EU term, Estonia's Kallas as top diplomat". Al Jazeera. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  104. ^ "Estonian PM resigns to take up top EU diplomatic job". The Kyiv Independent. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  105. ^ "Prime Minister Kaja Kallas resigns". ERR. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  106. ^ Bermingham, Finbarr (13 November 2024). "EU's next top envoy says China must pay 'higher cost' for supporting Russia". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  107. ^ "Kaja Kallas". Government of Estonia. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  108. ^ "Kaua hoitud saladus: Kaja Kallas on kihlatud investeerimispankuriga". Elu24 (in Estonian). 10 January 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  109. ^ "Kaja Kallast ootab ees jaht peaministri kohale, võlgades Reformierakonna päästmine ja abiellumine". Eesti Ekspress. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  110. ^ "Kaja Kallas". valitsus.ee. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  111. ^ "Keeleoskus"". Kaja Kallas. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  112. ^ "Decrete de decorare semnate de Președintele României, domnul Klaus Iohannis". presidency.ro (in Romanian). 16 June 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  113. ^ "Kaja Kallas". Government of Estonia. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  114. ^ "Zelenskyy presents Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise II degree to Estonian PM". 24 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  115. ^ "Prime Minister Kaja Kallas received the Transatlantic Leadership Award from CEPA". Government of Estonia. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  116. ^ "Grotius Prize presented to Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia". Policy Exchange. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  117. ^ "Estonian PM Kaja Kallas awarded European Prize for Political Culture". ERR. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  118. ^ "Prime Minister Kallas at the Hayek Prize award ceremony: maybe now is the time to listen to us". Government of Estonia. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  119. ^ "IRI Honors Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas with Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Award". International Republican Institute. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  120. ^ "Estonian head of government receives Marion Dönhoff Prize". ASB Zeitung. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  121. ^ "Awarding of the International Lord Byron Prize 2023". Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  122. ^ "Estonian premier receives Walther Rathenau Award in Germany". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  123. ^ Friends of Europe appoints 29 new members to its Board of Trustees Archived 27 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine Friends of Europe, a press release of 25 June 2020
  124. ^ "The ECFR Council". ecfr.eu. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  125. ^ "Advisory Board Members". Women Economic Forum. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  126. ^ "Model European Union Tallinn". Retrieved 26 January 2021 – via Facebook.
  127. ^ "Organisatsioonid". Kaja Kallas. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
[edit]
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Reform Party
2018–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Estonia
2021–2024
Succeeded by