Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, has resigned to take up the post of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, sparking something of a governmental crisis.
The person holding this positions serves also as the Vice-President of the European Commission.
This role encompasses overseeing the foreign and security policy portfolio and is responsible for directing and implementing all external actions of the European Union. It was introduced in the Lisbon Treaty.
Kalla’s departure on July 15 led to President Alar Karis to announce that he will start talks with all parties to launch snap elections if the current partners (Reform Party with Estonia 200 and Social Democrats) fail to propose a new candidate within the next 14 days .
Kallas belongs to the centre-left Reform Party within the Renew group in the European Parliament.
Kallas’ two predecessors, Josep Borrell and Italy’s Federica Mogherini, left their respective posts as foreign ministers to take up a similar position but within the European Union.
She served in the post under Jean-Claude Juncker from 2014 to 2019.
Spain’s Borrell had held the position of High Representative since 2019.
The now former Estonian prime minister’s father is Siim Kallas who also held the position of Primer Minister from 2002 to 2003. He previously held several ministerial portfolios, including that of foreign minister.
Between 2004 and 2010 he served as European Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud and then from 2010 to 2014 as Commissioner for Transport.
He was a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union reaching the rank of parliamentarian in 1989. After the Estonia’s independence, he became the president of the Bank of Estonia.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has indicated that her administration is looking at measures for deporting any permanent residents of Estonia who seek to accept Russian citizenship. https://t.co/e4KwiYEyQC
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) January 9, 2024
