Putin critic Kaja Kallas authorizes parliamentary elections in Estonia over salmonella: Norway must throw away several tons of kebab meat

In view of the Russian war in Ukraine, the people of Estonia are counting on political continuity:

In the parliamentary elections in the Baltic EU and NATO country, they again made Prime Minister Kaja Kallas’ liberal business party the strongest force. This means that the 45-year-old should be able to continue her clear and hard course against neighboring Russia and its war of aggression. Kallas is the first woman in Estonian history to lead the government since 2021 – and is considered one of Europe’s most staunch supporters of Kiev.

Estonia shares almost 300 kilometers of border with Russia and sees an aggressive war against Ukraine as a direct threat to its security. Since the beginning of the war, Kallas has been a staunch supporter of EU sanctions against Moscow and arms sales to Ukraine. Under her leadership, Estonia donated more than 1 percent of its economic output to Ukraine in the form of military aid and took in more than 60,000 war refugees. She resolutely called for the reinforcement of NATO’s eastern flank.

Kallas sets a voting record

Kalla’s Reform Party won 37 of the 101 seats in the Tallinn Parliament – three more than in the previous election in 2019. According to the Election Commission, it remains by far the strongest force in the Riigikogu Parliament. With more than 31,000 votes in her constituency, Kallas herself set a record – no one has received more since Estonia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

The lawyer and daughter of former EU Commissioner Siim Kallas currently leads a tripartite alliance with the Social Democrats (nine seats) and the conservative party Isamaa (eight seats), both of which lost seats. Kallas initially left it open whether she would continue the coalition or look for new partners. All options must be discussed in advance within the party.

Two opposition parties came second and third: the right-wing populist party EKRE (17 seats) and the left-wing Center Party (16 seats), both of which lost seats. The largest voter in the elections was the liberal party Eesti 200, which will be represented in parliament for the first time with 14 seats. Experts consider participation in the government even conceivable.

Government formation is urgent

Head of state Alar Karis, who must give the order to form a government, called for early coalition talks. “The current situation is not conducive to a long period of uncertainty,” he said on Monday announcing meetings with representatives of all parties elected to parliament. “People expect a quick solution or relief for various economic, social and security-related problems.”

Many citizens are concerned about the rapid increase in inflation, which is causing the cost of living to rise sharply – inflation recently reached almost 18 percent. This made EKRE a key issue in the election campaign, which was defined by socio-political issues in addition to the war in Ukraine.

Another special feature of the elections was the possibility to vote via the internet, which Estonia introduced in 2005 as the first country in Europe. Overall, more than half of all votes were cast digitally – a record for “e-voting”.

The heads of government of neighboring Latvia, Lithuania and Finland were among the first to congratulate from abroad. (saw/sda/dpa)