Estonia’s First Female PM Steps Down To Take Up EU Job

Estonian first female Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, has resigned from her position on Monday in order to become the European Union’s next Foreign Policy Chief after she was tapped for the job by the bloc’s leaders.

Kallas, who has led the Baltic state since 2021, handed over her resignation letter to the Estonian President but will remain in office until a new government is formed and sworn in.

“This was a very hard time,” Kallas told Estonian public radio in a Monday interview, describing her tenure in office.

“I started when the Covid crisis was at its peak and I was probably the only prime minister who immediately after being sworn in went to a government meeting and started making decisions,” she added.

The outgoing Prime Minister is also expected to resign as leader of her Reform Party later this summer.

The hawkish Russia critic was last month picked as the EU’s next top diplomat, but her nomination was yet to be put to a vote in the European Parliament.

The ruling coalition of Kallas’ Reform, Social Democrats, and Estonia 200 are in talks to form a new government.

Reform has chosen the current Climate minister Kristen Michal as their candidate for prime minister.

Estonian President Alar Karis will now hold discussions with the parties, and decide who to approach about replacing Kallas.