Kaja Kallas

Kaja Kallas
Kallas in 2021
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Nominee
Assuming office TBD
Succeeding	Josep Borrell
19th Prime Minister of Estonia
In office 26 January 2021 – 23 July 2024
President	Kersti Kaljulaid Alar Karis
Preceded by	Jüri Ratas
Succeeded by	Kristen Michal
Leader of the Reform Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 April 2018
Preceded by	Hanno Pevkur
Member of the Riigikogu
In office 3 March 2019 – 26 January 2021
Constituency	Harju–Rapla
In office 6 March 2011 – 1 July 2014
Constituency	Harju–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 party	Reform Party
Spouse(s)	Roomet Leiger ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2006)​ Arvo Hallik ​ (m. 2018)​
Domestic partner	Taavi Veskimägi (until 2014)
Children	1
Relatives	Siim Kallas (Father)
Education	University of Tartu (BA) Estonian Business School (MBA)
Website	Official website

Kaja Kallas (born 18 June 1977) is an Estonian politician and lawyer. She was the Prime Minister of Estonia from 26 January 2021 to 23 July 2024. She is the first woman to be Prime Minister of Estonia.^[1] She has been the leader of the Reform Party since 2018. She has been a Member of the Riigikogu from 2011 to 2014 and since 2019. Kallas was a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2018. Before entering politics, Kallas was a lawyer that focused on European Union law.

During her time in the European Parliament, Kallas became popular for her knowledge of technology and business policies. She worked on the Digital Single Market strategy and consumer protection policies. At the end of her term, she was called by Politico as one of the 40 most influential MEPs, and one of the most powerful women in Brussels.^[2]

Kallas became prime minister in 2021 following Jüri Ratas' resignation after a corruption scandal, leading her to create a Reform-led coalition government with the Centre Party. Her father was former Prime Minister Siim Kallas.

During her time as prime minister, Kallas became well known for her support of Ukraine during the Russian invasion of the country in 2022.^[3] Her support of Ukraine led the New Statesman to call her "Europe's New Iron Lady".^[4] Kallas helped delivered more military equipment to Ukraine in terms of GDP per capita than any other country in the world.^[5] A critic of Russia, she supports Ukraine's right to defend itself while asking other countries to help out.^[6]

In July 2022, her second government was sworn-in, which was a three-party coalition by the Reform Party, Social Democratic Party, and Isamaa.^[7] In March 2023, Kallas led the Reform Party to victory in the 2023 parliamentary election, increasing the party's seat count in the Riigikogu by three seats. After the election result, Kallas created a coalition government with Estonia 200 and the Social Democratic Party.

In June 2024, Kallas was nominated to become High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She resigned as prime minister on 15 July 2024 and left office a week later when a new government was sworn-in.^[8]

1. ↑ Cite error: The named reference first was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
2. ↑ Cite error: The named reference politico was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
3. ↑ Cite error: The named reference moral was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
4. ↑ Cite error: The named reference iron was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
5. ↑ Cite error: The named reference cap was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
6. ↑ Cite error: The named reference peace was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
7. ↑ Cite error: The named reference newgov was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
8. ↑ Cite error: The named reference resign was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).