Kaja Kallas, Estonia’s first female prime minister, has become one of Europe’s leading voices against Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. She has been instrumental in getting the EU to take tougher action against Russia.
The 16th Berlin Speech on Freedom is dedicated to the war in Europe. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom is pleased to welcome Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia, as this year’s speaker.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform) said the situation in Ukraine is worrying and NATO cannot go along with Russia’s demands. She said allies see things more clearly after the Crimea occupation and do not underestimate the situation.
After the resignation of Jüri Ratas (Estonian Center Party) on January 13th, due to an inquiry entailing alleged corruption charges against his party, Kaja Kallas, the center-right Reform Party’s leader, has become the first female Estonian Prime Minister.
Estonia’s Prime Minister Jüri Ratas has resigned over a corruption investigation in his party. He paved the way for the opposition Reform Party to form a new governing coalition that excludes the right-wing populist allies of the previous government.
Kaja Kallas, the chairman of the Estonian opposition Reform Party, said the composition of the scientific council, which is advising the government on the coronavirus crisis, could be expanded to include people of different professions not just medical professionals.
Estonian opposition MPs want to slash the timescale for responses to Riigikogu inquiries to government ministers, from a month, to four days, for the duration of the emergency situation at least.
Estonian opposition leader Kaja Kallas (Reform Party) supports the idea of hiring assistants for members of the Riigikogu but said currently not enough work is being done to justify the need. She said aids should be competent and hiring relatives or friends should be avoided.
Prime Minister Jüri Ratas (Centre) has said that he does not have any red lines or issues on which it’s not possible to compromise. The fact that it’s possible to compromise on truly anything, including a lack of political responsibility, is confirmed by the actions of the current government on a weekly basis.
