14 Jul 2022 12:02

Estonian PM Kallas resigns, says ready to head new government

TALLINN. July 14 (Interfax) - Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas announced her decision to resign on Thursday.

"This morning, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas officially informed the government of her decision to resign of her own accord," the government press service said in a statement.

Kallas also proposed to convene an extraordinary sitting of the parliament at 9 a.m. on July 15, 2022, and to add the prime minister's political statement to the agenda.

The entire government is resigning together with the prime minister.

"Our government came to lead the country at a very difficult time [...]. Despite the difficult time, we did many good and great things to make the Estonian state stronger and to support our people," Kallas said.

"During the pandemic, we kept society open and the children in school, helped people cope with high energy prices, invested a billion euros in strengthening Estonia's defense capabilities, and achieved strengthening the defense of the NATO's Eastern flank, and we have been one of the biggest supporters of Ukraine. I am grateful to the ministers, with whom we led the country for a year and a half. Estonia has been in good hands," Kallas said.

Kallas is expected to ask the parliament for a mandate for a new trilateral coalition under her leadership. The coalition will consist of the Reform Party, Isamaa and the Social Democratic Party.

Estonian President Aar Karis relieved of duties all seven ministers from the Center party at Kallas' proposal on June 3. Kallas proposed that seven out of 14 ministers be relieved of duties due to the split in the bipartisan coalition. She said the final straw was the vote of the then ruling Center Party and the opposition Conservative People's Party against the bill on primary education in the Estonian language, which was earlier approved by the government by consensus.