Kaja Kallas' cabinet
| Kaja Kallas' cabinet | |
|---|---|
 51st Cabinet of Estonia | |
| Incumbent | |
 | |
| Date formed | 26 January 2021 |
| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | Kersti Kaljulaid Alar Karis |
| Head of government | Kaja Kallas |
| No. of ministers | 15 |
| Member parties | Reform Party Centre Party |
| Status in legislature | Majority coalition 59 / 101 (58%) |
| Opposition parties | Conservative People's Party Isamaa Social Democrats |
| History | |
| Election(s) | 2019 election |
| Predecessor | Jüri Ratas' second cabinet |
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The cabinet of Kaja Kallas is the incumbent cabinet of Estonia, in office since 26 January 2021.[1] It is a grand coalition cabinet of the Reform Party and the Centre Party.
Background[]
The cabinet was formed after the previous cabinet led by the Centre Party resigned on 14 January 2021 following the resignation of the prime minister Jüri Ratas in the wake of a corruption scandal.[2]
From the very beginning, pundits stated several possible coalitions, among them were Reform Party–Centre Party, Reform Party–Isamaa–SDE, Centre Party–EKRE–Isamaa, Reform Party–EKRE.[3] On 14 January 2021, negotiations started between the Reform Party and the Centre Party. Although it was seen as a surprise to many, the leaders of Isamaa and EKRE (Helir-Valdor Seeder and Martin Helme, respectively) stated that the Centre Party members were probing a possible coalition with the Reform Party since the end of 2020.[4][5]
The cabinet received its mandate on 25 January 2021.
This cabinet was the first coalition government between the Reform Party and the Centre Party since 2003. Also, it became the most gender-equal cabinet in Estonia's history.[6]
Ministers[]
The coalition agreed on 14 ministers in addition to the prime minister with seven each for Reform and Center.[7]
In November 2021, Anneli Ott announced her resignation after criticism related to her not allowing herself to be vaccinated against COVID-19, citing disagreements with the Reform Party on restrictions. Her resignation revealed deeper disagreements between the two coalition parties regarding COVID restrictions and vaccination.[8] Meanwhile, far-right EKRE that had become the most popular party in Estonia[9] furiously attacked what it called the government's program of "mandatory vaccination" and posited that the government had utterly failed in dealing with the crisis.[10]
In a poll conducted in November, 56 % of residents of Estonia did not approve of Kaja Kallas' work as prime minister.[11] In an interview, she said she had considered resignation but did not want to give Martin Helme a chance to form a new government.[12]
References[]
- ^ "Gallery: Kaja Kallas wins mandate to form government". ERR. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ "Jüri Ratas resigns as prime minister following loan scandal". ERR. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ "Political mathematics: Four new possible coalitions". ERR. Jan 13, 2021. Retrieved Feb 25, 2021.
- ^ "Seeder: Corruption scandal brought collapse of coalition forward". ERR. Jan 14, 2021. Retrieved Feb 25, 2021.
- ^ "Helme: Ratas always looked for excuses to say it was difficult with us". ERR. Jan 15, 2021. Retrieved Feb 25, 2021.
- ^ "Feature: Women in the Estonian government 1992-2021". ERR. Jan 27, 2021. Retrieved Feb 25, 2021.
- ^ "Reform, Center announce incoming ministers". ERR. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ ERR
- ^ ERR
- ^ Uued Uudised
- ^ Postimees
- ^ Eesti Päevaleht
External links[]
 Governments of member states of the European Union | |
|---|---|
- 2021 establishments in Estonia
- Cabinets of Estonia
- Cabinets established in 2021
- Current governments