Kaja Kallas's first cabinet explained

Cabinet Name:Kaja Kallas's first cabinet
Cabinet Number:51st
Jurisdiction:Estonia
Flag:Flag_of_Estonia.svg
Flag Border:true
Incumbent:2021-2022
Date Formed:26 January 2021
Date Dissolved:14 July 2022
Government Head:Kaja Kallas
State Head:Kersti Kaljulaid
Alar Karis
Current Number:15
Former Members Number:9
Total Number:17
Legislature Status:Majority cabinet (until 3 June 2022)

Minority cabinet (from 3 June 2022)
Political Parties:Reform Party
Centre Party (until 3 June 2022)
Election:2019 election
Previous:Jüri Ratas' second cabinet
Successor:Kaja Kallas's second cabinet

Kaja Kallas's first cabinet was the Cabinet of Estonia between 26 January 2021 and 14 July 2022.[1] It was a grand coalition cabinet of the Reform Party and the Centre Party until 3 June 2022 when Kallas dismissed Centre Party ministers from government after several weeks of disputes between the two parties.

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]

The cabinet led Estonia in the times of health crisis of COVID-19 pandemic and energy and security crisis caused by 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Estonia became one of the largest donors of weapons for Ukraine per capita[7] and received over 40,000 Ukrainian refugees.[8]

Ministers

The coalition agreed on 14 ministers in addition to the prime minister with seven each for Reform and Center.[9]

In November 2021, Centre's 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-19 restrictions and vaccination.[10]

On 2 June 2022, Kallas dismissed the seven ministers of the Centre Party after several weeks of deadlock, during which her coalition partner voted with the far-right EKRE opposition against an education bill.[11] [12] Continuing with a minority cabinet, the Reform Party called up the conservative Isamaa and the Social Democrats for talks on a possible new coalition.[13] On July 8, the three parties announced that they agreed on forming a new coalition government. [14] The new coalition was given a mandate by the Riigikogu on July 15 and became Kaja Kallas's second cabinet.[15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gallery: Kaja Kallas wins mandate to form government . 25 January 2021 . . 25 January 2021 . 26 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210126200428/https://news.err.ee/1608085663/gallery-kaja-kallas-wins-mandate-to-form-government . live .
  2. Web site: Jüri Ratas resigns as prime minister following loan scandal . 13 January 2021 . ERR . 25 January 2021 . 26 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210126154919/https://news.err.ee/1608071542/juri-ratas-resigns-as-prime-minister-following-loan-scandal . live .
  3. Web site: Political mathematics: Four new possible coalitions. Jan 13, 2021. ERR. Feb 25, 2021. February 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210203080325/https://news.err.ee/1608071914/political-mathematics-four-new-possible-coalitions. live.
  4. Web site: Seeder: Corruption scandal brought collapse of coalition forward. Jan 14, 2021. ERR. Feb 25, 2021. March 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210305034841/https://news.err.ee/1608072874/seeder-corruption-scandal-brought-collapse-of-coalition-forward. live.
  5. Web site: Helme: Ratas always looked for excuses to say it was difficult with us. Jan 15, 2021. ERR. Feb 25, 2021. April 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210414132635/https://news.err.ee/1608074041/helme-ratas-always-looked-for-excuses-to-say-it-was-difficult-with-us. live.
  6. Web site: Feature: Women in the Estonian government 1992-2021. Jan 27, 2021. ERR. Feb 25, 2021. March 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210301105646/https://news.err.ee/1608087229/feature-women-in-the-estonian-government-1992-2021. live.
  7. Web site: Hankewitz . Sten . Per GDP, Estonia has donated far more to Ukraine than any other nation . Estonian World . 3 June 2022 . 19 April 2022 . 4 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220604190227/https://estonianworld.com/security/per-gdp-estonia-has-donated-far-more-to-ukraine-than-any-other-nation/ . live .
  8. Web site: Vahtla . Aili . PPA: Estonia has received more than 40,000 refugees from Ukraine . ERR . 3 June 2022 . en . 26 May 2022 . 3 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603141312/https://news.err.ee/1608606811/ppa-estonia-has-received-more-than-40-000-refugees-from-ukraine . live .
  9. Web site: Reform, Center announce incoming ministers . 24 January 2021 . ERR . 25 January 2021 . 9 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609090556/https://news.err.ee/1608083107/reform-center-announce-incoming-ministers . live .
  10. News: Whyte . Andrew . Anneli Ott resigns as culture minister . 3 June 2022 . ERR . 2 November 2021 . en . 30 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211230153603/https://news.err.ee/1608389255/anneli-ott-resigns-as-culture-minister . live .
  11. News: Wright . Helen . Estonian prime minister dismisses junior coalition partner from government . 3 June 2022 . ERR . 3 June 2022 . en . 3 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603120347/https://news.err.ee/1608618850/estonian-prime-minister-dismisses-junior-coalition-partner-from-government . live .
  12. Web site: 2022-06-03 . Estonian government in crisis as coalition crumbles . 2022-06-04 . France 24 . en . 2022-06-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603190129/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220603-estonian-government-in-crisis-as-coalition-crumbles . live .
  13. News: Whyte . Andrew . Prime minister approaches SDE, Isamaa leaders on potential coalition talks . 3 June 2022 . ERR . 3 June 2022 . en . 3 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603134823/https://news.err.ee/1608618988/prime-minister-approaches-sde-isamaa-leaders-on-potential-coalition-talks . live .
  14. News: Whyte . Andrew . Reform, SDE, Isamaa strike coalition agreement . 13 July 2022 . ERR . 8 July 2022 . en . 11 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220711172305/https://news.err.ee/1608652660/reform-sde-isamaa-strike-coalition-agreement . live .
  15. News: Wright . Helen . Riigikogu grants Kallas mandate to form new government . 15 July 2022 . ERR . 15 July 2022 . en.

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