Estonian Prime Minister candidate revealed, replacing "iron lady" Kaja Kallas

Estonia's ruling party has unanimously nominated Climate Minister Kristen Michal to replace outgoing leader Kaja Kallas as the Baltic nation's new prime minister , local media reported on June 29.

The ruling centre-right Reform Party made the decision after a closed-door meeting, after the European Union (EU) selected Ms Kallas to become the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the 27-nation bloc for the next five years, according to Estonian national broadcaster ERR.

Mr. Michal, 48, the only candidate nominated for the position of Estonia's new Prime Minister, expressed his gratitude for the trust and promised to take his responsibilities seriously. He stressed that his focus would be on the security of all of Estonia.

“Estonians need to be assured that our homes and lands are protected and that the country is run well. National security, strengthening the competitiveness of the economy and continuing to clean up public finances will certainly be important priorities while reviewing the coalition agreement,” ERR quoted Michal as saying.

Reform Party Secretary General Timo Suslov said Michal was a strong candidate for Estonia’s prime minister. “Kristen has been a member of the party for 27 years. Having served as a minister several times, he is well-prepared and has solid political experience to take on the role of prime minister,” Suslov said in a statement.

Kristen Michal waves to party colleagues as he begins a Reform Party Executive Committee meeting at his office on the morning of June 28, 2024. Estonia's ruling party has unanimously nominated Michal as the country's new prime minister, replacing Kaja Kallas. Photo: Postimees

Prime Minister Kallas will begin the process of stepping down next month, the Reform Party said on June 29 after selecting her successor. A press release said she will still represent the country as Estonian prime minister at the NATO summit in Washington DC on July 9-11, after which she will step down as prime minister.

Ms. Kallas was nominated as the EU's top diplomat on June 27, but the nomination still needs to be approved by the European Parliament (EP) at its session on July 18. As Prime Minister of Estonia, Ms. Kallas has led three consecutive governments (2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024) and is the first female Prime Minister of the Baltic country, which is both an EU and NATO member.

Before Kallas arrives in Brussels and Michal takes over as prime minister, the current governing coalition – made up of the Reform Party, the Social Democrats and the liberal Estonia 200 – is expected to redefine its coalition agreement. But the country’s foreign policy is guaranteed to remain the same, Michal told DW on June 28.

“The foreign policy orientation will remain the same as under Kaja Kallas, we have the same views on security and foreign affairs,” the new Estonian Prime Minister said.

Estonia under the “iron lady” Kaja Kallas has been one of the most enthusiastic supporters of Ukraine during the past two years of conflict, and is also one of the countries with the most “hawkish” (hardline) views on Russia and the EU sanctions against Moscow.

“Mr. Michal will probably pay more attention to domestic affairs, but since the general political attitude in Estonia is so pro-Ukrainian, even internally, Mr. Michal cannot be allowed to create any impression that Ukraine has somehow been abandoned,” said Meinhard Pulk, a political journalist at the Estonian newspaper Postimees.

Pressing issues such as defense, auto tax laws and stabilizing the country’s finances remain on the governing coalition’s agenda. But defense remains the most pressing issue amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“The main issue in Estonia’s recent policy is our ammunition shortage, but solving this problem requires a lot of money in the Estonian context,” Pulk said. “Whether or not there is a political consensus and how to finance it under Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal will be one of the most important questions for the government.”

Minh Duc (According to Anadolu, DW)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/lo-dien-ung-vien-thu-tuong-estonia-thay-the-ba-dam-thep-kaja-kallas-a670839.html