Kaja Kallas

Viral posts claimed that Kallas had directly described China as a 'cancer'. Her actual remarks, made during a discussion of China's coercive economic practices and Europe's response, used a more complex medical metaphor and were heavily simplified in online circulation.

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Personally implicated

French and then Franco-German documents proposed several scenarios for reform of the European External Action Service, some of which would reduce the autonomy of Kallas's role in favour of the Commission or member states. The discussion was fuelled by diplomats' criticism of her style, coordination and positions sometimes extending beyond the consensus of all 27 states.

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Institutional responsibility

Kallas announced a high-level group tasked with identifying investment gaps in European defence. A few days later, the EEAS cancelled its launch following strong opposition from several member states, which disputed its mandate and overlap with their own powers.

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Institutional responsibility

As EU High Representative, Kallas proposed mobilising up to 40 billion euros in additional military aid for Ukraine, apportioned according to member states' economic weight. The proposal failed to secure sufficient support at the European Council and was substantially reduced.

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Directly implicated

The Kallas government prepared a highly controversial vehicle tax, particularly opposed by families, disabled people and owners of older vehicles. President Alar Karis refused to promulgate an initial version because of equal treatment concerns.

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Shared responsibility

Russia placed Kallas on a wanted list, with Moscow citing, among other matters, removal of Soviet monuments. It was the first time the Kremlin had placed a foreign head of government on such a list.

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Shortly after the Reform Party's victory in the March 2023 elections, the new coalition announced increases in VAT and income tax together with a future vehicle tax. Opponents accused Kallas of misleading voters by avoiding the subject of tax increases during the campaign.

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Political responsibility

Forty opposition MPs initiated a no-confidence motion criticising the government's tax and family reforms and repeated use of confidence votes to accelerate legislation. The motion received 34 votes against 57.

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Political responsibility

Estonia became the first former Soviet state to legalise marriage between people of the same sex. The reform generated intense conservative opposition and was linked to a confidence vote to overcome parliamentary obstruction.

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Political responsibility

It emerged that Arvo Hallik, Kallas's husband, held a stake in Stark Logistics, a company which continued after February 2022 to transport goods for Metaprint to or from Russia. The matter was particularly sensitive because Kallas had publicly urged companies to end all business activities in Russia.

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Kallas had lent 350,000 euros to Novaria Consult, her husband's company which held his stake in Stark Logistics. ERR reported that part of the money had been used to establish Stark Warehousing and that the contract had been signed shortly after an official visit by Kallas to Metaprint, Stark's commercial partner.

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Spouse

The 350,000-euro loan to her husband's company did not appear in an earlier financial declaration of interests submitted by Kallas. She attributed the omission to human error.

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Personally implicated

Following the collapse of cooperation between the Reform Party and Centre Party, Kallas asked the President to dismiss the seven Centre Party ministers, ending the coalition and temporarily governing without them before a new majority was formed.

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Political responsibility

The Kallas government removed Narva's T-34 tank and several other Soviet monuments from public spaces, citing risks of Russian propaganda and domestic unrest following the invasion of Ukraine. Residents and local officials in the predominantly Russian-speaking city had expressed opposition or concern.

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Political responsibility

The Kallas government tightened public health restrictions in spring and autumn 2021, requiring certificates or proof of being non-infectious for certain activities. These measures prompted criticism concerning civil liberties, proportionality and discriminatory effects on unvaccinated people.

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Political responsibility

Kallas discussed on radio ideas involving moving unvaccinated people further back in queues for planned healthcare or making them bear certain Covid treatment costs, triggering considerable controversy.

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Personally implicated