(ANSA-AFP) - TALLINN, JAN 15 - Estonia's pro-business
opposition leader Kaja Kallas was nominated Thursday to become
the Baltic eurozone member's first woman prime minister, pending
the support of parliament. Kallas, leader of the Reform Party,
is a staunch europhile and the daughter of former Estonian prime
minister Siim Kallas. The 43-year-old would replace Juri Ratas,
who resigned on Wednesday after his Centre Party came under
investigation for corruption. His resignation brings down the
governing centre-right coalition, which includes the far-right
EKRE party. "Both the Estonian people and I are expecting that
Estonia would quickly have an active and competent government,
which focuses on handling the pandemic and the economic crisis,"
President Kersti Kaljulaid said in a statement. Kallas's party
came first in parliamentary elections in 2019 but did not win an
outright majority and then failed to build a ruling coalition.
Kallas previously served in the European Parliament and was
regularly included on lists of the most influential MEPs. She is
a passionate proponent of innovation who argues that regulations
must not hinder the digital technological revolution. Focused on
the rights of small and medium-sized businesses, Kallas believes
that borders in the digital world prevent innovative companies
from emerging. She now has 14 days to win majority support in
parliament. Her Reform Party and the Centre Party have announced
that they are starting unofficial coalition talks. The two
parties have alternated in government over the nearly three
decades since Estonia broke free from the crumbling Soviet
Union. (ANSA-AFP).
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