Kaja Kallas Estonian lawyer, politician and statesman Date of Birth: 18.06.1977 Country: Estonia

1. Youth and Education
2. Political Beginnings
3. European Parliament Career
4. Reform Party Leadership
5. Prime Ministership
6. Personal Life

Youth and Education

Kaja Kallas was born on June 18, 1977, in Tallinn, Estonia. Her father, Siim Kallas, was the former chairman of the Reform Party and vice-president of the European Commission. Kallas's maternal ancestors were deported to Siberia during Stalin's regime.

In 1995, Kallas completed her secondary education. She then went on to study law at the University of Tartu, graduating in 1999 with a bachelor's degree. During this time, she also worked as an assistant director in the theater.

In 2007, Kallas pursued an executive MBA (EMBA) in economics at the Estonian Business School, which she completed in 2010. She is proficient in Estonian, English, Russian, Finnish, and French.

Political Beginnings

Kallas joined the Estonian Reform Party in 2010 and was elected to the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) in 2011, receiving 7,157 votes. She chaired the Economic Affairs Committee during her tenure.

European Parliament Career

In the 2014 European Parliament elections, Kallas garnered 21,498 votes. In the European Parliament, she served on the Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy. She also held roles in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, and the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly.

Reform Party Leadership

In December 2017, Reform Party chairman Hanno Pevkur announced his resignation and nominated Kallas as his successor. She accepted the proposal and was elected party chairman on April 14, 2018.

Prime Ministership

In the 2019 parliamentary elections, Kallas led the Reform Party to victory, securing 34 seats in the Riigikogu. President Kersti Kaljulaid appointed her as Prime Minister on January 26, 2021, making her the first woman to hold the position in Estonia.

Kallas's government has been notable for its high proportion of female ministers, with seven out of 14 being women. It is also the first time in Estonian history that both the president and prime minister are female.

Personal Life

Kallas was married to Roomet Leiger, an employee of the Estonian Maritime Academy, from 2002 to 2006. In 2011, she entered a relationship with Taavi Veskimägi, Estonia's Minister of Finance from 2003 to 2005. They had a son, Sten, in 2011. In 2018, Kallas married banker Arvo Hallik.

She enjoys sports such as skiing, rollerblading, and golf. Kallas has been a member of the Estonian Golf Club since 2006.