Kaja Kallas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kaja Kallas
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Vice-President of the European Commission | |
| Assumed office 1 December 2024 |
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| President | Ursula von der Leyen |
| Preceded by | Josep Borrell |
| High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy | |
| Assumed office 1 December 2024 |
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| President | Ursula von der Leyen |
| Preceded by | Josep Borrell |
| 19th Prime Minister of Estonia | |
| In office 26 January 2021 – 23 July 2024 |
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| President | |
| Preceded by | Jüri Ratas |
| Succeeded by | Kristen Michal |
| Leader of the Estonian Reform Party | |
| In office 14 April 2018 – 8 September 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Hanno Pevkur |
| Succeeded by | Kristen Michal |
| Member of the Riigikogu | |
| In office 3 March 2019 – 26 January 2021 |
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| Constituency | Harju–Rapla |
| In office 6 March 2011 – 1 July 2014 |
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| Constituency | Harju–Rapla |
| Member of the European Parliament for Estonia | |
| In office 1 July 2014 – 5 September 2018 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 June 1977 Tallinn, Estonia |
| Political party | Estonian Reform Party (2010–present) |
| Spouses |
Roomet Leiger
(m. 2002; div. 2006)Arvo Hallik
(m. 2018) |
| Domestic partner | Taavi Veskimägi (2011–2014) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parents | Siim Kallas (father) Kristi Kallas (mother) |
| Relatives | Eduard Alver (great-grandfather) |
| Education |
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Kaja Kallas (born 18 June 1977) is an Estonian politician and diplomat. She made history as the first female prime minister of Estonia, serving from 2021 to 2024. After her time as prime minister, she took on important roles in the European Union.
Since December 2024, Kaja Kallas has been the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. This means she is the EU's top diplomat, handling its relationships with other countries. She also serves as a Vice-President of the European Commission.
Kallas has been the leader of the Estonian Reform Party since 2018. Before becoming prime minister, she was a member of the Estonian Parliament (called the Riigikogu) and the European Parliament. She also worked as a lawyer, specializing in rules about fair competition in the European Union.
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Kaja Kallas's Early Life and Family Background
Kaja Kallas was born in Tallinn, Estonia, on 18 June 1977. Her family has a strong history in Estonian politics and public service.
Who are Kaja Kallas's Parents?
Kaja Kallas's father is Siim Kallas, who is also a well-known politician. He was the head of the Bank of Estonia and later served as the prime minister of Estonia from 2002 to 2003. He was also a European Commissioner for many years. Her mother, Kristi Kallas, is a doctor. Kaja also has an older brother named Ülo.
What is Kaja Kallas's Family History?
Kallas's great-grandfather, Eduard Alver, was a lawyer. He led the Estonian Defence League during the Estonian War of Independence (1918–1920). He also headed Estonia's police and internal security services.
During a difficult time in Estonian history, in March 1949, Kallas's mother, Kristi, was deported to Siberia when she was just six months old. She was with her mother and grandmother. They were allowed to return to Estonia in 1959.
Kallas's family background also includes some distant Latvian and Baltic German roots, which was discovered when her father's family history was researched.
Where Did Kaja Kallas Study?
Kallas went to school in Tallinn. She studied law at the University of Tartu and earned her bachelor's degree in 1999. Later, in 2010, she completed an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree from the Estonian Business School (EBS).
Kaja Kallas's Career Before Politics
Before entering politics, Kaja Kallas had a successful career as a lawyer.
What Was Kaja Kallas's Legal Career Like?
Kallas became a member of the Estonian Bar Association in 1999 and a full attorney in 2002. She gained experience in European law by working at law firms in Paris and Helsinki. From 2008 to 2011, she was a partner at law firms Tark & Co and Luiga Mody Hääl Borenius, where she led the competition law department. She also worked as a coach at the Estonian Business School. In 2011, she stopped practicing law to focus on her political career.
What Other Work Did Kaja Kallas Do?
From 2003 to 2010, Kallas was a council member for several Estonian companies. These included businesses involved in finance and wind power. She was also a board member of the Estonian Wind Power Association from 2009 to 2010.
Kaja Kallas's Political Journey
Member of the Estonian Parliament (2011–2014)
In 2010, Kaja Kallas joined the Estonian Reform Party. She was elected to the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) in 2011, representing the Harju County and Rapla County area. During her time in parliament, she chaired the Economic Affairs Committee from 2011 to 2014.
Member of the European Parliament (2014–2018)
In 2014, Kallas was elected to the European Parliament. She worked on important topics like the Digital Single Market strategy, energy policies, and consumer rights. She was especially interested in helping small and medium-sized businesses. Kallas believed that rules should not stop new technologies and ideas from growing.
She was also known for her work on digital issues and was recognized as one of the most influential members of the European Parliament. In 2018, she wrote a book about her experiences in Brussels, called MEP: Four Years in the European Parliament.
Return to Estonian Politics (2017–2020)
In 2017, Kallas was asked to run for the leadership of the Reform Party. She accepted and won the election on 14 April 2018, becoming the first female leader of a major political party in Estonia.
In the 2019 Estonian parliamentary election, her party received the most votes. However, another group of parties formed the government, and the Reform Party was in opposition. Kallas was re-elected as the leader of the Reform Party in November 2020.
Prime Minister of Estonia (2021–2024)
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On 25 January 2021, Kaja Kallas became the Prime Minister of Estonia. She formed a coalition with the Centre Party. This made her the first female prime minister in Estonia's history.
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During her time as prime minister, Estonia faced challenges like a global energy crisis. Kallas worked to find solutions to help people with high electricity and heating costs. She also played a strong role in international affairs.
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Kallas was a strong supporter of Ukraine during the conflict with Russia. She urged the European Union to introduce sanctions on Russia and pledged Estonia's support to Ukraine. She was praised for her leadership and became very popular in Estonia. She also strongly supported Ukraine joining the European Union.
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In June 2022, Kallas made changes to her government. She later formed a new coalition with the Social Democratic Party and Isamaa.
In March 2023, Kallas led the Reform Party to another big victory in the parliamentary election. She then formed her third government, which included Estonia 200 and the Social Democratic Party. In June 2023, her government passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage and adoption in Estonia. This law came into effect on 1 January 2024.
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Kallas is known for her strong support of NATO and its allies. She has been mentioned as a possible future leader for NATO. She also supported removing public monuments that celebrated the Soviet occupation of Estonia.
She condemned the actions of Hamas during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. She supported Israel's right to defend itself, but also stressed that Israel must protect innocent lives.
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2024–present)
On 28 June 2024, Kaja Kallas was chosen to become the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She officially resigned as prime minister on 15 July 2024. She also became a Vice-President of the European Commission.
On her first day in her new role, 1 December 2024, Kallas visited Ukraine. She expressed strong support for Ukraine. She also warned the government of Georgia not to use violence against ongoing protests.
Kaja Kallas's Personal Life
Kaja Kallas has been married twice. From 2002 to 2006, she was married to Roomet Leiger. She also lived with businessman Taavi Veskimägi, and they have one son together. They separated in 2014. In 2018, she married Arvo Hallik, a banker and investor. Arvo Hallik has two children from a previous relationship.
Besides her native Estonian, Kallas is fluent in English, Finnish, Russian, and French. She enjoys reading history books and is friends with well-known historians.
Honours and Awards Received by Kaja Kallas
State Decorations
Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania (2021)
Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (Sweden, 2023)
Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 2nd class (Ukraine, 2023)
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Awards and Prizes
- Transatlantic Leadership Award (2022)
- Grotius Prize (2022)
- European Prize for Political Culture (2022)
- International Prize from the Friedrich August von Hayek Foundation (2022)
- Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Award (2023)
- Marion Dönhoff Prize for International Understanding and Reconciliation (2023)
- International Lord Byron Prize (2023)
- Walther Rathenau Award (2024)
- Honorary NAFO "Fella"
Other Activities and Memberships
Kaja Kallas is involved in many organizations and groups that promote international cooperation, leadership, and education.
- She has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of Europe since 2020.
- She is also a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
- Kallas is an advisory board member of the Women Economic Forum.
- She is a patron of the Model European Union Tallinn.
- She mentors the European Liberal Youth.
- Kallas is a member of the European Young Leaders.
- She is an ambassador for Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs.
- She is a member of the MEP Library Lovers Group.
- Kallas is a political member of the European Internet Forum.
- She is a member of the extended board of the European Forum for Renewable Energy Sources.
- She is a member of the Global Young Leaders.
- Kallas is a member of Women Political Leaders.
- She is an ambassador for the European Entrepreneurship Education Network.
See also
In Spanish: Kaja Kallas para niños
