Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas offered an apology to teachers who pressed for higher salaries after she made remarks about car taxes that were deemed inappropriate. The clarification came through reports from RIA News, which noted her acknowledgment of the misalignment between her comments and the ongoing dispute over teacher pay.
She stressed that her initial suggestion to fund higher salaries by increasing car taxes was misplaced and did not reflect the case at hand. The prime minister reiterated that the comment missed the mark and did not contribute constructively to the discussion.
Earlier polling suggested that nearly seven in ten Estonians believed Kallas should consider stepping down amid the controversy surrounding her husband’s business dealings in Russia. The survey, conducted online from November 8 to 9, included 1,001 adult residents of Estonia. Source: RIA News
Opposition figures had already urged the prime minister to resign in response to the allegations linking her husband, Arvo Hallik, to Russia-based commerce. The controversy intensified as media reports questioned possible economic ties connected to Hallik and the broader implications for Kallas’s leadership. Source: RIA News
The public scrutiny expanded to claims about a shipping company, Stark Logistics, allegedly maintaining business relations with Russia. The company is reported to have partial ownership that includes connections to Kallas’s spouse. Callas has maintained that she has little knowledge of her husband’s professional activities. Source: RIA News
Previously, steps were taken in Estonia to restrict vehicles bearing Russian license plates from entering certain areas, reflecting the ongoing tension related to Russia and broader regional policy. Source: RIA News