Estonia Kalas in first place in the parliamentary elections

TALINN (Reuters) – Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas’ Reform Party appears to have taken first place in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, a result that would ensure Tallinn remains one of the most pro-Kiev governments in Europe.

Preliminary results showed the far-right EKRE party in second place, with 15.7% against 32% for the liberal caucus in Klass, reflecting voters’ growing concerns about rising energy prices and increasing living costs.

If the outcome is confirmed, and Callas, at the age of 45, succeeds in forming an effective coalition, it will solidify the pro-European trend in the Baltic country.

Estonia, Russia’s western neighbor with a population of 1.3 million, will continue on course to embrace more green energy and continue to accept refugees from Ukraine.

The final count is expected to take place around midnight local time (2200 GMT).

Islah won the 2019 elections, but was removed from power after three smaller parties formed a government. He collapsed in 2021, allowing Klass to form an alliance and take over.

Additional reporting by Andreas Sitas and Janis Laizans, Writing by Justyna Pavlak, Editing by Alexandra Hudson, Emilia Sithole Mataris, and Terry Solsvik

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