Estonia’s Reform Party has reached an agreement with two other political parties to form a new coalition government, according to media reports.

After more than a month of negotiations, the deal was announced among the Reform Party, the Estonia 200 Party and the Social Democratic Party on Saturday.

The Reform Party won re-election in early March with comfortable margin. Kaja Kallas, Estonia’s first female prime minister, kept her job she’s been holding since 2021. The other ministerial positions of the Reform Party went to Signe Riisalo, Minister of Social Protection, Kalle Laanet will become Minister of Justice, Mart Võrklaev will become Minister of Finance, Hanno Pevkur will continue as Minister of Defense, Heidy Purga will receive the portfolio of Minister of Culture and Kristen Michal will take the newly created position of Minister of Climate.

Social Democratic Party received three ministerial positions. Lauri Läänemets will continue as the Minister of the Interior, Riina Sikkut will become the Minister of Health and Madis Kalla as the Minister of Regional and Rural Affairs.

Estonia 200 will also oversee three government departments, Margus Tsahkna will receive the portfolio of foreign minister, Tiit Riisalo will become the minister of IT and economy, and Kristina Kallas the minister of education.

“This agreement ensures that Estonia is protected, that we can continue as an independent and self-sustaining country,” Kallas told a press conference.

“Without security we don’t have to talk about anything else,” Kallas told reporters, according to Bloomberg. “That’s why we are increasing our defense expenditure to 3 percent (of GDP) in the coming years.”

Beyond defense, reducing fiscal deficits and pushing policies such as same-sex marriage are among the other pressing issues, Bloomberg reported. The three parties reportedly also agreed to raise the minimum wage and to increase taxes.

The coalition deal was formally signed on Monday.

Eestlased Eestis

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