Estonian poll: 57 pct say Kaja Kallas should resign

TALLINN - According to a fresh poll commissioned by the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, 57 percent of Estonian citizens are of the opinion that Prime Minister Kaja Kallas should resign over the scandal related to her husband's Russia business.

On Wednesday afternoon, news broke that a logistics company co-owned by Kallas' husband, Arvo Hallik, continued the haulage of goods to Russia after the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine. In the survey conducted for the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, pollster Norstat asked voting-age citizens of Estonia what the prime minister should do in the light of the information that a transport company associated with her husband has continued to ship to Russia after the start of the war in Ukraine.

Of the respondents, 57 percent said that Kallas should resign, 31 percent believe that Kallas should give explanations but can continue in her job, and 7 percent believe that Kallas should not do anything. Five percent did not have an opinion on this issue.

While overall, more than half of respondents consider that Kallas should step down as head of government, opinions differ significantly depending on the respondent's party preference. Of the supporters of opposition parties, the vast majority think resignation would be necessary. This was said by 96 percent of the supporters of the Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE), 80 percent of the supporters of the Center Party and 74 percent of the supporters of Isamaa. Of respondents voting the Social Democratic Party, 39 percent, and 28 percent of voters of Estonia 200 said that the prime minister should resign, and among the supporters of both parties, junior partners to Reform in the coalition government, more than half believe that Kallas should give explanations but could continue in office. 

Responses from voters of the Reform Party clearly stand apart from the responses given by the voters of other parliamentary parties, with only 8 percent saying that the premier should resign, 71 percent believing that Kallas should give explanations but could continue in office, and 19 percent saying no action is required from the prime minister.

The online survey was carried out by interviewing 1,000 citizens aged 18 and above on Thursday and Friday.