Kaja Kallas: Negotiations on power in Tallinn not a place for blackmail

TALLINN - Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, leader of the Reform Party, said at the government press briefing on Thursday that coalition negotiations for Tallinn should not be a place for blackmail at the level of the national government. 

"It seems to me that the negotiations in Tallinn are being used for agreeing on something else or for blackmail," Kallas said. 

"I am calling on the leader of Isamaa in particular... that we have one big common goal in Tallinn before the local elections, and that is the transition to Estonian-language education. We now have a year and a half to do this," Kallas said. 

She said this is not about taking poses or populism, but is a guarantee of Estonia's security.

"So really please -- let's put this city government together," Kallas said, adding that forming the coalition for the capital city is definitely not a place where the Constitution of Estonia will be amended, nor should it be a place to make ultimatums to the government," the premier added.