General information
I believe that freedom, democracy, liberal economic policy and belonging to Europe are the best for Estonia. This is the policy I pursue and support.
Electoral district:
Seniority in days:
3467
Date of birth:
02.10.1948
Place of birth:
Tallinn
Date of death:
22.08.2026
Family:
Married, two children, five grandchildren
Education:
Jakob Westholm Gymnasium (former Tallinn Secondary School No. 22) 1967 (gold medal);
University of Tartu, finance and credit (equivalent to Master’s degree, cum laude) 1972;
post-graduate studies 1972–1975
University of Tartu, finance and credit (equivalent to Master’s degree, cum laude) 1972;
post-graduate studies 1972–1975
Career:
Ministry of Finance, official 1975–1979;
Central Board of Savings Banks, Head 1979–1986;
newspaper Rahva Hääl, Deputy Editor-in-Chief 1986–1989;
Estonian Trade Union Confederation, Chair 1989–1991;
Bank of Estonia, President 1991–1995;
Minister of Foreign Affairs 1995–1996;
Minister of Finance 1999–2002;
Prime Minister 2002–2003;
Vice-President of the European Commission 2004–2014;
Viimsi Rural Municipality Mayor 2017–2019
Central Board of Savings Banks, Head 1979–1986;
newspaper Rahva Hääl, Deputy Editor-in-Chief 1986–1989;
Estonian Trade Union Confederation, Chair 1989–1991;
Bank of Estonia, President 1991–1995;
Minister of Foreign Affairs 1995–1996;
Minister of Finance 1999–2002;
Prime Minister 2002–2003;
Vice-President of the European Commission 2004–2014;
Viimsi Rural Municipality Mayor 2017–2019
Party affiliation:
Estonian Reform Party 1994–
Membership in representative bodies:
12th Supreme Soviet and Congress of People’s Deputies of the Soviet Union 1989–1991;
8th–10th Riigikogu (Chair of Parliamentary Group 1995, 1996–1999, 2003–2004), 14th Riigikogu (Vice-President 2019–2021 and Chair of European Union Affairs Committee, 2021–2022), 15th Riigikogu;
Viimsi Rural Municipality Council 2019–, also elected 1996, 1999, 2017
8th–10th Riigikogu (Chair of Parliamentary Group 1995, 1996–1999, 2003–2004), 14th Riigikogu (Vice-President 2019–2021 and Chair of European Union Affairs Committee, 2021–2022), 15th Riigikogu;
Viimsi Rural Municipality Council 2019–, also elected 1996, 1999, 2017
Awards:
Order of the National Coat of Arms, 2nd Class 2003;
Order of the National Coat of Arms, 1st Class, 2015;
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 2000;
Grand Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour of France 2001;Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland 2022
Order of the National Coat of Arms, 1st Class, 2015;
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 2000;
Grand Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour of France 2001;Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland 2022
Other activities:
2010 founded Kristi and Siim Kallas Foundation for interpreting the history of Estonia through theatrical art at the Estonian National Culture Foundation;
host of radio quiz “Mnemoturniir” 1976–1989;
Visiting Professor at the University of Tartu;
books
“Turumajandus ehk kodanike riik. Artikleid ja kõnesid aastatest 1988–2003” (“Market Economy or
The Citizensʼ State. Articles and Speeches 1988–2003”) 2003, “Piiridest suurem Eesti. Kõned ja artiklid 2003–2004” (“Estonia Extending Beyond Its Borders. Speeches and Articles 2003–2004”) 2004, “Kallas. Esseed, mõtted ja päevakaja 2004–2015” (“Kallas. Essays, Ideas, and Current Affairs 2004–2015”) 2016, “Vabaduse ja kurjuse vahel. Euroopa Liidu lugu” (“Between Freedom and Evil. The Story of the European Union”) 2018, “Eduard Alver. Tema aeg ja inimesed” (“Eduard Alver. His Time and Contemporaries”) 2021, “Mina” (“Me”) 2024
host of radio quiz “Mnemoturniir” 1976–1989;
Visiting Professor at the University of Tartu;
books
“Turumajandus ehk kodanike riik. Artikleid ja kõnesid aastatest 1988–2003” (“Market Economy or
The Citizensʼ State. Articles and Speeches 1988–2003”) 2003, “Piiridest suurem Eesti. Kõned ja artiklid 2003–2004” (“Estonia Extending Beyond Its Borders. Speeches and Articles 2003–2004”) 2004, “Kallas. Esseed, mõtted ja päevakaja 2004–2015” (“Kallas. Essays, Ideas, and Current Affairs 2004–2015”) 2016, “Vabaduse ja kurjuse vahel. Euroopa Liidu lugu” (“Between Freedom and Evil. The Story of the European Union”) 2018, “Eduard Alver. Tema aeg ja inimesed” (“Eduard Alver. His Time and Contemporaries”) 2021, “Mina” (“Me”) 2024
Hobbies:
reading, theatre, classical music and jazz, cycling, hiking