Almost 70% of Estonian residents believe that Prime Minister Kaja Kallas should resign after the scandal with her husband’s business in Russia, according to a survey conducted by the sociological firm Norstat commissioned by the Institute for Public Research.
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“Respondents were asked the following question: “Do you think that Kaja Kallas should resign as prime minister?” 67% answered “rather yes” or “yes”, 27% answered “no” or “rather no”, and 6% answered “can’t say,” Norstat said in a report published on Thursday in Estonian media.
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The Norstat survey was conducted online on September 6 among Estonian citizens aged 18 and over, and 1,000 respondents took part in it.
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Earlier, the state broadcasting portal ERR reported that the transport company Stark Logistics, partly owned by Callas’ husband Arvo Hallik, still continues to transport goods to Russia. This information caused a great resonance in society. Critics of Kallas noted that she called on the whole world to “stop the bloody business with Russia,” but allegedly did not know that her husband’s company continued to transport goods to Russia. Opposition politicians demanded that Kallas resign.
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Callas said last week that she regrets the situation with Hallik’s business in Russia, but does not intend to resign. She stressed that Stark Logistics was not involved in the transportation of goods under EU sanctions to Russia. Freight transportation services are currently provided to only one Estonian company, which is ceasing production activities in the Russian Federation and exporting equipment from Russia with the help of Stark Logistics, this process will be completed in September.
