Siim Kallas, Former Estonian Prime Minister and Father of Kaja Kallas, Dies at 77

Siim Kallas, former Prime Minister of Estonia and former Vice-President of the European Commission, has died at the age of 77.

His daughter, Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, announced the news.

In a statement published on Saturday morning, she said that her father had died during the night.

Siim Kallas was one of the leading figures in modern Estonian politics. He headed the Estonian government from 2002 to 2003, and during his career also served as Foreign Minister and Finance Minister.

After his time as head of government, he continued his work in the institutions of the European Union. Kallas was a European commissioner from 2004 to 2014 and later served as Vice-President of the European Commission, where he was responsible, among other things, for the Transport portfolio.

He also played a significant role in Estonia’s economic changes after the restoration of independence. He headed the Bank of Estonia from 1991 to 1995 and took part in the country’s monetary reform process.

Kaja Kallas, his daughter, currently serves as the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and as Vice-President of the European Commission.