Estonian Government in Crisis as Coalition Crumbles
On June 3, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas called for talks of a new government after her ruling coalition fell apart, all the while urging unity due to continued security concerns over neighbouring Russia. The crisis was triggered after the Centre party voted against the government on an education bill and followed weeks of political deadlock. President Alar Karis accepted Kallas’ request for ministers from the Centre party, including Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets, to be removed from the government. Kallas’ Reform party proposed coalition talks with the right-wing Isamaa conservatives and the Social Demo-crats. On June 9 the prime minister said that a vote of no confidence in her would prompt the Reform Party to inquire about the possibility of extraordinary elections, while the decision is up to the president. (Pg 3)
Estonian Cellist Takes Third Prize at Prestigious Competition
Cellist Marcel Johannes Kits is the first Estonian to reach the finals of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, one of the most demanding and well-known international music competitions, and was awarded third prize. Named after Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, the music competition began in 1937 and has been called the Olympics for classical soloists. 12 cellists out of 66 participants reached the final. Kits performed Dmitri Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in the free program and Jörg Widmann’s work written especially for the competition in the compulsory program. (Pg 4)
USS Kearsarge in Tallinn
The USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the U.S. Navy, was in Tallinn on the last weekend in May following “Siil,” the Estonian Defense Forces’ large-scale multinational defense exercise. On May 20, U.S. Marines conducted their second landing of the major training exercise on the northern coast of Saaremaa island. (Pg 6)
