Kallas’s Reform Party scores substantial victory in parliamentary elections for the Riigikogu, the parliament, with 32% of the vote. The rightist EKRE is second with 16%.

Estonia tells Russian ambassador to leave and Estonia does the same in solidarity. Russia responds in kind. Rising tensions about Ukraine are fueling most of the actions.

Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania ban Russian tourists from entering their countries beginning 9/19.

Parliament reelects Kallas as prime minister.

Kallas announces a new three-party coalition of her liberal Reform Party, the conservative Isamaa, and the center-left Social Democrats that will hold 55 of 101 seats in parliament.

Kallas cuts ties with the Centre Party in the coalition, leaving her with a minority government. The Centre Party had sided with a far-right group in parliament to vote down education reform.

Presidents Duda of Poland, Giatanas Nauseda of Lithuania, Egils Levits of Latvia, and Alex Karis of Estonia meet President Zelensky in Kyiv. A request to visit bv German President Steinhauer was rejected, due to what Ukraine considers a hesitant and tepid response to Ukraine’s request for arms and supplies by Germany, and its continued acceptance of Russian oil and gas.

Ireland drops its objection to tax reform, agreeing to increase tax rate on large multinational companies based in Ireland. Estonia also approves the global tax rate agreement, so all 38 members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development have agreed to the new tax rate.

Alar Karis is elected president by the Riigikogu. A former auditor general and university administrator, he only agreed to run for the office two weeks before. He was proposed by the Center Party/Reform Party coalition, and also received votes from Social Democrats and Isamaa.

Reform Party and Center Party agree on a coalition government, to be led by Reform Party’s Kaja Kallas. She will be the first female prime minister.

Juri Ratas and his cabinet resign when an official of the Center Party is alleged to have accepted a donation to the party in return for a political favor.

Estonia confirms first case of COVID-19.

Riigikogu votes to allow Ratas to form a government in coalition with Isamaa and the Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE), a nationalist, far-right party. The inclusion of EKRE is widely criticized.

Centre Party says that it will begin its own governing negotiations, with Pro Patria and the Conservative Party. It also invites discussion with the populist EKRE.

Centre Party rejects discussions with the Reform Party, saying that it was too rigid in its demands.

Kallas to talk with Centre Party leader Juri Ratas. Though their policies diverge substantially, Ratas has said he is open to a coalition.

Elections for parliament. The opposition center-right Reform Party, led by Kaja Kallas with a pro-business program that calls for lower taxes, takes a lead in early returns with 29% of the vote. The Center Party, led by PM Juri Ratas, wins 23%. The far-right Conservative Estonian People’s Party (EKRE), which had pledged to limit immigration, wins 17.8%, a strong gain. Two parties that have been part of the governing coalition, the center-right Pro Patria party and the Social Democrats, win about 11% and 10% respectively. Forming a new governing coalition will be a challenge for the Reform Party. Despite policy differences with the EKRE, the Reform Party has said it would discuss a coalition with it. It the only party that has agreed to negotiate with EKRE for a coalition.

French Pres Macron proposes a joint military force for Europe. Europe already has the European Intervention Initiative (EI2), aimed at creating a unified military force capable of taking coordinated action abroad. Finland joins the group, which includes France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Estonia, Portugal and the United Kingdom.