Estonia bids farewell to former PM Siim Kallas with state honors
Former Estonian Prime Minister Siim Kallas, who died on August 22 at age 77, is being laid to rest with state honors on Saturday. The funeral procession passed through Tallinn, stopping at several state institutions before a ceremony at the Estonia Concert Hall.
Former Estonian Prime Minister Siim Kallas was laid to rest with state honors on Saturday, following his death on August 22 at the age of 77, ERR News reports.
The funeral procession began in Viimsi, where Kallas had lived and served as municipal mayor from 2017 to 2019. Representatives of the Viimsi municipal government and council gathered at the municipal building to pay their respects, alongside figures such as Tunne Kelam and Mari-Ann Kelam.
Route through Tallinn
From Viimsi, the hearse traveled into Tallinn, making stops outside institutions tied to Kallas's long career — the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bank of Estonia, the Ministry of Finance, the Riigikogu and Stenbock House, the seat of government.
The procession concluded at the Estonia Concert Hall, where the coffin was received with military honors by the Guard Battalion's honor guard and the military band of the Estonian Defense Forces. Inside, representatives of Viimsi Municipality, the Reform Party, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Estonia and the Riigikogu stood guard of honor beside the coffin. A live broadcast of the memorial ceremony began at 12:45 p.m.
A long record of public service
Over his career, Kallas held numerous senior positions: prime minister, foreign minister and finance minister of Estonia, governor of the Bank of Estonia, vice president of the European Commission, and member of the Riigikogu on multiple occasions. He was among the authors of the Self-Managing Estonia (IME) proposal, one of the leaders of the 1992 monetary reform, and one of the founders of the Reform Party.
