Teacher Ilona Säälik replaces late Siim Kallas in Viimsi council
After the death of former Estonian Prime Minister Siim Kallas, his seat on the Viimsi rural municipality council has been taken by teacher Ilona Säälik, following a decision by the local election commission.
After the death of former Estonian Prime Minister Siim Kallas, his seat on the Viimsi rural municipality council has been taken by teacher Ilona Säälik. The decision was made by the local election commission.
Kallas became a council member in December 2025 as a substitute deputy for Siiri Visnapuu, whose mandate had been suspended after she was elected municipal elder. Following Kallas's death on 22 August, his council mandate ended early.
Under the law on local government organization, such a vacancy is filled by the next substitute deputy on the relevant party list. For the Reform Party, the next substitute was Ilona Säälik, who on 24 August notified the election commission in writing of her wish to join the council's work.
Säälik is now taking up duties as a substitute deputy, continuing to stand in for Siiri Visnapuu, whose council mandate remains suspended.
In the October 2025 elections, the Reform Party won 7 seats in Viimsi. Siim Kallas received 113 votes, while Ilona Säälik received 37.
Siim Kallas was one of the founders of the Reform Party. Ilona Säälik has been a party member since 2022.
