By Andrius Sytas
TALLINN (Reuters) -The Reform party of Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas appeared to secure first place in Sunday’s parliamentary election, a result that should ensure Tallinn remains one of Europe’s most staunchly pro-Kyiv governments.
Preliminary results showed the far-right EKRE party in second place, with 15.7% versus 32% for Kallas’ liberal grouping, reflecting mounting concerns among voters over high energy prices and cost of living increases.
If the outcome is confirmed, and Kallas, 45, succeeds in crafting a functioning coalition, it would cement the Baltic nation’s pro-European direction.
Estonia, a western neighbour of Russia with a population of 1.3 million, would also stay on course to adopt more green energy and continue to accept refugees from Ukraine.
A final tally is expected around midnight local time (2200 GMT).
Reform won an election in 2019 but was then kept from power as three smaller parties formed a government. It collapsed in 2021, allowing Kallas to create a coalition and take charge.
(Reporting by Andrius Sytas and Janis Laizans, writing by Justyna Pawlak,Editing by Alexandra Hudson, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Terje Solsvik)